The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-05
SL0vAK UNION, MORE THAN TWO
 MILLION STRONG, MAY ASSESS
 EVERY MEMBER FOR RED CROSS

With n, .,e than 2,250.OO0 members
 liable. the First Catholic Slovak Union
 of the United States of America, which
 is in convention here, is considering
 assessing everyone in the organization for the benefit of the Red Cross fund
 The suggestion, which was made to-
 day, met with some approval, and &C.,
 ton will be taken this week. A stir among the many members oi the union throughout the country
 is expected to be caused by the action
 of the delegates today in transferring the national officers from Middletown
 Pa, to Cleveland, O.
 The Fourteenth bienpial convention
 of the union began it's weeks session
 at Sokal hall, Hallett street this morn, ing following mass celebrated by its
 chaplain, Rev. Andrew Pasco, of Free land, Pa., in the church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.
 About 250 delegates attended who were seated later in the convention hall, which had been decorated inside and out for the occasion. Delegates were reported from every state in the
 union. The meeting was called to or der at g o'clock by President Joseph Kiesel of Scranton.
 President Kieseps report read before the convention this afternoon makes radical recommendations as we'll as showing that the membership and finances of the organization have in- creased to a remarkable extent during the last year.
 The Slovak union was formed Sept.
 4. 1890, for the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of its members and to support sick and disabled members and relatives.
 The presidents report shows that the membership Is now s7,00o, or more than one-qunrter more than 1t was last year. More than $37,00O,0 1000 of insurance. has been written by the union, which has now passed it's two million and a quarter mark in mem- bership.
 The report. shows that since the last convention recommendations towards deeding it's orphanage in Pennsylvania to the Sisters of Mercy and the es- tablishment of a Franciscan order priest for the spiritual guidance of the 90 orphans, has been accomplished. It is recommended that the farm at- tached 10 the orphanage, now one of the /show spots of Pennsylvania, be placed under the direct charge of an agricultural college graduate that it may be improved from an. economic standpoint, also that a home for the aged and crippled be established.
 Other recommendations are the com bin1ng of the officers of the recording and financial secretary under that of the present secretary, the increased salary of the president and removal of the national offices.
 Clubs for the women and children as well as for the men under the
 union is advocated after an exhaustive
 study of social conditions recently
 made by the president.
 It is reported that the failure. o1
 the Hteracy act to pass congress- has met with favor of all Slovaks in this country who deem the requirements proposed too severe upon many of the race who would make good ciizens if admitted into the country. Reports of other officers were read at today's session and will be con- tinued tomorrow. The union is re- ported to have established $50 | branches in America
 One committee was oppointed to- day, that of grievances and charity The members are Jos. Hiznay, Wilkes