davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-04
Basketball Results

BY the Assoeiosed Press
WASHINGTON AREA.
Evening star., 1954-04-11

WHEN A woman decided
w to try the Alexandria
Health Departments talk
and-lose-weight method last
year, she was asked two
questions:
Do you really want to lose
weight?
Do you know why you are
fat?
"Want to lose weight?" Her
expression changed from in
sistence to despair. i've tried
everything. I guess I'm just
built this way"
Her weight was then ITS
pounds. Today, it's 146.
The 20 pounds she took of
are part of a tidy gross ton
loss, divided more than so
ways, for which the Alexan-
dria Health Department
Weight Control Conference
can take credit.
The conferences program
consists of talk and inStruc-
ton in one home exercise
pushing a plate away when
you have eaten enough. Once
a week for Is weeks, people
recommended by physicians
or medical clinics, as we'll as
those just interested in getting
below the 10. 20 or 80 per cent
overweight class, meet in an
Alexandria Health Depart
ment room and talk about
eating and weight. A public
health official moderates.
People who think they have
tried everything" find out,
through talking, the one thing
they haven't tried-facing the
why's" of their eating be-
havior honestly. With field
Evening star., 1954-04-11

victories as we'll as medical
strategy to back his argument.
DR.. Thomas F. McGough,
public health director, says
that a little self-understand-
ing is worth more in this
battle of the bulge" than a
whole shelf of diet books.
He introduced the confer
ence in Alexandria three years
ago. after the results of a
series of public health tests
were in. One Of the most
prevalent, and potentially
dangerous. abnormalitieS
among Washington area resi-
dents, they showed, was
extreme avoirdupois.
And people 10 to 100 per
cent overweight, jolly though
they may be, are a health
problem. According to sta
tistics, they are more likely to
develop diabetes, heart disease
and other serious illnesses.
Their death risk is greater in
operations.
The purpose of the confer
ence is to get to the heart of
the heavyweight matter which,
authorities are agreed, diet
books and pills rarely reach.
The conscientious dieter, torn
between an extra slice of pie
with just a little ice cream!D
and the calory chart, may
sacrifice the delicacy for a
time and take OF weight.
Then he backslides. Dis
couraged by a series Of fail
ures, he retreats into more
comfortable convictions, like
I'm just built this way" or
"FatnesS runs in my family"
Three reasons for wanting
to lose weight, given by more
than 200 persons who have
attended at least four con-
ference sessions, are: Beauty
Evening star., 1954-04-11

and social acceptance, eff
cheney on a job and health.
Those who have stayed the
Is weeks and gone down to a
desired weight, slowly but
surely, say the discovery of
other incentives has helped
them.
Keeping a daily calory count
on a chart provided by the
Health Department, and
watching the results, has
helped many accept the over
weight t-overate premise,
Conference participants,
speaking freely, help one an
other with individual problems
that drive them to the re-
frigerator. Boredom is a fire.
quent housewives eating
problem. Habit and worry are
still others.
The IL students" now at
tending the conference help
one another change eating
habits in practical way. One
housewife finds she eats too
much when she stays home all
day. Another agrees to meet
her for sewing or window
shopping expeditions more
frequently. Others subject to
the same temptations agree
to lunch together.
Through this type of mutual
aid, some of the bored have
found new interests and, with
them, new figures.
Before each session, partici-
pants weigh in. Some are
jubilant, some disappointed.
But just hearing how the
jubilant did it is incentive to
the disappointed.
And, in turn, the disap-
pointed inspire the jubilant to
hold the line.
And 80 it goes-weight,
that is.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07
Worth Reading

