Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-12
A CENT A MONTH FOR POLAND.
The Movement for Polish National FEES
direction Very Active NOW.

Since the Emperor OF Germany began
| to direct attention to measures aimed
against his Polish subjects in Prussia
| the Polish national movement in the
| United States. and indeed all over the
| world, has taken on increased activity.
! The movement has entirely died out in
this country.
Chicago, Baltimore and Washington
have always been active centres for
Polish agitations, and the large Polish
population of New York is now taking
new interest in the movement. The
gathering Of funds for the futherancc
of Polish national resurrection has
gone on steadily even during long Pc
riods when the Polish movement at
tracted no special attention.
An active supporter of the movement
says that his people have learned the
futility of instructions under ordinary
| conditions and have determined to
await the opportunity that a general
European war or some special condi-
tons in the states that have parti-
toned Poland will afford. While
lawaiting this movement the Poles are
preparing for it. They know that when
the opportunity comes it will be too
late to prepare.
singular accompaniment Of the PO-
fish movement is the assessment laid
on every Pole in whatever part of the
world. The assessment is only one cent
Il month, but it falls upon every man,
woman and child of the Polish race
and very few refuse to pay it. while
many contribute much more than the
regular assessment.
1t is held that the movement will
Profit most from an assessment so low
that even the poorest can pay it, for
thus the largest possible number of
Poles can be kept Interested The
money thus collected is forwarded
through secret channels to Switzerland,
where the treasurer resides, and is used
as seems best to the managers of the
movement.
Probably some of it has been used to
enable Poles. to buy back the estates III
Prussia bought by the German govern
ment some years ago and sold to Ger
man colonists. Other appropriations are
made for various objects bearing di-
movement.
Money for these purposes flows in
rectly or indirectly upon the national
freely and if there seemed an early
prospect of special activity the sub
scriptions would be enormously in
creased. The obtaining of money is the
easiest part of the propagander. for the
Polish national movement is furthered
by a great variety of organizations.
Shooting societies, athletic societies.
beneficial societies of various sorts, all
have some relation to the national
movement. At the same time the Po-
lish Catholic priests in this country and
throughout the world zeaously foster
the national spirit in their congrega-
tions. No people are truer TO the Cath
olic church than the Poles, and the
priests respond by being peculiarly
sympathetic with the national aspira-
tions of their people. p
There are some very successful Poles
in this city and elsewhere in the coun-
try. and the solidarity CT the resident
Poles is remarkable. Noble and peas
ant come together in pleasant inter-
course and are at one in their desire
for the furtherance of the national
movement
National customs and the national
dress are preserved as far as possible,
and in their interest in these things.
poorand rich are alike. A lecturer who
was seeking to borrow for the purposes
of illustration woman's cloak Of the