The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 2/With the Czechoslovak organization in America

WITH THE CZECHOSLOVAK ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA.

 

The Bohemian National Alliance| lost its president. Dr. L. J. Fisher, who left for France with a num ber of nurses to accompany the Czechoslovak wounded soldiers to Bohemia. He expects to stay indefinitely in the old country. His succesor will be selected by the district committees of the Alliance. in the meantime the first vice-president. Dr. Joseph P. Pecival, will act as president.

All the workers of the Bohemian National Alliance are at this moment pushing with all their strength the Thanksgiving offering as the climax of their voluntary giving for the last four years to the Czechoslovak cause. In every town in the United States where there are any Czechs or Slovaks, committees wil go from house to house and ask for a substantial contribution. The results should be considerable. In the meantime, bazaars, which have brought in so much money in the past are still going on. . Cedar Rapids and the Czech settlements of Texas were holding bazaars at the end of November. Both bazaars hope to beat the record of Omaha, which so far comes first in making collections, with the great sum of $65,000.

The National Alliance of Bohemian Catholics moved their headquarters to the building of the Lawndale State Bank, 3707 West 27th Street, Chicago. The secretary reports great enthusiasm over the successful revolution in Bohemia which is manifested particularly by increased gifts; so a servant girl from San Francisco sent $100 and a farmer from South Dakota over 80 years old sent $600. New branches are still being established in Czech settlements, especially in the western farming states, and the farmers subscribe liberally to the calls of the Alliance right at the first meeting.

The Slovak League is also engaged successfully in collecting their thousands, the aim being to complete the Million-Dollar collection which was first proclaimed as their goal early in 1917. The number of their local branches is still growing so that the last Branch is No. 295. In addition to collecting money the Slovak League is also obliged to undertake cares of which the Bohemian National Alliance is free, for the Slovaks in America are still the only branch of their people with freedom of speech and action. Until the Magyars are expelled from the Slovak countries of Hungary, the Slovak League of America must protect the interests of their brothers at home. The officers of the League are therefore busy gathering statistical data and preparing pamphlets for use in the old country which will inform the people over there of the share the Slovaks in America had in the great work of liberating the united Czechoslovak State. The League also plans to take an important part in the economic up-building of Slovakia, which has great undeveloped natural riches. They intend to find capital among themselves and among their American friends to be employed in the old country.