Page:The Bohemian Review, vol2, 1918.djvu/185

 number of spectators who were lined up on both sides of Michigan avenue was estimated at hundreds of thousands. At Grant Park the program was in charge of Professor J. J. Zmrhal, English Secretary of the Bohemian National Alliance. He introduced the speakers of whom the first was Lt.-Governor Oglesby, and the second was even more distinguished, namely, George Creel, Chairman of the Committee on Public Information. Both had much praise for the Czechoslovak soldiers and for the patriotism of Americans of Czechoslovak descent. The principal address was made by Charles Pergler, American delegate of the Czechoslovak National Council; the salient points of his address are reprinted else where in this issue. He is well known as a forceful and eloquent speaker and received tremendous applause.

No Bohemian manifestation would be complete without singing, and the United Bohemian Singing Societies made a great impression on the audience, which numbered about a quarter of a million people.

This fair, which has been an annual feature of Minnesota for a great number of years, had this year for the first time a Czechoslovak exhibit. It was provided by Bohemians and Slovaks of St. Paul and Minneapolis under the auspices of the Young Women’s Christian Association. The exhibit con sisted of elaborate Bohemian costumes, native em broidery which the grandmothers of the Bohemians living here used to wear. Bohemian glassware more than a hundred years old, pictures and old Bibles from the days of the Reformation, portraits of Bohemian heroes, etc. The center of attraction was the Czechoslovak service flag with hundreds of stars among which were three gold ones, so arranged as to spell the word “Bohemian”; above it was htethe [sic] picture of Professor Masaryk. The exhibit was always surrounded by great crowds who ex pressed their admiration of the high degree of education prevailing among Chechoslovak people. On September 3rd when news came of the American recognition of the Czechoslovaks the declaration was at once framed and placed among the exhibits. Czechoslovak Day was held at the fair on September 5th, the program consisting of national songs, Sokol drills and folk dances in national costumes.

The small Czechoslovak settlement in the twin cities of Minnesota deserves much credit for this exhibit which has contributed very largely toward a better acquaintance of Americans with our people.

One of the first large subscriptions to the Fourth Liberty Loan has been made by the National Catholic Slovak Union of America. This organization at its convention held in Pittsburgh voted to invest $150,000 of its funds in bonds of the Fourth Liberty Loan.

The sentiments which impelled the delegates to take this action are well expressed in the following resolutions adopted by the convention:

Whereas, our beloved Government, through President Wilson, has requested all Americans to cooperate in every way with the officials of the Government, that victory may be won on battlefields of Europe, that justice and humanity may not perish and that this world be made a fit place in which freedom may live.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Delegates of the First Catholic Slovak Union of America, in its 18th Biennial Convention assembled, in the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this 10th day of September, A. D. 1918, as follows:

That the delegates of this Union fully realize the importance of co-operating with our Government, therefore request the officers and members of local branches to subscribe to their limit to the Fourth Liberty Loan and, to perform any other services which in their judgment will assist in making said loan a success.

That each member of the union remaining at home, perform and continue to perform, such essential labor as will assist our soldiers in destroying the Hun, whether he be Prussian or Magyar, for all time.

That Slovaks unite with the many peoples of this nation to Americanize America and the world by example and education.

That we condemn as unpatriotic all useless criticism of our public officials.

That we close our ears to all talks of peace uttered or proclaimed by the tyrant, his agents or servants with the hope of lulling our people into a false security while his beasts are attempting to destroy everything dear and sacred to civilization and Christianity.

That we stand with President Wilson in all things, particularly in his declaration that this war must be settled on present battle lines and we again pledge our all—our boys and money to assist in accomplishing this end.

That we congratulate our wives and sisters of the Ladies’ Union for having been the first society in America to subscribe to $100,000 of the Fourth Liberty Loan, in their creating by assessment against their members, a fund for the Red Cross and in calling the attention of our authorities, by resolution to the fact, that the valor of our Czechoslovak soldiers should be rewarded by a recognition of the independence of the Czechoslovak State.

That we congratulate our President and the Honorable Secretary of State for their proclama tion, recently issued, wherein the Government of our kinsmen, the Czechoslovak, was recognized as free and independent, because we know and fully appreciate, that it is a positive, solemn guaranty that, at the end of the present war, the fondest hope of every Slovak will be fulfilled.