When the Annual Convention was called, a special appeal for funds was made and a very impressive amount of monies was collected and then sent to Ireland. Other than the regular run of matters. there was no significant [132] change in policies or rules and regulations. To be perfectly honest about it, I totally failed to see how the optimistic plans that were suggested could possibly be put into actual practice. Consequently, I was not in the least disappointed as I knew only too well that it would be far too much to expect from the lads in Ireland. 12 …documents had to be presented and the work of the Clan Secretary and the subsequent elimination of the office of An Timthire had effectively done away with the duplication of work and of correspondence. John T. Ryan, an attorney of Buffalo. N.Y., (born in the U.S.), became very prominent during W.W. I. So much so that he had to go on the run, finally reaching Germany after the War. Another prominent figure was Jeremiah O'Leary (also born in the U.S.), a tall, handsome, and very spirited orator. He too disagreed so violently with President Wilson's political views and actions that he had to go on the run. Jerry was captured and brought to trial. The case lasted a long time as the Government, influenced by Wilson's dislike, was determined to convict Jerry. However, he was actually saved once the War was over. During one of his speeches in Kansas City Jerry was interrupted by a man in the Gallery shouting: “My name is Daniel O'Connell - and I am for President Wilson!" Jerry, who was very quick-witted, immediately shouted back: "Well, if your name is Daniel O'Connell, then President Wilson is certainly not for YOU!" -- How true! -- Wilson did not hide the fact that he simply hated the Irish. While travelling around the U.S., trying to put over his "League of Nations" plan, Wilson was [133] constantly followed by some of our men. In whatever place he planned to speak the local daily newspapers would carry a full-page advertisement, coinciding with his visit, and bearing the headlines "WHAT ABOUT IRELAND MR. PRESIDENT ?" This relentless work was carried out by Dick Dalton and the Devoy Clan na Gael faction who must have had an inexhaustible energy combined with a most enthusiastic and determined interest. Jerry O'Leary who, with his individualistic and strong-minded approach to matters soon incurred the wrath of both sections of the Clan na Gael, literally fell between two chairs. Yet, and despite all this disagreement there was always a decided degree of admiration for Jerry and any differences that arose were never based on a personal angle. The existing Government in Ireland under the leadership of William Cosgrave, resolved to bring in a coercion act against the IRA. The terms of this act were violently criticised and all over the U.S. numerous Irish-American organisations, including the G.A.A, the A.O.H. and the County Organisations opposed and condemned it. A concerted campaign against the act was immediately started in the Irish-American newspapers, attacking the act as being cruel and unnecessarily reminiscent of England's coercion. While this was going on a visit of the Tipperary Hurling Team was mooted and we were asked to assist which we gladly did. I was appointed Manager of the tour and while it did not benefit us financially a great amount of organisation work was carried out. It enabled me to meet with the organisation in the States of California, Oregon, and Montana. Then, at the official dinner for the Tipperary team in New York, Reverend Father Dominic, who was one of the principal guests, was seated on the dais. Prior to this I had made several trips on organisation business to Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnatti, Springfield, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Waterbury, Hartford, Westfield, Providence, Holyoke, Rochester, Washington, Wilmington, [134] Philadelphia. and many other places. Then, Moss Twomey came over from Ireland to plead the case for the IRA. I accompanied him on most of his travels but not out to the West Coast where he was most successful and where he collected an impressive amount of money, mainly thanks to the help of the Knights of the Red Branch. In nearly all centres we had some fine and capable members who not alone worked unselfishly but who also contributed financially. We had to take quite some risks in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Detroit, and Cleveland. It was in that last city where John Stanton helped Moss, Tom McGill, and myself to participate in some very interesting experiments. Joe McCallion, and several other members, greatly helped to make matters easy for us while we 12 The paragraph starts like this in the manuscript.
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