Verhovayak Lapja, 1947 (30. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)

1947 / Verhovay Journal

PAGE 4

Verhovay

Verhovay Journal

Journal of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Ass’n. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION

7907 West Jefferson Ave. Detroit 17, Mich.

PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association

Managing Editor: JOHN BENCZE Editor: COLOMAN REVESZ

Editor’s Office:

436—442 FOURTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH 19, PA.

Telephone: COurt 3454 or 3455

All articles and changes of address should be sent to the VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION 436—442 FOURTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH 19, PA.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES:

United States and Canada ..................................... $1.00 a year

Foreign Countries ..................................................... $1.50 a year

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: P. 0. BOX 7, WOOLSEY STATION — LONG ISLAND CITY 5, N. Y.

Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at Detroit, Michigan under the Act of March 3, 1879.

Supreme Secretary Honored At Testimonial Banquet

THE CONVENTION STORY

(Continued from page 3)

Journal September 24. 1947

Fifteen years of service as supreme officer were reviewed at a banquet for Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz by the Board of Directors of the Association in the Gold Room of Hotel Fort Pitt on Thursday, September 4th. Arrangements for the party, planned as a surprise to the Supreme Secretary, were made secretly during the preceding day when invitations were extended by the Board of Directors to the families of the supreme officers, the entire Home Office force and several friends and admirers of Mr. Revesz who was given the impression that a special conference was to be held at the hotel. Arriving there, he was pleasantly surprised by the ovation of the assembled* guests among whom we saw, besides the Supreme Officers, the directors, and the members of the Auditing Committee, Mrs. Bencze, Miss Yolanda Bencze, Mrs. Szalanezy, Mrs. Sabo and daughter, Mrs. Revesz and little Maria, daughter of our Supreme Secretary, Mr. and Mrs. Knodel, Mr. and Mrs. Molnár, Mrs. Prince, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Hirsch, legal counsel Stephen Matassy, chief medical adviser Dr. Gomory, Joseph Fodor, Miss Magda Bogár, Mrs. Lenart, Mrs. Rettmann, district managers Michael Simo and Frank J. Cher, Moses Bokor, George Lawrence and others. During the dinner Horvath Guszti and his gipsy orchestra arrived, who had volunteered their services in honor of Mr. Revesz. Mr. Izsó Szekely, representing the Amerikai Magyar Népszava, and Mr. Fay Fisher, editor of the Hungarian miners Journal, also attended.

Following the dinner, Supreme President John Bencze spoke eloquently of the invaluable services rendered by Mr. Revesz during the years he served first as Supreme Auditor and, then, since 1943, as Supreme Secretary.

A handsome suitcase was presented, in behalf of the directors and the Home Office employees, by Supreme Treasurer John Szalanczy who said: “I wish that you may continue in your office as long as you can find some enjoyment in your work.”

Supreme Auditor John Sabo expressed the best wishes of the second generation membership. He was followed by Vice-President Joseph Szalay who, after congratulating the Supreme Secretary, addressed Mr. Zoltán Nemeth, the ‘grand old man’

of the Home Office force who had recently completed his 15th year of service with the Home Office. The gift of the Board of Directors was presented to him with the best wishes of the officers and his fellow-workers.

Vice-President Albert B. Ari spoke for the younger generation, Ernest Kunstadt for the Auditing Committee, Miss Gizella Stefurovszky for the Home Office force and Leopold Hirsch, assistant secretary, for the membership of the merged Workingmen’s Sick Benefit Federation. Mr. Nemeth thanked the directors for remembering him. Mr. Izsó Szekely, director of the Amerikai Magyar Népszava, delivered a highly entertaining address. Andrew Fay- Fisher, editor of the Hungarian Miners’ Journal, paid tribute to Mr. Revesz as a loyal friend of the American Hungarian press, and to Mr. Nemeth as an old friend and a devtoted worker of the Association. The good wishes of director Kelemen, editor of the Dayton Hungarian Herald, were conveyed by Supreme President Mr. Bencze, who was followed by the editor of the Journal and District Manager Michael Simo.

The Supreme Secretary, deeply moved by the expressions of respect and friendship of his fellow-officers and friends, expressed his thanks to them for remembering the occasion and for the beautiful gift with which they surprised him.

The rest of the evening was spent in the happy mood of friendship and mutual understanding which always has been the main characteristic of the gatherings of the Home Office and the Board of Directors.

