The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-30
.CRQA'TIANS;
CLAIM
8. eALUMNY.
Atlllege That They Arc Unfairly
Deslt With IN This coun-
& try, and Two
RESOLUTIONS ARE PRESENTED
Protesting Against Alleged Abuses,
SO and Explaining Their
Origin.

The National Society OF Croatlans con-
vened at the usual hour at Mozart
Park, with Vice President Mamek In
the chair, President Lublc being still
too sick to preside over the assembly.
AS predicted by this paper yesterday,
a commttee was appointed to revise
the bylaws. the majority Of the del
egates appearing dissatisfied with them
In their present shape. The commit
tee Is now engaged in the work OF re-
vision. sand Will bring in their report
to-day & "a
After this matter was disposed OF
a. meTber introduced resolution
which embodles 4 protest against the
abuse Of his fellow countrymen In this
country. In support OF this resolution
several delegates spoke. all in the
! same strain. They claim that In late
years the immigration authorities at
Castle Garden, In New York, have
shown prejudice against them. They
have sent them back to their native
country without even giving them a
chance to protest. They even. went
so far as to have nineteen men, who
had been in this country eighteen days.
and were employed as miners In Iowa
put In chains, and removed. like cat,
tie, to Chicago. THEY were then sent
to NeY York. where they applied to
Hon., Lyman ]. Gage, secretary OF the
treasury. to give them a hearing. They
produced facts and aflidavits. and were
heard simply through an attorney, and
were npt given 4 personal hearing, as
they demanded. The immigration in
spectors claimed they came over un-
der contract
This resolution was productive of
much discussion, the delegates using
vigorous language in denouncing what
they deemed an outrage to their coun-
trymen. One delegate said that he
personally knew that immigration In
specsor Powderiy did all in his power
to deport them back to Europe, at the
same time denounclng Croatlans as
an unfit class of Immigrants. and en-
deavoring to besmirch the Croatians Of
America. He said that this was only
one OF many Instances.
a motion was made that this resolu-
tion be sent to the President of the
United States by a special officer OF the
High Court. The resolution protests
against such acts in the future against
Croatians, as they claim TO be as good
citizens OF this country as Immigrants
OF any other nation. The resolution
cites the fact that there are over 200.-
GOO Croatians in this country, and that
there are not three ), In Jail to-day
that are charged with murder OF; any
unlawful act. The resolution passed
without a dissenting vote, and an OIL
Ger will be elected Friday to carry 1t
to Washington. 5-ig F,s
Another resolution was offered which
In effect stated that Croatlans were in
most states known as Austrians, which
In fact they are not as they have their
own home rule, with congress and
an assembly. Emperor Francis Jo-
seph. the resolution stated. was the
emperor OF Austria, but only king OF
Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatis, and
they were therefore entitled to be rec
egniZed before any court in the United
Stats. not as the subjects OF the en-
peror Of Austria, but as the subjects
OF the 'king OF Croatia. They there
fore ask all the courts OF the United
States that In the future they be rec
ognlzed as Croatians, and not as Aus
TRANS.
In speaking of the latter resolution
n, delegate said that Croatia Is to
Austria what Canada Is to England.
They had their own language. officers
and schools, whereas, the Austrians use
the German language. This matter
was left to the high committee, which
is empowered to bring II before the
public and courts OF, states and coun-
ties. so that they would get n hearing.
After this the convention took UP
variousp matters OF minor import
ance In the nature of requests OF
members for help and claims for death
and accident benefits.
To-day the reports of the committees
on bylaws. financial standing and
jury Will be heard. These reports Will
likely consume all Of to-day and part
of Friday