Verhovayak Lapja, 1945 (28. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)

1945 / Verhovay Journal

September 12, 1945

AMERICAN HUNGARIAN RELIEF, INC.,

REPORTS

MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM S. KEY head of the American military commission in Budapest, Hungary, presents to the Hungarian Red Cross medical supplies purchased by the American Hungarian Relief, Inc.

Medical supplies purchased for the $10,000 donated by Chapter 10, Los Angeles, Cal., were presented to the Hungarian Red Cross by Major General William S. Key. As soon as the State Department advised the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., that the supplies have been acknowledged by the Hungarian Red Cross, the Executive Board of the Relief Committee issued another ten thousand dollars to the American Red Cross, requesting that medical supplies for this amount be purchased and sent to Hungary through the International Red Cross in Switzerland. At the same time, steps have been taken by the Board in preparation of a third shipment for which $30,000 are to be spent. Altogether, Hungary’s people are going to receive $50,000 worth of medical supplies during the first phase of the relief-campaign. It is hoped that the second and third shipment will be delivered shortly.

REPORTS APPROVED BY PRESIDENT’S WAR RELIEF CONTROL BOARD

All relief organizations of this kind are supervised by the President’s War Relief Control Board to which quarterly statements must be submitted. The first report, covering April, May and June, 1945, was duly submitted to the Board. Mr. James Brunot, Executive Director of the President’s War Relief Control Board, on August 22nd, 1945, notified Mr. Ernest W, Alexander, National Treasurer of the American Hungarian Relief, Inc., that the statement has been audited and approved by the Board.

Mr. Alexander also issued a report for the general public. This report covers the entire period from March 19 to August 10, 1945. During these five months the treasurer received $101,412.25. Expenditures amounted to $21,940.97 and the balance was, as of August 10th, $79,471.28.

Five American Hungarian Fraternal Associations paid $14,200, of which the highest amount, $5,000, was contributed by the Verhovay. (The Board of Directors of the Association voted $20,000, but that amount was not supposed to be issued in a lump sum. Up to this time the Verhovay paid 14th of the amount it pledged.)

Donations from the chapters and individuals totalled $87,212.25.

Under disbursements we find that $10,000 were spent for medical supplies which have been sent to Hungary. Nearly 480 dollars are deducted for checks that have been returned' because of insufficient funds. $11,673.62 have been spent for administrative purposes. This last item represents 11% of the total contributions which is not too high, considering that the amount was spent for the promotion of the movement which was retarded by a great deal of hostile propaganda. Had American Hungarians everywhere given as full support to the Relief-movement as did the good people in Los Angeles, much less expenses would have been incurred. Nevertheless, the movement is making headway and it is fair to assume that the proportion of the administrative expenses to the receipts will decrease with the ever-growing volume of contributions which are received by the Treasurer. At the end of the first year the administrative expenses will probably shrink to 8% and a year from now they will not exceed 6%, provided that the volume of contributions will not decrease. That, however, is hardly possible, for the great masses of American Hungarians haven’t even been touched yet. In many cities the campaign is supported with reservations one of which was that monies shall be forwarded only after proof has been received that the contributions had been used for the benefit of the needy people of Hungary. Such proof did come forth and, therefore, collections should increase rather than decrease.

HUNDRED CHAPTERS IN OPERATION

Up to August 10th 60 chapters have sent in contributions. Since then the number of active chapters has increased to a hundred. Out of the 60 chapters figuring in the report, 20 contributed more than a 1000 dollars.

The number and locality of these fitst 20 chapters and their

contributions follow:

10. Los Angeles, Cal _______________________________$20,000.00

13. New York, N. Y. (Rev. Takaró, chairman)___ 7,143.48

18. San Francisco, Cal. ________1__________________ 4,921.92

33. Cleveland, O. __________________________________ 4,740.14

13. South Bend, Ind. _______________________________ 3,608.44

33. Chicago, 111. ____________________________________ 3,484.29

30. Dayton, O. _____________________________________ 3,100.50

2. Pittsburgh, Pa. _______________________________ 3,065.80

UNITED WE STAND ...

