Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1940-02-15 / 7. szám
Page 4 Kindness Holds Ruthenia Anti-Red Under Hungary Hungary Is Ever Democratic to Her Minorities Verhovayak Lapja______________ By ALBERT JOZIK (JÓCZIK ALBERT) Te death last month of Senator Borah was a blow that caused deep grievance in the heart of every good American man and woman. Senator Borah was not the politician as we commonly understand the term as denoting one who is in politics purely for personal ends. He was a statesman or one who altruistically seeks the benefit and welfare of his country. “The Lion of Idaho,” as the American public called this great servant of his people, was one of the few genuine patriots left in our United States of America. Today we often read and hear of hypocritical men who hide behind the protective cloak of patriotism in order to deceive their countrymen and under that distorted aegis carry out their rotten schemes of theft, violence and duplicity. Senator Borah was a patriot but a REAL one. His patriotism was comparable, as history will later record, with that of Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays we celebrate this month. Space here forbids even attempting to enumerate part of the good and unselfish legislation which Senator Borah fathered during his long term of public life. Yes, Senator Borah was not always right, but when he was wrong he was SINCERELY wrong, and his good deeds far outweigh and outnumber his mistakes. Those who were wont to criticize this great American were of the caliber that forget to remove the beam from their own eyes but never fail to see the microscopic mote in the eyes of those whom they flay. All of us will miss the noble Borah, but few more than the Hungarian people. Senator Borah was one of the few Americans who was just and wise enough to recognize the evil teachings of the founders of the Versailles and Trianon Treaties. He never could reconcile a “status quo” founded on stolen territories and kidnapped peoples. He saw that the spoils—not peace—treaties of Versailles and Trianon were the products of vindictive and vengeful minds poisoned by the demon of hatred. Senator Borah was a better “Hungarian” than many of our Hungarian breast beaters who eloquently condemn Trianon at dinners, banquets, etc., but limit their battles to tongue lashings only—if even that much. The right was recognized and demanded by the great “Lion of Idaho.” He bore no malice even toward the plunderers and dismemberers. He merely begged that wrongs be righted. Senator Borah was the “Lion of Idaho” because he had the courage of his convictions and knew not what it was to flinch or withdraw. There is a high place in Heaven prepared for William Edgar Borah, champion of human rights and liberty. PAST The Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association looks back upon more than a HALF OF A CENTURY of substantial well-rounded progress. “QUALITY, SER VICE AND SAFETY, FIRST” has characterized its growth. PRESENT With over $25,000,000.00 of insurance in force, Ver hovay is the largest legal reserve society of Hungarian origin since 1886. The society enjoys a high place among (he finest quality societies of the nation. FUTURE With a splendid past; a strong present position, com plete life insurance service including sales plans, helpful home office cooperation, policies for all ages including children from birth and adults to age 60 the future for the society and the men who represent it is most promising. Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association 345 FOURTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA. UNGVAR, Hungary—Hungary is preparing a new deal for the 400,000 Slavic peasants of Ruthenia, on the doorstep of New Russia, to clinch their loyalty before Red propaganda can gain a foothold. The new deal is simple: food, jobs and votes. These humble folk till the shallow soil and hew the thick timber on the southern slope of the Carpathians, which Hungary lost to Czechoslovakia in 1918 and regained — with arms — last March. Hungary, by annexing this mountainous Province intended to establish a permanent frontier with its old friend, Poland. But there are no longer Polish allies at the summit of the Carpathians. There are Russian troops. In a preliminary clash with Soviet ideology, Hungarianism has already held its own. Almost the first radio broadcasts from southern Poland after the September partition were directed at winning the Ruthenians to what Soviet announc ers called their “ethnic brothers,” the people of the Soviet Ukraine. Newspaper in Ruthenian The Hungarian Government answered that by sponsoring the first newspaper in the Ruthenian dialect at Ungvar and offering special broadcasts replete with ententainment — and patriotism. To a handful of listeners wealthy enough to afford radio sets, the battle of the air waves seemed a toss-up. In addition, the Government salved the pride of the Ruthenian populace and recognized their racial background with the name, “Hungarian-Russians”. But an old designation