The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 1/Doings of the Bohemian Alliance

DOINGS OF THE BOHEMIAN ALLIANCE.

 

. .The subject of the greatest interest to the Czechs in America is just now the definite news of the formation of a Czecho-slovak army in France. A memorable meeting was held in Chicago in the Sokol Havlíček Tyrš Hall on October 14 at which Colonel Comte DeMontal, attached to the French Embassy, and Commandant Štefanik gave some account of the organization of this, the second Bohemian army taking up arms against the Teutons. The first Czecho-slovak army has already gained glory for itself on the Russian front. This much is assured now that Czechs and Slovaks from the United States will be fully represented in the offensive of 1918.

In other respects the work of the Alliance has been of the same general character as in the past. Two Texas branches followed the example of the larger towns and held bazaars for the benefit of the political fund of the organization. The bazaar at Rosenberg, managed by Mrs. C. H. Chernovsky and Mr. J . R. Vilt, cleared over $700, a large amount for the small number of the local people; the one at Ennis, Tex., doubled the thousand-dollar mark aimed at.

The great bazaar of Cedar Rapids, Ia., was held the last week in October. While detailed account of its success was lacking at the time of this writing, it was already apparent that the people of the city known as “Bohemian Athens” lead the residents of larger cities in the sacrifices they bring in the cause of freedom.

The lecture trip of the organizer through Minnesota and the Dakotas has resulted in the addition of half a dozen new branches. The latest recruit is the branch society at Tabor, Minn., in the fertile Red River valley, organized October 21.

A convention of the Chicago district of the Alliance was held at Chicago, October 13 and 14. Delegates were present from branches in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. The business transacted was concerned principally with matters of better organization and financing of the work for Bohemian independence. The most notable recommendation adopted was the motion that the Bohemian National Alliance request all the fraternal Bohemian societies to impose upon their entire membership a small monthly payment in the nature of a contribution for the freedom of Bohemia. The precedent for it is found in the small tax paid by Chicago members of such societies for the maintenance of instruction in the Bohemian language after school hours.

The work of gaining the sympathy of the people of America for the demands of the Bohemians is making headway in all parts of the land. At the annual conference of the Methodist ministers of the State of Nebraska the 550 members present, representing some 200,000 church adherents, sent a telegram to President Wilson asking him to support at the peace congress the threefold programme of free Poland, free Bohemia and free Jugoslavia. Three Czech members of the conference, Dr. K. J. Sládek, Rev. F. K. Šedý and Rev. Jos Tuma, gave the initiative for this act.

On the Pacific coast Mrs. Clara V. Winlow of Berkeley, Cal., has given a number of lectures on the Bohemian fight for independence, while through the interest created by members of the San Francisco branch an excellent article on the Liberation of Bohemia has been written for the San Francisco Bulletin by Mr. James Landfield. Much remains to be done in this field of informing America of the justice and sound policy of creating a Bohemian state on the ruins of Austria.