The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 1/With the Bohemian National Alliance (2)

WITH THE BOHEMIAN NATIONAL ALLIANCE

 

During the last month the treasury of the Alliance benefited greatly from the proceeds of several elaborately staged national fetes. Only the big bazaars of the past winter exceeded these Bohemian “posvícení” in size and enthusiasm.

Scene from Czech national fete, Chicago, Labor Day, 1917.

 

CZECH NATIONAL FETE, CHICAGO, LABOR DAY, 1917.

 

The first of these great rallies in point of time was the old settlers’ reunion in Crete, Neb., held on August 26th. Both the attendance and financial success were wonderful; some six hundred automobiles were parked on the grounds. Among the speakers were Samuel Avery, chancellor of the University of Nebraska, and Joseph Tvrzický, secretary of the Alliance. The other fetes were held on Labor Day. In Chicago some thirty thousand people participated in the joy-making at the Pilsen Park. Baltimore, Toledo and Montgomery (Minn.), also had record crowds. In all these cities the fete was inaugurated by a marching parade with floats, national costumes, brass bands, uniformed societies, etc. After Labor Day, 1917, no one can doubt that people of Bohemian descent in the United States almost to a man stand back of the Bohemian National Alliance in its great fight for the independence of Bohemia. A particularly gratifying feature of all these celebrations was the hearty participation of Bohemians of Catholic faith.

Chas. Pergler, vice-president of the Alliance, had the honor of addressing the memorable gathering of the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy at Minneapolis, September 5th. Organizer Vojta Beneš spent the latter part of the month delivering a series of addresses in smaller Bohemian farming settlements in North and South Dakota. It is very gratifying to note that the number of branch societies is still increasing.