ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-03-24
Croafian Frafernd| Union Membership
Not Factor In Naturalization Process
Membership In Society Isn't Of Concern
To United States Department Of Justice


To United States Department Of Justice
BY v. l. Mandich, Supreme President
Pittsburgh Pa. - For quite time now, have been
intending to write subject of great Importance to
members but which is generally only whispered about and
not popular subject for writing. What have in mind
the following:
Innumerabe times in the past years that have
been holding this office members from Pittsburgh and vc
nifty to the Supreme Office asking my assistance
in their application for American citizenship AS always
since first to America back in 1918 glad help
Our first immigrants to America to this country
with the intention of working and saving their hard earned
money and then eventually returning to their native villa
ges and their families the old homestead At first, very
few of them had any notion of becoming American citizens
However, between the First World War and World War
IT, these immigrants became accustomed the American
way of e and of them decided to bring their
families here, and to become American citizens -"
The naturalization laws much less strict then than
they Many older who neglected to obtain
his citizenship papers during his earlier years is having
difficulty in doing So
What motivated my writing this article is the fact that
of these applicants for citizenship blaming
bershp in the Croaan Fraerna Union for their inability
to naturalization. t}~'
In the past years, have cleared many such
in the States of Pennsylvania and Ohio and found
that membership in the Croaan Fraernal Union did not
anyone from having his application for American citizen
ship granted. a, .sr
On the contrary in many of the cases. was established
that altogether different caused delay but they
enormously insisted that their membership in the Croaan
| Fraternal Union the
Several of these cleared in Chicago where
irresponsible spreading of uruhs caused us much harm
and embarrassment Lately, have been called upon to
help clarity similar in the West In every to date
it found that membership in the Croaan Fraternal
Union did not the obtaining of citizenship papers,
In several instances, it established that member
ship in the "Croatian Benevolent Fraternity" of the w. O.
the time application citizenship years passed.
barred the applicant from American citizenship but still
they insisted that it their membership in the Croatan
Fraenal Union that caused their failure to be granted
citizenship.
The latest case involves one of our members from
northern California Here the member insisted that be-
he is member of the Croaan Fraterna Union, he
denied American citizenship In order to bring end
these claims his brought the attention of the
United States Department of Justice Washington and
the following reply received which quote in full:
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
| WASHINGTON 25 d. G..
| Please refer to this
February 25 1854 56244/727-A INV:CS
Croatian Fraternal Union of America
BAL Forbes Street
Pittsburgh 49, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Reference is made to your letter February TO- 1854
concerning the naturalization of members of the Croaan
| Fraternal Union OF America.
No finding has been made by this Service that the
Croatian Fraterna Union within the prescription of
the immigration and Nationality Act of 1862 However
that Act requires personal investigation
with regard to the activities of all aliens applying for citizen
ship to determine their eligibility for whether
not they happen be members of organization
Since of these Investigations take considerable period
of me delays be expected in certain individual
Raymond F. Farrell (signed)
Assistant Commissioner
| Investigations Division
This letter should put end to all malicious gossip and
insinuations whispered against our Society,"
To make clear, wish to emphasize that in the above
in haVn
jurisdiction such matters confirms that membership in
the Croaan Fraternal Union bars from becoming
a naturalzed citizen of the United States.
Should any of members desire copy of the letter
order to clarity expedite the investigation of his app
cation for citizenship, will be glad to fAnish it.
Let there therefore, be malicious statements
made concerning the Croatan Fraterna Union which
first and foremost American fraterna and beneficial
organization having the honorable task among Americans
of Croatan origin keep alive their Croaan national
scousness and to promote the Coatan language music and
culture in the United States of America!