\ AANY of our younger members, and
W. some not SO youthful in years, no lit
tie or nothing about the beginnings back
in the latter part of the 10th Century of
what today is the Croatian Fraternal Union,
the worlds largest such organization.
1t is for this reason that we are publish
ing weekly, on this particular page of the
English Section, condensed versions of
Convention Minutes dating back to 1894,
the birth year of our. Society. These Min
utes, taken from the priceless archives of
the Croatan Fraternal Union, are we'll
worth reading by every member.
They tell, in interesting brief, the trials
and tribulations of a Society that started
in business almost 60 years ago with less
than 120 members and exactly S42.52 in
cash on it's books.
To-day, as we all know, that Society
boasts Of more than 1O5, 900 members and
almost "a millions of dollars in assets,
something no hardy pioneer ever dared
dream of when he first affiliated himself
with the organization back in 1894
10 one can doubt, after reading these
ancient Minutes as they appear on this
page, that it took men of great faith to keep
the Society alive in those uncertain days of
1894 men fiercely loyal to the heritage and
traditions of their. time honored Nationalist
tic extraction; men devoted to the ideals
of their adopted country, America
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07
June 80, 1854

\A/HlLE repetition may be repugnance
w personified to some people, we are
nonetheless bound by our sense of fraternal
duty to remind those concerned of the fol-
lowing ruling, or offer, if you will:
June 80, 1854, is the deadline for present
day members of the Croatian Fraternal
Union to transfer from the Society's Old
Disability Plan to it's New Dismemberment
and Surgical Indemnity Certificate on
Non-Medical Basis, regardless of age.
Following that date, June 80 of this
year, all members past the age of 35 years
must undergo Medical Examination if
they desire this new form of protection,
whereas members past so years will not be
permitted to make the changeover under
any circumstances after June 80.
This decision, which is final insofar as
the Home Office is concerned was handed
down by the Society's Supreme Board dur
ing their semi-annual session of September,
1853 in the best interests Of those still
carrying the Old Disability Plan
Sick Benefit Department Secretary bro,
John Ovcarich advised us last week that
changeovers to the New Dismemberment
and Surgical Indemnity Certificate are now
coming in at rapid rate.
This bro. Ovcarch traces to the work
of our Lodge Secretaries and the many re-
cruiters participating in the Croatian Fra
ternal Unions Goth Anniversary Member
ship Campaign, of which the Sick Benefit
Department Secretary happens to be the
Committee Vice Chairman. .,.
Although the changeovers are coming
in at satisfactory rate the cold hard fact
still remains that thousands will continue
to ignore the June 80, 1854, deadline until
it is too late to make amends for something
of their own making
The Society, of course, will lose exactly
nothing if you decide to retain your Old
Disability Plan or fail to change over to
it's much more beneficial New DIS Indem-
nifty Certificate.
You, and you alone, will be the real
loser when misfortune befalls you in the fu-
ture. You alone will come to suffer at your
own hands, your own neglect.
Change today and safeguard your own
interests. Tomorrow may be too late.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07
Open To Others

THE Croa tan Fraternal Union has made
| a special 6Oth Anniversary Membership
Campaign concession in the case of its
Greater Cleveland, Ohio, Lodges.
In return for the signing of at least
100 new members and the writing OF
500 900 90 or moro insurance both reason
able requests, the Society will name. bro.
John Birek, Director Of the Cleveland Gro
atian Radio Hour, an Honorary Delegate to
the CFU's 9th Quadrennial Convention at
Philadelphia, Pa, in 1855.
Bro. Birek, on the other hand, has
pledged to set aside ten minutes of his reg
ular weekly broadcasts to promote the
Campaign, without charge to the Society.
These programs are aired every Sunday
from SIS to 1000 AM over Cleveland's
Radio Station WV, $50 Klocycles.
Any member striving in the Campaign
to help attain the quotas set in the case OF
bro. Brek will not be deprived of any
Points or Cash Awards. All will be reward
cd in keeping with the Campaign rules when
the drive ends November 80, 1854
This special concession is by no means
limited to our Greater Cleveland Lodges.
It is open, on the same basis, to all other
CFU Centers where a Croat or Yugoslav
Radio Hour is willing to promote the Cam
paign and make it's Director eligible to at
tend the 1855 Convention at Philadelphia in
the role of an Honorary Delegate.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07

