Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. július-december (26. évfolyam, 26-53. szám)

1943-11-25 / 48. szám

Page 4

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURISTIC

BRANCH 366 CLEVELAND, OHIO

4 ________

Column Conductor — J. J. Horvath

We really appreciate The Ferret’s tenacity and cognition, as far as the Verhovay Journal is concerned- She has been a bulwark of strength, for the Journal. She has kept on, where others, like myself, left the ship when the sailing was rough. So I want to congratulate her on her true Verhovay spirit; she is like some of us should be.

After reading the convention reports, we. note that the socalled younger generation, did not set the convention on fire; nor that the spark of four years ago waá to redivivus. Anyway, we are sorry it happened. We did expect more from our delegates, but with the war going on, problems of the organization become minor in comparison with the problems of war, and the future.

And of the future, after the war, let’s call the subject “Democracy Challenge.”

Several years ago the President of the United States made a statement, that dictators are not borne of strong governments, but of weak ones. Governments of dictators are not governments of the people, because they suppress the natural desires of the people; where in a democracy the same desire is called a definite trend; and whomsoever is in power must follow it or be relegated to political oblivion.

Let us analyse further: the government, after the war, must take leadership in providing employment, and still at the same time, take away none of our liberties, which are guaranteed to us by the Consitution.

Anybody can be an executive when things are going right; but adversity brings out the real executive ability of the government in power. Therefore, the government must take the initiative to meet that challenge.

Why are rabble rousers, who condemn the government, and individuals of the government, allowed to continue with protection from the law? Because this is a free country of free speech and the practice of religious worship, which is not denied to any person. Don’t be led astray by those who, would betray you; by those people who for their own selfish interest and purpose, would sell out the American

people for thirty pieces of silver — so they might be in a separate class. Yes, they believe in class distinction, royalty, and such rot; and not in our good American truth — that everybody is created equal. And these same rabble rousers couTd not get away with those kind of remarks in the Europe of today — nor of yesterday; they would be hunted down like dogs, and shot. ' We, in the new world, have advanced to the present, to a point where the whole world looks to us for leadership. We can be proud of this achievement. So, let us guard against anything that will infringe on our rights; it’s up to us to watch that these liberties shall not be taken away. Let’s keep our Government Democratic. We don’t give a hoot what party is in power, as long as they respect our rights to work, to worship and free speech.

I have always looked upon this poem by Ellen H. Jones, as a beautiful thought:

Would you know life abundant; Love doubled for all you give? There is a means no surer Than helping someone to live.

* * *

Louis Balogh, of Br. 366, is in service at a camp in California. Our Vice-President, Elsie Koloszvary, who works in a defense factory, has a brother affectionately called Kopi; who is also in the service, but in the Navy. Francis Schwartz, our worthy member, (brother of Frances, who was one of our staunchest members), is in the Army Air Corp, and he expects to receive his wings in the very near future.

Verhovay Hall doesn’t seem the same, since Joseph Szalay relinquished several of his many duties to the Verhovay. A person can not be in the lodge as long as Mr. Szalay, and not feel a part of that organization, and with that in view, how can he ever desert it? — never!

Louis Vassy’s arm is healing fine- You can not find better looking deputy sheriffs than Karl and Mr. Szalay.

Congratulations to the new President, Mr. John Bencze, and may the Verhovay, under his leadership, prosper and attain a position of eminence in America.

STABILITY PROGRESS

Careful, conservative and sound Investments assure the STABILITY of Verhovay’s furds and securities, thereby giving full confidence to members and prospective members.

Verbovay’s encouragement and promotion ol social movements within and among its branches is in keeping with the spirit of true FRATERNALISM.

With its assets making sizable gains yeai after year and its membership increasing by leaps and bounds. Verhovay sees before Itself a definite future which spells PROGRESS

SOCIABILITY rather than frowned upon is regarded as essential to the well-being of Ver hovay life and activities.

SOCIABILITY FRATERNALISM

•

VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

345 FOURTH AVE. PITTSBURGH, PA.

Verhovay Journal

November 25, 1943 i

The Ferret Sez . . .

Mrs. Jolán Lucas

Y’know it's a funny thtng about m e m ories—you reach a certain point in your ref miniscing, and then all of a sudden the excitement and thrills of the

moment fade away and the event has to be retouched, gilding it with only the nice things that

happened and forgetting the ugly things connected with it. So my memories of the convention—everything I can think about now

is pretty swell; I've tucked to the back of my mind those incidents

which didn’t appeal to me.

* * *

A few more remarks regarding the convention occurs to me, which should be passed on for what it’s worth. Towards the end of our two weeks’ sojourn in the smoky city, it could be noticed where delegates were becoming homesick. The last few days certainly dragged out—the excitement of the first week built us up to an awful let-down. However, when elections began at 5 P. m. on Friday of the last week, tension reached the boiling point.

