The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-04-04
America Owes
Much to Poles
Play Big Part in Building
United States Since
Colonial Times.

WASHINGTON.-Although Poland
again has been eclipsed in Europe,
the spirit of the Poles lives on in
the geography, history and economy
Of the United States, says the Ma
tional Geographic society.
''Since colonial times Poles have
played an important part in the
building of America. Poles were
among the settlers led by Capt. John
Smith at jamestown, Va, in 1907
and instigated what was doubtless
one of Americas first strikes when
they were not permitted to vote for
members Of the house of burgesses.
peter Stuyvesant, recognizing
Poles as colonists, induced them to
settle in New Holland New York;.
AS early as 1862 DR.. Alexander Kur-
cyusz founded in New York one Of
the first institutions of higher learn
ing in America. John Sadowski set
up trading post in 1875 that was
the forerunner Of the busy indus
trial city of Sandusky, Ohio. His
two sons were companions Of Dam
lei Boone in many Of his exploits.
Active in Colonies.
"Poles were generously sprinkled
in the Is colonies at the time of the
Revolution, contributing to the ulti-
mate freedom Of America. They had
been in Delaware as early as 1850
and William Penn numbered them
among his loyal settlers. Most ia
nous among the early Polish-Amer-
leans was Kosciuszko, who entered
the Colonial army in 1776, rose to
the rank Of colonel Of artillery and
became General Washington's adju.
tant. In 1888 congress officially
thanked him for his service. con-
ferred upon him, American citizen
ship, a pension with landed estates,
and the rank of brigadier general.
"Polish migration on a large scale
did not begin until about 1882 after
a political uprising in Poland. In
that year, in 1848, and in the eight
les, economic and political disturb
ances in the Old world lent impetus
to normal immigration. Today there
are about 1900, 900 Poles widely dis
tributed in the United States. About
80 per cent Of them are naturalized
citizens.
"A recent census shows that Chi.
cago has the largest Polish popula-
ton Of any city in the United States,
with about half million.
'Most of the immigrants from Pc.
land were landed peasants, labor.
ers, and small tradesmen in the
old country While Polish farmers
are to be found in states from coast
to coast, only one out Of ten Poles
In this country now till the soil. The
largest number of Poles are EN-.
ployed in industry, particularly in
sugar refineries, cotton mills, fur
niture factories, mines, steel mills,
automobile plants and in the lumber
industry of the Northwest.
In Higher Walks Of Life.
But agriculture and industry
have not, by any means, absorbed
all the Poles. Since the time Of
Kosciuszko and Pulaski, the latter
also famed in American history for
his military pursuits, and Haym
Salomon's generous contribution Of
funds which was a factor in the
success Of the American Revolution.
the Poles have risen to prominent
places in the professional, industrial
and commercial life Of the United
States.
Their names glare from mar.
quees of American concert halls,
motion picture theaters and opera
houses. Paderewski, whose piano
has thrilled millions, is Pole. Pola
Negri, Gamma Walska and Gilda
Gray are among the Polish celebri-
ties Of screen and stage. Leopold
Stokowski, Arthur Rubinstein. Ar.
thur Rodzinski and Joseph Holman
are but few Of the Poles who
have entertained American music
lovers. Besides these. Polish paint
ers, sculptors, financiers. college
professors. preachers and priests.
teachers and business men have
had a part in the makeup Of mod
ern America. In state and national
government men and women Of Po-
ish extraction have and are hold.
ing offices Of responsibility"