ETY. was known from then
on, and is still known, as
the "Hrvatska Bratska
Zajednica" or in English as
the "Croatian Fraternal
Union"
It is a simple name and
a nice name and we don't
know how anyone could
improve upon it, for it has
played a very important
part among our people here
in America and in Canada.
Evolution In Nutshell
Thus, in this brief ac-
count, you have the COM
plete evolution of the name
of our organization:
From 1894 to 1897 it was
"Hrvatska Zajednica."
From 1897 to 1925 it was
"Narodna Hrvatska Zajed-
MICA"
From 1925 it is "Hrvat-
ska Bratska Zajedllica."
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07
finally decided to merge in

finally decided to merge in
to one large organization.
These were the "St. Jo-
seph Society," of Kansas
City, Kansas, and the Mia
da Hrvatska Zajednica' of
Whiting, Indiana.
No Changes After 1925
When the movement for
the merger was started a
mong our people the new
and larger organization al
ready had a name selected
for it, and the talk was al
ways about a "Hrvatska
Bratska Zajednica" to take
the place of the ."Narodna
Hrvatska Zajednica" and
the "Hrvatska Zajednica
Illinois" and others.
So, when the merger
was finally effected in 1925
there was no difficulty in
connection with the name.
The new and merged Soci-
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07

GREAT MEN Taken in 1914, on the occasion of
the Pittsburgh celebration Of the Croatian Fraternal
Unions 50h Anniversary, this photo shows three great
who played important part in the history Of
Society," Left to right they Thomas Besenc former
Supreme President of the organization, Marko Zvcic
Charter Member and Frank Rbic, also Charter Member
Bros Besenc and Zvcc passed away several years ago.
Bro. Rbc, the other hand, is still identified with the
Society member of Lodge 34 Lawrencevile District
Pittsburgh and is hopeful of attending the CFUs Goth
Anniversary Celebration at West View Park Pittsburgh
Sunday, July 25 1854 He is the only living Char
ter Member of the Croatian Fraternal Union.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07

to suspend or reduce using it, If every
American should so off coffee for one
week. and order tea or milk when they ate
outside, the price of coffee would not sky
rocket, but plummet. Soon, Of course the
price of tea aud milk would skyrocket at
which moment we could all go on the water
wagon. Isn't it good thing, anyhow, to
cultivate alternative tastes? Why be a slave
to any particular one? Isn't this "compe-
titive' economy? - Dorothy Thompson
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07
At the Fourth Conven-

At the Fourth Conven-
ton of the organization
held at McKeesport, Pa, in
June of 1897, there was
discussion on the name of
the organization again, and
it was at this convention
that the delegates added
the word "Narodna" to the
name and thus gave us the
name "Narodna Hrvatska
Zajednica," and the Society
was known under that
name until 1925.
The application for a
change in the name was
made through the courts
of Allegheny County in the
fall of 1897, the petition
being granted, and the or
ganization was officially
christened as the National
Croatian Society of the
u. S. A."
End Results OF Merger
No further a e m pts
were made to change the
name until the movement
was started for a merger
of all Croatian fraternal
organizations.
This movement started
early in the 192O's; in fact
there was some talk of a
merger earlier than that,
but the real work was be-
gun following the. Pitts
burgh convention of 1921,
and actual approval was
given at the later conven-
ton held at Detroit in 1924.
Up to the time of the
actual merger of the Gro
attain fraternal societies,
there were two major or
ganizations then in exis-
tence and a number of
smaller ones. The two lar
gest Or o a ii a n fraternal
organizations were the e
"Narodna Hrvatska Zajed-
MICA with headquarters in
Pittsburgh, and the "Hr-
vatska Zajednica Illinois"
with headquarters in Chi
cago, Illinois.
The Illinois society was
organized back in 1905, fol-
lowing a breach between.
NCS members caused by
dissatisfaction with the
conduct Of affairs. Al
though all Croatian frater-
nal societies, large and
small, were invited to take
part in the merger, there
were only two others in ad-
dition to the above named
larger organizations which
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07
Is This Americanism?