If ever in my life I saw a gathering so tense, so worked up to a pitch it was when electing the Board of Directors and the Auditing Committee. Ye gods, if the delegates can’t see how important and necessary it is to have a better system of election, now' is the [ time to work out a system that will give us at least a dignified appearance. Why ballots can’t be drawn up like our city, state and national ballots is beyond me. When you have between 25 and 45 names on a blackboard to elect eight men, there is something so wrong that it takes a mere woman’s breath away. Seems to me that after being together for nearly two weeks, the men and women should know each other well enough to decide who ie suited and who would not be acceptable as officers for the positions. About three days before election, it could be decided whose names should go on the ballots, and then if last minute suggestions are ! made, it wouldn’t take but a I minute to add a name or two— but this having a list of so many names, and each candidate getting two or three voles a Piece, it knocks the chance of the good men being pushed out by a vote or two.

Another important suggestion which was made but was discarded, is that delegation should be separated into various districts— that is each district should be represented by a director, or member óf the auditing committee. As it is, severat states aren’t repiesented iif the home office—for instance, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. And again Inere is Michigan with two directors and a member of the audit.ng committee —Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York are very well represented— which of course is resented by the middle-western states. This is quite understandable because I, personally, believe there is more fraternalism practiced in the middlewest branches than that which I noted in the eastern bránches. Don’t all jump on me at once, but every time suggestions were made for the benefit of the majority of the members, who voted against it

—yep,'the eastern delegation. We out here in the middle west have our bowling matches between cities, our social get-togethevs, our ball clubs, our bend drives, etc. We don’t need c.iacl’ing by our ciiprei ie office :o get together and spread fraternalism. There Is more to being a Verhovay member than securing new members for the business end of the deal—we believe in spreading some of that love for the “brotherhood of man” which is the original purpose of all fraternal organizations. And another thing I noted in talking to the various secretaries at the convention—the larger branches are always trying to absorb the smaller branches, but y'ur small branches have more feeling for fraternalism and friendship than what is found in the big mimbe: branches. There you have your eternal squabbles, and discord—or else the branches are run on sich uificient i.usiuess principles that the wha’e ide? of fratern-ii-n. is lost.

The arguments presented by the second generation delegates to hold the future conventions in the English language is sound—but of course, it can be seen that this radical change is not quite ready to be put into effect as yet. There are still too many Hungarian speaking branches which need to be represented. Of course, if the new by-laws which were proposed at the convention are put into effect—that is, having only those members elected as district and national delegates to represent English speaking branches who are American born or received their education in American schools—it Will do away with a few more of the older delegates representing the newer generation. This will give us at least a fighting chance to see that both elements are fairly represented. However, one must readily admit that two weeks at a convention spent where only Hungarian is used does something to impiove one’s vocabulary in another tongue. I was quite able to swing those huge Hungarian words—which of course, once learned, is hard to forget again.

Noted that propaganda talk from the sly ones, against those who were honest and fear.ess, seldom had effect. Honesty in a person usually has power to overcome some of that political maneuvering which is like an undercurrent of evil. Noted where some of our second generation delegates, and yes, even some of the older folks, were overwhelmed by the details which were brought; out to undermine candidates who had a fairly good chance of election. Sometimes these sly ones won, but not without a good majority knowing how It was done, and disliking the methods which were used. But so goes politics— there are many angles to the game. As I stated time and again, I learned the hard way. I suppose I should have listened to the wise old heads warning me, but this old gal is the sort of person who has to find out things in original ways—but learning the whys and wherefores on one's, own usually manages to teach the lesson in a way which is hard to forget. Well, the lesson gained was worth the effort—and worth the disappointments, too, as a very good friend of mine said to me; sometimes our visions are too high, and must be brought down to the level of reality. After the hurt is gone, we can start all over again.

* * *

BRANCH NEWS: Our Hallowe’en party was a howling success. We had 30 adults and 8 children—the kids’ were paraded into the Verhovay club and Mr. Henry Keller, caretaker of the Verhovay home had the club members help pick out the winners. Wee Edwina Horvath, who is two years old, won as the cutest masquerader in a cowboy costume. Sylvia Horváth in her clown suit won as funniest, and booby prizes went to Ernest Fernandez, Jr., grandson of Mrs. Samuel Toth, and to a young niece of Marie Gallowich.

Cider and doughnuts were plentiful—and the three members of the entertainment committee, President John Fisher, Mrs. Mary Horvath and Marie Gallowich, certainly put on a good show. For once we have the nucleus of a darn .good committee—and all I can say is that those three worked to make the party a success. Thanks, pals.

The Hallowe’en party suggested a Christmas Party, with everyone bringing a two-bit present to be exchanged at the festivities. Perhaps we can dope something out at our November meeting.

Deadline is near—five more minutes to get this in the box—so so-long until next issue.

JOHNNY GET YOUR (SHOT) GUN

Johnny, get your (shot) gun and shell;

We’re gonna do some killin’;

Where the bunnies are disiillen —

Scurrying o’er each hill and dell.

We’ll bring in all the wild game we can get;

They’re gonna get shot —

There’ll be meat in the pot —

And we’ll be saving on ration points, you bet.

Johnny, get your (shot) gun; take out the car, — ’Cause from coast to coast —

We can boast and boast —

Of the wonderful hunters we all are.

EMMA JENE EVANS, age 14.