REPORT ON THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY-CELEBRATION OF ST. STEPHENS BRANCH 21, YOUNGSTOWN, O.

Verhovay Journal________________

John Dickinson says in the '‘Song of Liberty”: “By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.” A somewhat similar quotation was used as an inscription on the flag of the Pulaski Legion which was organized by Col. Michael DeKovats, trainer of Washington’s first Cavalry-regiment. This great Hungarian-born hero of the Independence war selected a Latin quotation to this effect: “T^ere is greater power in forces united.”

These thoughts come to our mind when we remember the successful anniversary celebration of St. Stephen’s Branch 21, of Youngstown, O., which was held on Sunday, September 2, 1945.

True to the origin and name of this branch, the celebration began at St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church at 10:30 AM., when Holy Mass was celebrated in commemoration of the founding, 45 years ago, of the St. Stephen’s Benefit Society. The great church was filled to capacity by grateful worshippers who came to offer their thanksgiving prayers to the Almighty who so blessed the endeavors of the humble founders of this society that it survived the adversities that were faced during the 45 years of its existence.

At one o’clock the audience gathered in the huge auditorium of St. Stephen’s Parish. Fellow-members and friends came from near and far to celebrate the occasion, in true Hungarian fashion.

Mr. Augustus Habodasz, president of the celebrating branch, greeted the great host of guests and then, upon his request, the Rev. Father Lorenz Biro offered grace.

An excellent dinner was served that won the praise of all the guests. Then Mr. Habodasz called upon Mr. Stephen Matassy, Counsel of the Verhovay F. I. Association, to take charge as Master of Ceremonies.

The National anthem was sung by the audience, accompanied on the piano by Miss Mary Jane Haluska. Mr. Matassy then introduced the ladies who prepared the dinner and whose efforts were rewarded by the cheering and applauding audience.

The Rev. Father Biro and the Rev. Botty, minister of the Hungarian evangelical-reformed church, greeted the celebrating branch and expressed their good wishes. Then Mr. Matassy introduced the Rev. Father Frank Kosztik, priest of a Slovakian Catholic Church, who spoke of fraternalism as a uniting power. He pointed out that there are at least five times as many Slovaks organized in fraternal societies as are Hungarians. Being interested in the subject, he studied the situation and arrived at the conclusion that Hungarians have joined their fraternal societies in lesser numbers because the clergy did not suport these societies in their quest for joining the various groups of Hungarian immigrants.

These statements, uttered on that occasion, may have had caused embarrassment had they been spoken by a representative of another religious denomination. But coming from a Roman Catholic clergyman, they certainly gave cause to serious thinking.

The Home Office of the Association was represented by Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz who extended his congratulations and best wishes to the branch for further successes in behalf of the membership of the Association. Then he reminded the audience that while we celebrate our anniversaries around richly set tables, our brethren in old Hungary are on the brink of starvation. It is our sacred duty to* share our plenty with the people of Hungary whose bitter fate would be ours, too, if we hadn’t found a new and better existence in the United States.

Mr. Joseph Danish, manager of Branch 21, presented the history of the St. Stephen’s Society, from its foundation to the present time. The audience listened with great attention to the story of how the merger of St. Stephen’s Society with the Verhovay came about. It was good to hear from the report that St. Stephen’s Branch 21, continued its beneficial activities even after the merger and is still practicing Christianity by supporting all charitable movements.

Frank Brogley, Director, spoke in behalf of the Grand Committee of Youngstown, O., Director John Korosfoy brought the greeting of the Alliance, Ö., branches, and Vice-President Joseph Szalay conveyed the greetings of Branch 14, Cleveland, O.