We believe that the membership of the Association will join the Home Office and the Board of Directors in extending their best wishes to Supreme Secretary Coloman Revesz upon his 15th anniversary as supreme officer of the Verhovay.

The secret of many a man’s success is that he has one definite idea which he keeps clearly before him. He constantly thinks of that one idea, and plans and works for it. You have seen such a man, and you have wondered how anyone lackink in so many of the desirable qualities could achieve such success. The secret was concentration. — Grenville Kleiser.

advancement. They hope that the Convention. will find it possible to assure them that their presence will not remain unrewarded.

The Memorial is warmly applauded. Though its intent is obvious, chairman Kolozsvary is reluctant to request that action be taken by the Convention at this time. He assures the representatives of the press that their request will be complied with.

The Memorial was signed by the following editors: Coloman Kaldor, Izso Szekely, Alexander Gondos, George Szecskay, Edmund Bohner, Alexander Rákosi, Sari Pataky, George Kemeny, Margaret Kunstadt and John P. Kelemen.

The Test Case.

Ernest Palos, recording secretary of the Committee of Appeals, reads the Minutes of the Committee. It develops that no unanimous agreement could be arrived at in the cases of Moses Csömör whose election was challenged by the Home Office and nullified by the Board of Directors. Moses Csömör, a representative of an American district, appealed to the Convention and his case was heard on the previous afternoon by the Committee of Appeals. It is understood that Mr. Csömör was born in Hungary and came to America in his early youth. He speaks the English language well, but he attended only evening school and received technical training in the factory where he was employed. . Several members of the committee felt that there is some discrepancy between the Hungarian and English text of the By-laws. They could not agree on the proper interpretation of the phrase: “received their education in American schools.” 18 members of the Committee are in favor of overruling the Board of Directors by ratifying the election of Mr. Csömör while 7 members voted to uphold the ruling of the Board. Thus the matter is presented for final disposal to the National Convention.

The debate is opened. The delegates are immediately reminded of the adoption of the Resolution of the second generation representatives a few minutes ago. Several of the younger delegates demand that the Convention now uphold this decision and, then, the storm breaks.

Now -the Convention realizes that this is the test case. Now the delegates realize why the young people had presented their resolution. They favored its principle but they find it difficult to apply it to a real issue.

Many of the older delegates contest the ruling of the Board of Directors. Others again, both young and old representatives, stand pat on the literal interpretation of the Bylaws which is definitely upheld by legal counsel Stephen Matassy.

The second generation members of the assembly fear a precedent which would jeopardize their rights and privileges. Some of them go too far, so much so that their case seems to be in serious jeopardy. But several of the oldest delegates rush to their aid and it is they who recapture a great deal of the support already lost.

A standing vote is taken but it is impossible to count votes amid the turmoil. Finally a roll call vote is demanded and granted.

99 delegates vote in favor of rejecting the appeal of Mr. Csömör while 59 vote in favor of upholding the ruling of the Board of directors and the majority decision of the Committee of Appeals.

Due to the support of approximately 60 Hungarian delegates, the American born representatives win their case. Mr. Csomor’s appeal is lost. He cannot represent an American district. The Convention upheld its resolution to preserve the rights and privileges of the American born membership.

Fervent applause greets the announcement. The two hour battle has been won by the youth of the Verhovay.

The Committee of Appeals withdraws. It has one more case to settle. The appeal of Joseph Darago. which seems to develop into one of the biggest issues of the Conven, tion.

Hoping that the case will be settled soon, the meeting adjourns for a prolonged lunch period.

In the lobby we meet Mr. Csömör. He is perfectly willing to talk about his case and we are deeply impressed by the sportsmanlike manner with which he accepts the verdict of the National Convention, which is based on the proper interpretation of the by-laws. It is a great relief to know that he is not resentful. He understands that the point of the law would have had to be stretched in his favor and that a dangerous precedent would have been created had the Convention adopted that course. The ability to graciously accept defeat is the foremost virtue of the true fraternalist. Mr. Csömör may have lost a case but he has won many friends . . .

Marking Time.

An expectant assembly awaits the opening of the session. Chairman Kolozsvary, after some delay, steps to the microphone and reluctantly announces that no news had been received as yet from the Committee of Appeals. He has been informed that their task will be concluded within an hour. Since then, however, more than two hours have' elapsed and the Committee still has not returned. In fact, a messenger has been sent to fetch the stenographer whose services were urgently needed. He is worried because of the

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