ENTIRELY too many Americans know
l. little, or nothing, about the true mean
ing. the true import, of the McCarran-Wal-
ter immigration and Nationality Act.
Today many arc being deported, or are
threatened with deportation, because, tor
example, they find themselves confined to
sAbhc mental institutions and cannot prove
to the satisfaction of the Attorney General
of the United States that they developed
their sickness here and didn't have 1t when
they first arrived in America.
Others are being deported because at
some time in the past, within five years OF
their entry into the United States, they
went on relief, and because the Attorney
General believes that they went on relief
for reasons which already existed when
they arrived in this Country.
Still others are being deported because
today 10 or 20 or 80 years after their ar
rival in America, it has been discovered
that before they entered they stole loaf
of bread, or violated one Of Hitlers or Sta
Inns police state laws.
Some are being deported because Is OF
SO years ago, when they entered the United
States, they said they had been born in
Austria, whereas, in fact, they happened
to have been born in Poland.
This Act also makes subject to deporta-
ton those who joined neghborhood asso-
Citations and social clubs Of their own ma
tionality groups after their arrival here,
groups which were to subsequently come
under the influence of Communists.
The fact that such control of associ-
ations or clubs might have developed years
after the individuals in question had Sc
vercd their affiliations with them isn't
given the slightest attention in any of the
provisions of the McCarran-W Act,
isn't considered when an unfortunate per-
son finds himself in the tolls of the law
These are bVt few of the categories of
human hardship, of human tragedies, which
have caused Americans to vince since the
McCarran-W Walter Act became the law of
once happy land which asked few, if any,
questions when it permitted immigrants to
make it their home.
Of course we are against Communism,
as we are against any 'ism' alien to the
best interests Of the United States of Amer
lea and its more than 160,000,0O0 people,
citizen and non-citizen alike.
But to use Communism, in alleged or
other whispered form, to break up homes,
destroy regulations and lives, or pervert
human rights without rhyme or reason,
is not to our way of thinking Americanism,
not the Americansm we were taught in
school and later in adult life.
The McCarran-Walter Act is a problem,
one we cannot dismiss from the mind by
merely saying to ourselves that it is "a bad
law and letting it go at that.
1t is a problem each and every one of
us must deal with as Americans Either
that or the United States will become
land unfit for any save those who are
"2O0ft American" in the eyes Of the law
God help us when that day dawns here!
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07

story on the evolution of
our organization.
1t may be that even a lot
of our old-timers will not
remember the name "Hr-
vatska Zajednica," because
this name was used only
for a few years before it
was changed to the former
well-known name of INA
rodna Hrvatska Zajednica'
by an act of the convention.
We do not have much
printed material available
on the work and activities
of our people in the days
preceding the actual found
ing Of our organization, but
in the few copies of news
papers available from that
period we do ncte that
there was much talk Of
organizing a society-"Za-
jednicu' - ar mong our
people.
Checked First Minutes
But it never went fur
ther than that in the mat
ter Of naming the new
organization, and when the
delegates met in Pitts
burgh in September, 1894,
the proposed organization
still was without a name.
Nor do the minutes of
the first convention reveal
any discussion as to the
matter of a name for the
new organization. We do
note, however, that in the
application for a charter to
operate in the Common
wealth Of Pennsylvania,
the name is given as "Hr-
vatska Zajednica', or as
translated into English it
was known as the "Croa-
tian Association
In fact, an early trans
lator of the first minutes
spelled it as "Croatien AS
sociation." That is the first
time that we have ever
noted the letter "E" used
in the spelling Of the word
"Croatian."
"NarOdna" Added Later
The Society was known
thereafter as the "Hrvat-
ska Zajednica," although
there were attempts made
at various times to have
the name changed to "Hr-
vatska- -Slovenska Zajedni-
ca" and to have the by
laws printed in the Slovene
language, because there
were a number of Slovene
people who became men,
bers of the Society.
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07


