Verhovayak Lapja, 1949 (32. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1949 / Verhovay Journal
PAGE 10 Verhovay Journal February 16, 1949 Memorial Tablet By Alexander Finta To Mark Site Of Kossuth’s Stay In Pittsburgh LOUIS KOSSUTH Dot huiicariah Patriot. Champioii or LIBERTY STATESKUI AND ORATOR. C0YERF10R Of HUnCARY 111 ««.LODGED in THE HOTEL Sr. CHARLES OH THIS SITE JAMMY 22-31,1852 AS CHEST 0E THE CITY OE PITTSBURGH WHILE OH ATUIR OT THE (MlTED STATES THIS TABLET PLACED BY THE MAGYARS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA American Hungarians of Western Pennsylvania recently decided to place a memorial tablet on front of the Ijlotel Sheraton at Wood St., and Third Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh, in commemoration of Louis Kossuth’s stay in the Steel City, at the Hotel St. Charles, on the same site, on January'22-31, 1852, as guest of the City of Pittsburgh, The tablet, depicted above, is the work of the internationally known Hungarian sculptor Alexander Finta, first prize winner of forty-three art exhibitions in thirteen countries. The United Magyar Civic Association of Western Pennsylvania contributed the first hundred dollars to the project launched by the Hungarian Professional Society of Pittsburgh, and many additional donations had been received from enthusiastic Magyars who want this tablet to be a testimonial to the love of Liberty so gloriously demonstrated by .the Hung-arian nation in the Independence War of 1848-49 under the leadership of Louis Kossuth, the great Hungarian patriot, ehámpion of liberty, statesmen and orator. * The Other Side of the Story (Continued from page 9) of the “GIMME” philosophy of our modern age. They want to GET, but not IN RETURN for what they put forth in efforts: they want something for nothing. While the “GIMME” philosophy has gained some following even among the older folks, most of them have retained the old-fashioned way of looking at life as an opportunity for GETTING something IN RETURN for whatever effort and energy they may be able to "invest. In fact, they are willing to make some effort for the success of causes from which they don’t expect any benefits. They are willing to sell tickets, to solicit advertisements, to reach in their own-pockets, to push tables, in other words: to SERVE. Can anyone really blame them if they seem to resent that some people will appear only when everything is ready, sit down at the table for a free meal, and then freely criticize the old-fashioned shabhiness of the whole affair? This is put frankly, we admit, but it is the truth, A bitter truth, regretted more deeply by no one but the elders who would like to see the young people work with them and who are only too willing to let them have the run of things once they will have proved their ability to do as good a job as the oldtimers. And that the elders do not drop the whole thing, hook, line and sinker, into the lap of Youth, has a reason, too. It has become apparent in too many instantees thatl the elders consider first what is to the advantage of the Association, its progress, its future, while many young people think only of their own immediate ends. After all, the Association is entitled to SOME BENEFIT from any undertaking launched under its auspices, especially because whatever "benefits the Association ultimately benefits the membership as a whole, and that’s the purpose of every activity. Naturally, when experience tells the elders that some plan, proposed perchance by a young member, will not serve the progress of the Association, they will not be inclined to adopt the plan just because it was suggested by a representative of Youth. But, after all, opposition is no crime, it 'is a democratic privilege. It is the vote that decides every issue and if the young members agree among themselves on''a plan, they can outvote the handful of elders attending the meetings in any branch. Why don’t they? Because they can’t agree among themselves. But, then, why criticize the elders for objecting when the young people exercise the same privilege just as freely even in the face of their own leaders ? And how can the leader of a young group convince the elders of the soundness of* his ideas if he cannot even succeed in lining up the members of his own group in support of his proposal? Naturally, the elders conclude that not even the young people approve of the plan, so why should they adopt it against their own judgment ? It is a human trait to blame others for our own failures. The elders have been the favorite scapegoat for the ills of fraternal societies for a long time. True, much damage has been done by the shortsighted, intolerant attitudes of the former leaders but most of the guilty ones had long since departed to where they can neither hear our reproaches nor undo the damages caused by them. That’s water down the river. Let’s face present realities; they are different from those of bygone days. The present generation of elders has much more respect for the rights of Youth and much more understanding for its needs than any other generation before it. To be sure, there is plenty of room for improvement but let’s be broadminded enough to admit that there is plenty of room for improvement ON BOTH SIDES. As the situation stands today, neither group has much cause to reproach the other, and certainly no group has the right to take a ‘holier than thou’ attitude toward any other group. It’s high time that we stop fault finding with each other