for the region, “sub-Carpathic-Russia,” was shortened to “sub- Carpathia.” Ruthenia’s poverty has been a byword for generations. The land yielded little. Lumbering was crude and ill-rewarded. But the plains of Hungary grow rich crops which require millions of hands to harvest, and the lumber of the Carpathians is needed there. Jobs and More Money The Government intends to strike an economic balance by offering Ruthenians I jobs in the harvest and better prices for the logs they cut in the winter. To tide the mountain people, over until spring, many Hungarian villages have “adopted” Ruthenian settlements and are sending weekly gifts of flour, meat and clothing. Hungarian capital, meanwhile, is building concrete highways, model homes and sport resorts in the highlands with Ruthenian laborers, who get wages in hard money to jingle in their home-made pockets. When the Hungarian Army marched into Ruthenia last March, it had two fights on its hands: against the retreating Czechoslovaks, and against irregular guards defending a one-day “independent Ukrainian States.” For Reichsführer Hitler had favored the idea of this State and it was generally regarded as an eastern springboard for Germany. Budapest Names Governor Today its exiled native “President,” still favored by Nazis, is a school teacher in the Czech protectorate. Hungary, after the shooting died down, made Ruthenia into an autonomous province, officially, but with a Governor appointed by Budapest. The Governor turned out to be a kindly old nobleman, of Ionig residence in the highlands, who could make himself understood to tens of thousands of new citizens who spoke no Hungarian. There has been no general election but the Government has promised that Ruthenians ultimately will vote for their own administrators. Alert Against Russia Arrests of suspected Communists take place occasionally, accompanied by rumors of red flags flying in remote districts. The Communist strength is not publicly known, however, and the Government insists it is negligible. It hardly needed a Cabinet Minister’s speech in Parliament, describing Russia as an “undesirable influence”» on the frontier, to keep authorities alert. Many Hungarians are confident that open-handed generosity — a new deal — will do more than police measures to make Ruthenia secure. The average Ruthenian, in his straw-thatched February 15, 1940. ROUND ABOUT TOWN (With the Snooper of Branch 18$, Beaver Falls, Pa.) “Confucius say:” Its time again for one girl to write column again: So here go girl: The Weather: At this writing the weather is still cold. We did have, however, one pleasant day, so pleasant in fact that I saw a tiny squirrel running up a tree on Patterson Heights. The next day, said tree had snow on it minus the squirrel. Incidentally, if you local members want to see some really beautiful wintry sights, hike up to the Heights section some frosty day .. . brrr . .. The trees are beautiful with their fresh, clean, glistening, frosty bits of snow, especially on a sunny morning. Food: Did you ever eat a “Dagwood Sandwich,” the kind Blondie’s hubby (in the funnypaper) eats? They surely are delicious. But if you eat too many you don’t feel well the next day, especially if you took it as a midnight snack. Gossip: You local girls would have gotten an eyeful if you had gone to the Army-Navy Marine Club’s dance on Sunday, January 28th, in Ambridge. The crowd of us who went had a grand time. The gallant young gentlemen looked very handsome, especially the sports writer w-ho tipped his cap with white gloved hand each time a certain la femme passed by. The floor was crowded and “Spinach’s” ex-beau got knocked left and right trying to dodge the dancers who were doing a polka number. Poor “Pumpkin Head” was almost knocked down several times. Remember, “Spinach”? Messages: I w-as glad to hear from a dear old friend in... O, well, to tell the truth I just decided to change the title of my column for no reason at all. You’ll have to wait a long time for ’’The Chip Off the Old Block” to fulfill the promises we made her hold to. Meanwhile you supply three suitable names—don’t forget either. Well, you'll have to wait for the wedding bells as they are not going to ring yet for a long time. The lovebug has not yet bit me. Write whenever you have time. I was really glad to hear from you for “old time's sake.” J. J. H. Spmeone is barking up the wrong tree. The reason I write short articles is because I’m getting old (?), and not the other reason. Yep, I’m still a “Miss.” I am glad to note that your branch has such grand socials. It shows that you all have cooperation there. Bravo! Well, “Confucius say:” Its time to go, so here I go. Good luck to you all! Fraternally yours. HELEN E. VESTROCY, 1509 Fifth Avenue, New Brighton, Pa. log hut in a forest clearing, responds quickly to friendly overtures. Given a loyal and contented peasantry on this side of the Carpathians, it seems to Hungarians a much easier task to keep the Russians on the other side. Christian Science Monitor. William Edgar Borah
