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Full Title
Letter, To: Friends of Irish Freedom, From: Diarmuid Lynch, National Secretary, Novembver 19, 1920.
Author
Lynch, Diarmuid, National Secretary, Friends of Irish freedom.
Date Added
11 January 2014
Language
English
Publish Date
1920-11-19
Source
ACHS
Topic
Irish Americans > Political activity. Government securities. League of Nations. De Valera, Eamon, 1882-1975. Boland, Harry, 1887-1922. Cohalan, Daniel F. Devoy, John, 1842-1928. Gallagher, Michael James.
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Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
differ with him. Without John Devoy there would now, in all human probability, be no Irish Repub-
lic as today exists and his bitterest calumniators are among those who did their.utmost to erradicate
the very idea of Irish Republicanism. Unfortunately, the latter are now joined by men who would
never have attained to their present position in the Government of the Irish Republic were it not
for the unselfish patriotism, indomitable pluck and single-minded purpose of the grand old veteran.
On the other hand -he has won and holds the respect and admiration of thousands of Irish-Americans
who in former years differed with him as to the best means of securing Irish Independence. Let
those who are ignorant of the facts and those whose hearts are filed with bitterness born of jealousy
and wounded vanity sneer at those words of appr ciation if they will. They are true and history
will so record.
John Devoy, with an experience of Irish movements equalled by no living man, appreciates the
almost criminal insanity which now prompts the disruption of the Friends of Irish Freedom, and the
Clan-na-Gael whose support made Easter Week possible. ' He stands by the Friends of Irish Free-
dom, and the F. O. I. F. will stand by him and by the ‘‘Gaelic American.”” We hereby urge every
loyal member of the F, O. I. F. to send in his or her subscription to the Gaelic American by return
mail and to secure at least ten new subscribers before December 31st. We owe it to the Cause as
well as to the man.
State Conventions: This letter will we hop reach the members before many of the principal
State Conventions will. be held. By that time many of those who are disloyal to the Friends of Irish
Freedom and have industriously disseminated slander will have given further proof of their insane
efforts to destroy this organization. Some of them ‘will have the effrontery to atlend and even
attempt to dominate the State Conventions of the Friends of Irish Freedom. We have confidence
that they will be taught a lesson by the delegates. whose common sense, honesty and desire for unity
they have outraged. While engaged in their present campaign they have no place in the Friends of
Trish Freedom—neither in its membership, Local Councils nor on any other Council thereof.
Branch Elections: These will be held in December according to the Constitution. Officers
who have been false to the F. O. I. F. and those who have failed to fulfill their duties should be
superseded. If perchance any such should secure reelection and hope that they will be permitted to
either disrupt from within, or by dereliction of duty destroy the effectiveness of a Branch, they will
soon find out their mistake. During the past yea Financial Secretaries in many cases failed to for-
ward applications and fees promptly to Headquarters and we were blamed for the consequent delays
in issuing membership cards. | Corresponding ~Sec etaries, in some instances that have been brought to
our notice, never read the many communications nor distributed the literature sent to the Branches.
The Branch members should take steps to guard against such laxity in the future.
Constitution: ‘Herewith we enclose copy o the amended Constitution. We ask every mem-
ber to read it through and compare it with the Constitution of any other large organization. We
‘also enclose copy of our circular letter dater October 7th which will enable each member to better
understand the Constitution. Jt will serve another purpose: the members can draw their own con-
clusions as to why it was not published in the Irish World and Irish Press, etc., as it was in the
“‘Gaelic American.” In case it was not read at their Branch meeting they will want to know the
reason why. .
Suspended Branches: Branches have been suspended for defying the letter of the Constitution.
Some collected membership fees on applications whereon the applicants pledged to abide by the Con-
stitution, and never forwarded the applications and fees to National Headquarters. They thus re-
tained money which was received under false pretences, and as a result the applicants referred to never
received their membership cards. If such suspended organizations continue to function as Branches
of the F. O. I. F. appropriate steps will be taken.
*Renewal of Membership: Herewith we enclose Renewal Membership Application blank No.
6A. This form should be handed, with $2.00 fee for 192], as early as possible to the Financial
Secretary of your Branch.
This letter goes to every member of the F.O. I. F. in good standing for 1920—including
those belonging to Branches that have. been suspended. Thus, irrespective of the degree or fre-
quency of the misrepresentations, each will at least have an opportunity of learning facts hitherto
unknown to many, and of judging the case for themselves. The responsibility for the decision is
now on the members individually.
Boycott of English Goods in the U. S. A.: Copy of resolution passed by the National Council
September /7th was prompily issued to the Branch Secretaries. We urged our members and all
lovers of human liberty in America to immediately institute a policy of boycott against English
products and English commercial institutions in this country as a protest against England's inter-
ference with American shipping and her campaign of ruthlessness against the Irish people.
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