May 5. The New York _Irish-American_ for this week has the following relative to our San Francisco member, ex-Mayor James D. Phelan: “In San Francisco the man of the hour in whose hands is the management of the great relief fund, and under whose executive direction the important movements that are to lift the stricken city up from the depths and rebuild her shattered fortunes have already been begun, is that well-known Irish-American, James D. Phelan, former mayor of the city. Although his personal and business losses must reach millions, it is reported that he has devoted the sum of $1,000,000 out of his private fortune to employ the afflicted laboring people of his native city. Mr. Phelan, whose father was one of the men who made San Francisco rich and famous, was born in 1861, and was educated at St. Ignatius College, in that city, where he graduated with honor, after a four years’ course of study. He then entered as a student at the law department of the University of California, of which he is also a graduate. He was selected mayor of the city, as a Democrat, in 1896, and served until 1902. His régime was marked by zeal and ability in the public service. The Democrats of the state Legislature complimented him with their nomination for United States senator a few years ago. He is one of the leading capitalists of the United States, and has numerous commercial and mining interests. He is president of the Mutual Savings Bank and the finest business block in San Francisco, situated on Market Street, bore his name. It withstood the shock of earthquake, but the resulting fire reduced it to a mass of smoking ruins. Mr. Phelan has been for years a generous supporter of the Irish cause and has stood by both Parnell and Redmond with his influence and his money. His father aided in receiving Terence Bellew McManus, John Mitchel and Thomas Francis Meagher when those patriots escaped from the British penal settlements in Australia and sought liberty and new careers in America. No city has been more generous in aid of Ireland than San Francisco and its people, of all races, are renowned for their hospitality and liberality, and foremost among those who offered that hospitality has always been James D. Phelan. In the new city that is to rise triumphant from the ashes of the present disaster his grateful fellow-citizens will no doubt give him every honor in their bestowal.”