and start cooperating with one another. It is downright childish to say “I won’t help if things aren’t done my way.” As members cf a minority, we may oppose certain projects, but once the issue had been settled by a vote, it behooves the minority to cooperate with the majority. Only by such a demoratic attitude may a defeated minority ever win the cooperation of the majority for some of its own projects. Though we fully subscribe to Youth’s demand for equal consideration in the affairs of the Association, we respectfully submit that the claim of Youth having been oppressed and deprived of opportunities by the elders has been overworked by this time. It’s time to bury old resentments caused by situations that have disappeared, to a great extent, with the passing of years. And let’s not forget either that those elders, old-fashioned and often ill-chosen though their methods had been, did succeed in building a Ten Million Dollar organization, Sixty Thousand members A man and his wife could retire comfortably on $100 a month. Eggs were 12 cents a dozen, and other living costs in proportion. There was no such deduction from the pay check as “Income Tax.” 6% on investments was considered norma! and safe. A frugal family could plan f<5r future retirement with a high degree of confidence. The accumulation of a $20,000 capital promised a $100-amonth return, and it was anticipated to be all take-home pay, with no taxes and low prices. Life Insurance was considered favorably as a protection, but not particularly as a good investment. Now, however . . . All at once we have for the first time in our history, all three severe deterrents to the accumulation of money: high cost of living, high income taxes, and low interest yields. A man can earn a fair salary, but by the time he pays his taxes and replenishes the family larder at today’s prices, he has less to save — and, on top of that, on whatrihe can save, he gets only 19c to 2% interest. ✓ Can he live long enough to save enough to retire ? Can he really reach his objective of $100 a month, say, at age 65 ? Figure it out for yourself. * Life Insurance provides the answer. The only answer. It guarantees sestrong, out of what today would seem a ridiculously small beginning. And the nearly one hundred American born managers and the several hundred young branch-officers working at their side today, are proof that these elders are willing to give Youth the opportunity to prove itself. To be sure, some branches are more backward in this respect than others, but, then, Youth isn’t equally ambitious and progressive everywhere, either. On the whole, however, the situation has improved sufficiently to warrant mutual acceptance, respect, confidence and cooperation. The root of1 the trouble lies in that once the elders did not have enough confidence in the abilities of the young people. The inevitable consequence of that was that the young people of today have no confidence in the sincerity of the elders’ changed attitude. But if lack of confidence was wrong then, it is just as wrong today. A new atmosphere of mutual confidence must be created and that this is possible has been proved. If we only have patience with each other’s shortcomings, nothing will stand in the way of progress. Errors of judgment are not limited to any one generation, nor can any generation claim to be entirely right. Let’s quit talking so much about what separates us and concentrate on those things in which all sincere people can be united regardless of age. In conclusion we would like to make one suggestion to branches where, due to the preponderance of older members, the use of the Hungarian language seems to be one of the main causes Cf friction between the elders and the young folks..Obviously, those elders who have been unable to learn the American language, won’t be able to do so now. The exclusive use of the American language would deprive them of an opportunity to participate in the proceedings. The situation was similar at the last National Convention when both languages were used and that’s probably the only satisfactory solution of the problem in branchmeetings, too. curity fór a man’s family if he dies before having completed his savings program. For whatever amount he may have set as his goal, it is guaranteed to his survivors from the day his first premium has been paid. His estate is fool-proof, fire-proof, failure-proof,’ and — tax-proof. Nor do the interest returns on his premiums compare unfavorably with those of other investments. The investment rating of Life Insurance has gone up considerably. Today a Life Insurance policy is a gilt edged security, a high grade bond, a first class investment. You must save some money each month — for the rainy day that will come — sure as rain. If you put your savings, all of your savings, in Life Insurance, you will have provided for the rainiest of all rainy days. And if and when you attain old age, your Life Insurance Savings will give you independence, freedom from hunger, freedom from fear, while throughout your life time you will have enjoyed the peace of mind that comes from the consciousness of having lived up to your responsibilities toward your wife and your children. Compared to what it buys, Life Insurance costs you very little. In times of high prices, high taxes and low investment returns — it is your best bargain. Don’t delay! You may no longer be insurable tomorrow. Today is the day — the only day that is really yours . . . ONCE UPON A TIME ...
