Evening star., 1939-07-23
(TUentieth of a SerieS)
By TOM and HARLE DAMMANN

(TUentieth OF Series.)
BY TOM and HARLE DAMMANN.
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia.-Presi-
dent Roosevelts N. r. A. blue eagle
may have been killed in America,
but its twin is still alive and flap
ping in Belgrade, capital of Yugo-
slavia. United States Supreme
Court decisions simply cut no ice
here, especially with Milan Cove
darica, who for three and half
years has been prosperouslv con-
Quoting his shirt tie-undCrWear.
and-pa jana business under the once
familiar-to Americans-sign of the
blue eagle.
Govedarica's shop is located in
the heart of the city, almost next
door to King Peter lis palace. En-
blazoned in neonic glory in front
of the store are the three letters
N. r. A. Over the display window
is a picture of the blue eagle with
the famous words. I'VE do our part,
inscribed beneath. In the window
is a pleasant array of shirts, ties,
underwear and pajamas, each with
an N. R. A. label seWed to it.
Govedarica can neither read nor
speak a word of anything but Ser
bian-least of all English. However,
through the kindly Interpretation
of neighboring shopkeepers we
learned his story. He halls from
small town in Herzogovenia, in
the western part of Yugoslavia. A
great many Herzegovenians have
emigrated to America and among
them many of Govedarica's friends
and relatives. Through them he
and others left behind are kept up
to date on American life. -Four
years ago he was casting about for
ways and means to support his
growing family and decided to open
a shirt shop in Belgrade. At that
time there was much talk of the
N. r. A. in America.
Fanatic Believers in Liberty.
Now. as Govedarica explained to
us, the people of Yugoslavia, very
democratic at heart, believe more
fanatically in liberty and equality
than any other people in the world.
But there is little real democracy
here and the majority of the people
live in abject poverty. Such things
as political equality. the secret bal
lot, eight-hour days. old-age PEN
sions, and other things which We
Americans are beginning to accept
as commonplace are unheard of
here The peoples inherent desire
for them, however, makes them in
terested in their development in
the great democracies. Even in
the smallest villages we have heard
peasants discussing the New Deal
and its aspects.
so it was" Govedarica told us,
that the people were talking lot
about this NJ r. A. thing when 1
wanted to start my new business in
Belgrade. They were saying thinks
like This President Roosevelt, he's
a truly great man; he knows that
a hard working man can't live all
his days on just bread and cheese
with a little wine: he knows that
the poor man has as much right
to liberty and good things as the
rich man. But he doesn't just sit
around talking; no, not this Presi-
dent Roosevelt, he acts Now, look
at this N. r. A. business he has
started. Do you know that on ac-
count Of that our Yugoslav people
in the Pennsylvania mines only have
to work for eight hours a day and
for five days a Week?'"
Milan Govedarica is no great
shakes as a social reformer or demo-
cratic philosopher and doesn't worry
himself with such abstracts as eight
hour days and trade practice regu-
lations. He is good business man,
however.
This Roosevelt man has thought
up good new idea," he argued four
years ago. The people like it. I'll
name my store N R. A."
Business Is Business"
That is how N r. A. with its blue
eagle came TO Yugoslavia. 1t stays
here because, as Govedarica says,
business is business and my N. R. A.
business is good despite your Su-
preme Court"
If this story has any points they
are that the ordinary Yugoslav
thinks that America is the greatest
Nation in the world and that Presi-
den Roosevelt is the greatest states
man. They don't still believe that
American streets are paved with
gold, but they are certain that it is
the land of freedom and oppor-
tunity. They cling pathetically to
the hope that through the good
ofnces and example of the United
States the world will be led to
better, more peaceful life.
It is not only in the field of poll
tics and economics that America
is respected and looked to for guild
ance. We have felt more at home
here. materially speaking, than any,
where else in Europe. During hot
weather in Italy, France or any of
the other countries we have visited,
We have felt out of place If we
donned white suits, white shoes and
panama hats. Not 50 here, for Yugo-
slav style is set In America-in