Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1978. január-június (32. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1978-05-04 / 18. szám
Thursday, May 4. 1978. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO A SUPPLEMENT OF THE MAGYAR SZÓ A MEMORABLE MAY DAY By HUGO GELLERT Early in the Spring of 1930 Michael Károlyi arrived in New York. The men of letters of this city, headed by Theodore Dreiser, gave him a rousing reception. It was followed by huge meetings of Hungarian workers in New York City; in several towns of New Jersey and in the Pennsylvania steel and coal country. After a gigantic meeting of Hungarian workers held in Los Angeles, in Hollywood, Charlie Chaplin entertained him at his home and invited him to his studio. The “Movie Industry” held a party in his honor in a large open place, where the owners of studios, the directors, the actors, the actresses, all were present. One of the members of the famous musical Strauss family of Vienna, was also there. Then, on to San Francisco! The plane which was to fly there, after taking off, turned around to return to its starting place. The pilot received warning of a storm ahead. Later, when the plane resumed its flight, an unforgettable sight greeted the eyes: a rainbow encircled the horizon. Its brilliant colors formed a ring all around, where the sky and the earth met. At the University of Berkeley the students and faculty filled the auditorium to hear Károlyi. Then another huge meeting of Hungarians was held in San Francisco. At the end of that meeting a young woman came on the stage, whom I had known in New York some 15 years earlier. She was then a bright young girl of 18 and led a successful strike in the shirtwaist factory where she worked. She told me that now she owned a restaurant in San Francisco and came to ask us to have dinner at her place, at least once, while we were here in the city. She gave me the address and I promised to do my best to have Károlyi visit the place. This meeting was held towards the last day of April. On the way to the hotel, where we were staying, Károlyi said to me: “How about visiting Tom Mooney on May Day?” “A wonderful idea!”- I exclaimed. Károlyi had an appointment on the next morning at the “Sanfrancisco Call-Bulletin”, to meet its owner, the young Hearst. While Karolyi was so engaged, I told Freemont Older, the editor, about our desire to see Tom Mooney. He immediately phoned to San Quentin prison and arranged the visit for us. Came the great day! We no sooned arrived at the prison, when Tom Mooney, all smiles, was ushered in and was left with us in a large room bathed in sunshine. We spent the entire morning with him. While he and Károlyi were absorbed in animated talk, I leasurely made a drawing of Tom. The following day, on May 2nd, I took the drawing to Freemont Older and left it with him. On the 3rd of May, it appeared in the paper. Mihály Károlyi That evening we went to the restaurant we were invited to. Though several waiters worked in the place, the owner, the young woman herself, waited on us. Karolyi invited her to sit down to talk. She said, she would, after we finished our dinner. After dinner she sat with us and told us she was brought up in the vicinity of one of the Karolyi estates in Hungary. Now she was independent, with money in the bank, not to be a burden to anybody, if Károlyi and his family would so decide, she would be happy to wash and cook and keep house for them. Károlyi, obviously moved, thanked her and very politely declined the offer. Later, when we took leave, the tears were streaming down her cheeks. In 1934 when the first edition of “Karl Marx’s ‘Capital’ in Litographs” was printed, I asked the publishers to send a copy to Tom Mooney and they received the following letter from him: California State Prison San Quentin, California 3-17-34 Mabel Travis Wood Ray Long & Richard Smith, Inc. 79 Madison Ave. New York City Dear Friends: You have made me very happy by the receipt of a (continued on page 8) TO OUR READERS The Editorial Board of the MAGYAR SZO welcomes the opportunity to present to our Readers an English language supplement, HERITAGE, which will appear the first week of each month with your copy of the MAGYAR SZO. We hope the articles you read in HERITAGE will be of value and interest to you, your family and friends. We plan to publish items that you would probably not find in your local newpaper — items from and about Hungary, Hungarian-Americans, as well as articles of general interest. Some articles will be written by our Staff some by our Literary Contributors, some will be reprinted from other sources — all will be the best we can gather for you each month. Please feel free to write us about your reaction to HERITAGE. We shall be happy to publish your letters and/or articles, evaluate your suggestions, delight in your praise and seriously consider your criticism. Do let us hear from you NOW! Send your communication to Ms. Fay Deak, c/o MAGYAR SZO 130 East 16th Street, New York N.Y.10003 BREAD AND ROSES As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray, Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses, For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses!” As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men, For they are women’s children, and we mother them again. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; Hearts starve as well as bodies: give us bread, but give us roses! As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread. V’ Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew. Yes, it is bread we fight for—but we fight for roses, too! As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days. The rising of the women means the rising of the race. ' > No more the drudge abd idler—ten that toil where one reposes, v But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses! __7
