The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 2/Among the Czechoslovaks here

AMONG THE CZECHOSLOVAKS HERE.

 

The month of September opened for the Bohemians and Slovaks of the United States with the act of recognition by the American Government. Both the Bohemian National Alliance| and the Slovak League with their hundreds of branches sent telegrams eloquent with gratitude to the President and the Secretary of State. Celebrations were held in the principal settlements of the Czech and Slovak people, at which not merely this one people, but all the Austrian races as well as the representatives of the city and state governments took part. Among the many meetings of this sort should be recorded the celebrations in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, St. Paul, Bridgeport, etc.

The Bohemians and Slovaks of New York were fortunate to hear at one occasion the most noted figures in the Czechoslovak movement. At a meeting in the Sokol Hall on September 13th addresses were made by President Masaryk, his daughter Miss Olga Masaryk, General Štefanik, vice-president of the National Council, and General Janin, commander of all the Czechoslovak armed forces. General Janin, like all the others, spoke in the Bohemian language.

Under the influence of the great diplomatic achievements the campaign for raising money for the support of the Czechoslovak government, a campaign that goes on without interruption, has been unusually successful. At the bazaar in Omaha the goal set was to raise $50,000 and thus beat the larger Bohemian settlements; the result exceeded all expectations, for the total raised was $60,000. The same great success rewarded the efforts of the Slovak workers in Bridgeport, Conn., where the result was also far greater than anticipated, the net proceeds being equal to the sum gained at Omaha. At the same time recruiting for the Czechoslovak army in France is proceeding with renewed vigor, and the camp at Stamford, Conn., is crowded almost all the time.

The Slovak League million dollar fund will now soon be collected. Among other notable gifts is one of $10,000, voted by the convention of the First Catholic Slovak Union. A remarkable and highly gratifying fact, testifying to the good effects of the common campaign for freedom, has been the holding of a union patriotic meeting by the conventions of the Slovak Catholic and the Slovak Protestant Unions, both of which held conventions at Pittsburgh at the same time.