Current Topics
FROM THE PRAGUE PAPERS.
Quite a number of men well known in the Bohemian circles of America have turned up in Prague since the arrival of President Masaryk. There is Jaroslav Císař, the president’s private secretary of whom the journalists had quite a little to say. There is Ven Švarc, a Cleveland lawyer, who represents certain American news papers in Bohemia. There is also Capt. Ferdinand Písecký who spent more than a year in the United States and gave lectures in nearly all the Czech and Slovak settlements; Dr. L. J. Fisher, former president of the Bohemian National Alliance and later medical officer in the Czechoslovak Army, has also arrived with a convoy of invalids in Prague.
But the big figures from America, at least in the Prague newspapers, are two well known workers in the cause of Czechoslovak independence, Capt. Emanuel Voska and Joseph Tvrzický. Mr. Voska, formerly chairman of the New York district committee of the Alliance, was granted a commission in the Intelligence Division of the U. S. Army last May and was stationed in Paris. He arrived in Prague on January 10th with Mr. George Creel, chairman of the Committee on Public Information, and has been lionized ever since. He received a great reception upon his arrival, big boosts by the newspapers, a tremendous ovation in his native city of Kutná Hora, spoke at dozens of meetings, had freedom of cities conferred upon him, and among other things Emmy Destinn sang at a concert in his honor. Mr. Tvrzický threw himself at once into the fight against Alois Muna and his fellow bolshevists from Russia who troubled the harmoniius political life of Bohemia just at that time. At one meeting he spoke three times, addressing an overflow crowd from a tree. He tells the people what their brothers in America have done for them and exhorts the nation to make short thrift of any disturbancers. The papers state that he opened a bureau in the office of the old National Council to give information about conditions in America and to facilitate communication between relatives that had been out of touch during the war.
CONVENTION OF BOHEMIAN CATHOLICS.
The National Alliance of Bohemian Catholics which was established on February 6, 1917, for the purpose of cooperating with the Bohemian National Alliance in the campaign for Czechoslovak independence held a convention in Chicago on February 25th and 26th. The delegates present numbered 75, and in addition a large number of priests from many states attended.
The convention was called to order by the Rev. Innocent Kestl, president of the Alliance, who reviewed the activities of the organization during the past two years. Joseph J. Janda of Chicago was then elected chairman of the meeting, and Frank Šindelář submited a detailed report of his work as secretary of the Alliance for the past two years. From the report it appeared that the National Alliance of Bohemian Catholics had at present time 132 branches in the United States and Canada. Mr. Šindelář’s efficient work as secretary of the Alliance received the warmest approval of the convention. It was voted to continue the existence of the organization in the general interest of Bohemian Catholics, the head quarters will remain in Chicago. The next convention will be held again in Chicago in June 1920.
Officers elected for the coming term are as follows: John Straka, president: Joseph E. Mašek, Anton V. Tesař, Hynek Dostál, V. J. Jelínek, vice presidents: Rev. Frank Jedlička, chaplain; John Voller was elected secretary, since the present secretary refused reelection, Joseph Kopecký was elected for treasurer and Mrs. Rose Nedvěd, Mrs. Marie Novotny, J. J. Janda, Charles Radouš and John F. Novotný were elected members of the executive committee.
CZECHOSLOVAK COMMERCIAL CORPORATION.
American business men of Slovak birth and descent met in Cleveland on February 18th to discuss the problems of investments in Slovakia, so as to create more employment over there and increase commercial relations between the Czechoslovak Republic and the United States. More than a hundred representative business men attended the conference. The result of the deliberations was to establish a Czechoslovak Commercial Corporation of America with a capital of one million dollars, and those present subscribed at once the sum of $100,000.
Following persons were elected to organize the company; A. S. Ambrose of Bridgeport, chairman; Paul Kvorka of Chicago, vice-chairman; Michael Bosak of Scranton, treasurer; Ivan Bielek, of Pittsburgh, secretary; Clement Ihriský, Leo Zaruba, John Pankuch, Joseph Schromofský and John Hrivnák, members of the committee. It is the intention of the new corporation to buy the necessaries of life, farming implements, etc., in wholesale and to establish in Slovakia local depots for the sale of this merchandise to peasants at low rates. This undertaking has the support of the Slovak League of America and its president, Albert Mamatey.