one hundred. The Club is
sound financially, carrying
savings and commercial ac-
counts. It counts among it's
assets six ($10O each) u.
S. Bonds.
Record Par Excellence
Its officers through the
years have accepted seri-
ously the responsibilities
attached thereto and dis
charged the duties of their
respective offices to the
best of their ability.
The Club has served as
a training school for it's
members, many of them
having been elected to i'm
portant posts in civic, edu-
cational and cult tural
groups in the Bay Area.
The thirty-three years
of faithful service rendered
by the American Jugoslav
Women's Club has justified
the faith placed in it by it's
founders. It is non-political
and non-sectarian. It has
been a vital exponent of
Jugoslav culture and ideals
and has proved to be a
forceful factor in acquaint-
ing the outside world with
Jugoslavia, it's people and
their traditions. It has
worked to promote Amer
icanization among Jugo-
slavs.
The boundaries of it's
philanthropic work have
been limitless. It's hand has
been held out to all con-
tinents, giving aid alike to
Christian and to Heather,
to Jew and to Gentle.
It has contributed to all
social Gle s. needs
whenever called upon for
aid. A summary of the
Clubs cash donations to
civic and humanitarian
needs would disclose that
many thousands of dollars
have been donated.
Two Special Projects
While all worthy civic
and welfare demands are
met, during the past sew
eral years the Club has
more or less concentrated
on two projects:
1 - Bringing Christmas
and Easter cheer to some
Jugoslavs at the Laguna
Honda Home for the aged.
A committee from the Club
personally delivers to these
lonely souls gayly decora-
ted packages of fruit, ci-
garettes, cookies, etc., as
we'll as a cash contribution
to each, with best wishes
from each and every men,
ber of the Club.
q A group of Club
members devote time to
the Youth Guidance Gen.
ter. They meet at the Cen
ter regularly, where they
sew or do whatever might
be helpful for the unfortu-
nate children there.
The thirty-three years of
work in the Club have been
happy, harmonious, con-
structive and productive.
Members can truly say,
Success has resulted from
our efforts"
Lillian Ward, Historian
ETY. was known from then
IN and is still known as
ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1954-04-07
YESTERDAY
! 8 . @ ! /.
AND TODAY
3rd Convention - 1896

The Third Convention of
the "Hrvatska Zajednica,'
today the Croatian Fra
ternal Union of America,
was held July 12-17 1896,
and took place in Travni-
kar's Hall, 1913 st. Clair
Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
President Ivan Ljubic in
his opening address to this
Convention warned the del
egates to be on the lookout
for those who would destroy
the organization. "We are
here today" he said, Ito
strengthen and solidify our
trembling structure and to
discard that which is found
worthless" He further ap-
pealed for support in i'm
proving the position of the
organization and for men,
bers to respect the laws of
the United States.
Statistics read at the Con-
vention revealed that there
were 1885 members in the
organization and that it's as
sets at the time amounted
to $4,351.68 in all. The III.
T." charter was also display
ed publically on the occasion
and drew much comment.
On the suggestion of
Lodge 13 a motion was
made and passed that the
bylaws remain in effect for
three years. An amendment
was added to read "that the
line for the amount of
Death Benefit be left blank"
inasmuch as the Death Ben
eft was being changed at
each Convention.
Motions made that the by
laws be printed in both the
English and Croatian Ian
guages, and that persons
not legally divorced or liv-
ing with another's wife are
not to be accepted as mem
bers. Both motions adopted.
Sick Benefits, by III e
Lodge, were to be paid in
full for the first 6 months
and only half benefits dur
ing next 6 months. After
this period the Supreme Of
flee would pay $4,000 in fl
nal settlement and that in
dividual would cease to be a
member. Female members
were entitled to benefits af-
ter fourth week in confine-
ment cases.
Any member suffering
loss of both eyes, arms, legs,
etc., or otherwise totally in
capacitated, would be paid
full death benefit and cease
to be a member thereafter.
Members appointed for
such purposes were required
to sit in attendance at the
bedside of a sick member
for a period of 6 hours or
pay a fine of so cents. This
motion was adopted after
much debate.
Rev. Bozic severely criti-
cized the section of the by
laws giving the Supreme
President power to pass
upon decisions of the High
Trial Board. This section
was amended and the Su-
preme President was shorn
Of certain powers.
A section of the bylaws
authorizing payment of Sick
Benefits to those outside
the boundaries of the United
States was abolished. It was
further agreed that in the
event of the death of a
member whose Lodge is in
arrears, the Death Benefit
is not to be paid until the
Lodge paid it's assessment
in full.
The bond of the Financial
Secretary was set at 81 900
and several delegates arose
to complain that it was "too
b;obD A orooI fbo+ am coY-