ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-05-05
Matter OF Record

Croatian Fraternal Union of America
Those who would ruin the Society may,
unfortunately be found both within and
without its ranks. Some of these are work
ing against the Croatian Fraternal Union
by design, sowing, in the main, the seeds
of doubt among it's vast membership.
These we know how to battle and defeat
from experience. These we fear not, for
even the most accomplished professional
liar must come cropper, sooner or later,
at the hands of the facts and the truth, both
anathema to the Intellectually dishonest
X X
No, our concern is not for the takers
who infest the fraternal world but for
those of our well meaning - but naive =
members who, for example, argue publically
that their membership in the Croatian Fra
ternal Union is preventing them from be-
coming naturalized citizens of the United
States and causing them shame.
Nothing could be further removed from
the truth, for the fact of the matter is that
membership in the Croatian Fraternal
Union has never been held against any ap-
phcant for citizenship once the Society was
presented in its proper perspective.
Supreme President bro v I. Mandich
has dealt with this subject in the Zaiedni-
car on several occasions, as recently as
March "a, 1854, and again today in this is
sue ofAthe English Section. In both instan-
ces bro Mandich quoted, in full the follow
ing letter, dated February 25, 1854, which
the Croatian Fraternal Union received from
the United States Department of Justice,
immigration and Naturalization Service,
Washington, D. c., regarding the naturali-
zatlon of members of the Society," -
Gentlemen: Reference is made to
your (CFU) letter of February 10, 1854,
concerning the naturalization of members
of the Croatian Fraternal Union.
mo finding has been made by this Ser
vice that the Croatian Fraternal Union
comes within the prescription of the Immi-
grafton and Nationality Act of 1852 How
ever, as you are aware, that Act requires
a personal investigation with regard to
the activities Of all aliens applying for citi-
zenship to determine their eligibility for
naturalization, whether or not they NAV
happen to be members of any organization.
Since some of these Investigations take
considerable period of time, delays arc to
be expected in certain Individual cases."
This letter was signed by Mr.. Raymond
f. Farrell the Assistant Commissioner of
the Investigations Division, immigration
and Naturalization Service, and speaks, or
should speak, for itself in the cases of all
members seeking citizenship papers.
Applicants for citizenship desiring
photostatic copy of the letter may obtain
one by writing to the Home Office of the
Croatian Fraternal Union, 3441 Forbes
Street Pittsburgh 13, Pa
X X
1t is particularly interesting, and heart
ening, to note that this letter makes it
perfectly clear that the Croatian Fraternal
Union has not been found by the Immgra-
ton and Naturalization Service to come
within the prescription of the Immigrato
and Nationality Act of 1852.
This Act is better known as the Nc
Carran-Walter Act and has been used to
great extent in recent months to rid the
Nation of undesirable aliens and strip ques-
tanned years ago under false pretenses.
1t is equally interesting to note that
the letter calls attention to the all-impor-
tant fact that the Act in question requires
e personal investigation of all aliens apply
ing for citizenship to determine their ell
gibilty for naturalization whether or not
they may happen to be members of any
organization This applies in all cases, and
not only those pertaining to members of the
Croatian Fraternal Union of America.
In view of this explanation of the So
ciety's status quo in Washington, may we
suggest that those Of its members applying
for citizenship exercise common sense in
the future and refrain from using member
ship in the Croatian Fraternal Union as an
excuse if the Government sees fit to ques-
ton or reject their bid for such rights?
The Croatian Fraternal Unionais not to
be blamed in such cases. 1t is and always
will be = the background of the applicant
himself which decides his fate