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34. Buffalo, N. Y. ________________________________T — 3,027.80

52. Akron, O. ______________________________________ 2,325.00

20. Philadelphia, Pa. _______________________________ 1,819.10

28. Youngstown, O. ________________________________ 1,700.00

12. Detroit, Mich. ________________ 1,700.00

38. Canton, O. _________ 1,616.00

22. New York, N. Y. (Mr. Cholnoky, chairman) -___ 1,604.66

36. Milwaukee, Wis.____________ 1,604.00

65. Newark, N. J. _________________________________ 1,115.85

56. Allentown, Pa. ____,____________________________ 1,001.00

29. Trenton, N. J. _________________________________ 1,000.00

35. Passaic, N. J.___________________________________ 1,000.00

Of course, it should be remembered that many of the chapters contributing less than a thousand dollars operate in territories where there are few Americans of Hungarian descent. Considering the small American Hungarian population of Leechburg, Pa., Springdale, Pa., Kulpmont, Pa., and others, one can’t help admiring the generosity of the good people in these towns for, individually, many of them have made higher contributions than the majority of the city-dwellers.

Millions are needed and the amount of $101,412.25, contributed up to now, is only the beginning. And let us not forget that the campaign is not limited to Americans of Hungarian descent. Human misery appeals to all who have a heart for the unfortunate. And there are many Americans who, though not having anything in common with the people of Hungary, have offered their services and contributions. It is that much more the duty of Hungarian immigrants’ descendants to heed to call and to help the land of their fathers.

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LET’S TALK BUSINESS!

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good 25% short of your '‘high wages” ... You couldn’t buy a thing ... what you bought, you paid for and how! Then they called it “war-time prosperity.” Morgenthau sat down in his comfy arm-chair, took out a long pencil and a sheet of paper and pompously announced that the American people saved so many billions during the last few; years ,.. Don’t know, where the wizards are, for even though we, too, made more money ... we end up as broke as the church-mouse ...

And now, the scenery changes again ... The mills close and the veterans return to find that their jobs are gone “due to the change of circumstances ...” Millions are laid off... Sure, they will get unemployment compensation ... and the recipients will go to the grocer and the old question, forgotten for four years, will again tremble on their lips: “HOW MUCH?” Now they call it: “reconversion.” Pretty name that. It will send millions to the dictionary, but it won’t yield much information for it won’t tell TO WHAT WE RECONVERT? To a post-war prosperity that followed the first world-war and ended with a bang? To a depression that followed Black-Wednesday? Or to NORMALCY ... the dream of millions which hasn’t been realized anywhere since we were bom? Is there such a thing as normalcy? Or does it express the economic ideal which, like all ideals, is a thing to dream about but never to see realized? Is normalcy normal or is it Supreme Abnormality?

No use to ask such questions and no use trying to find the answers. The Verhovay Journal von’t change the course of events. All it can do is to make attempts for the finding of a way by which NORMALCY can be endured by our hard-hit membership ... All the Journal can do, is offer suggestions how to survive the hardships of normalcy —whatever that means ...

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

The Verhovay went thfough the war, too ... Up to now more than 175 members lost their lives in the service of their country ... the greatest in the world! How many are permanently disabled we have no way to find out...

And while our heroic young men fought, suffered, conquered and died, we struggled on.., Activities were near to the freezing point. Our branch-managers worked 50-60-70 hours every week. They had no time. They didn’t get gasoline. It cost a supreme effort on their part to retain the members of their branches and if they secured new ones, they achieved the nearly impossible ... Whenever an appeal was made to them for some kind of service... or for participation in a movement... or for joining a membership drive..» few could reply in the affirmative: most of them said it is impossible....

YET LISTEN TO THIS: BETWEEN PEARL HARBOR AND THE SIGNING OF THE ARMISTICE AT TOKIO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION INCREASED BY SIXTHOUSAND (6,000) MEMBERS!

And this is NET increase..» It was achieved while more than

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