ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1955-09-28
Report OF The Legal Counsellor
To Delegates OF The Ninth Quadrenial Convention,
Supreme Board And Members Of The Croatian
Fraternal Union OF America
NV Dear Brothers And Sisters OF The
Croatian Fratcrnal Union Of America:

necessity two perods the rst peod or some Ihree
years three months during which your General Counsel
was Thomas R. Baban and the second period covering six
months during which your General Counsel the law
firm of Smith, Marion and Balaban.
The gains of the Croaan Fraternal Union during the
mast four wears have been great and many These gains
accomplished without sacrifice the part OF your
officers sacrifice which involved great deal of time and
effort General Counsel pleased to state that in
all of these counsced with your officers and with the
members generally and for the cooperation we received
we wish to express most heartfelt thanks
The problem first facing following the conclusion of
the 1851 Convention held in Los Angeles the matter of
having the ednicar official organ removed from the
list of subversive publications, contained In publication
of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Through
help of your editors and the united cooperation of all
the officers this accomplished in March, 1852
Another matter facing the Croatan Fraternal Union
of and of great to your General Counsel
was libel action of Dr. Francis r. Preveden. great
deal of time had been expended in preparation for trial and
great deal Of study made to the law involved and
the various ramfcatons which necessarily surround
law suit of this type and nature That successful
in study and planning is evidenced by the fact that
able to dispose of this law suit at figure which
consider we'll within and justified under the crcum
The result has been recognized the relationship
that exists between all the members of the Croatan
Fratema Union with regard to project which when
peted will doubt be enhancement the people of the
Croatian descent.
The matter of obtaining licenses in the various states
ship but had been licensed of great to all
of you during the 1851 Convention Immediate steps
taken to file the various states mentioned. Here too
much time involved in personal calls correspondence
telephone calls and the like Today licensed in every
state in which have desire to be licensed with the
exception of New York We report you this time and
will stand ready ampfy this report the Convention
that the matter of being licensed in New York is we'll
it's way.
In the meantime report to you that after several
,,4aI
to us by that fair state Following resubmisson at the
beginning of 1855 in the State of New jersey license has
been issued to by that state 1t is sincerely hoped that
with the feat of licensing having been accomplished the
members of those states will strive for greater member
ship for there nothing which should prevent such
complshment that the legal requirements have been
fulfilled.
During the period of the past four years there have
been several instances in which obliged to rise
to the defense of the Croatan Fraterna Union by
of certain inquiries directed by administrative agen-
ces One of these before the Bureau of Internal Revc
in which the tax exempt status of the Croaan Fraer
nal Union of America questioned.
Following correspondence and a personal meet
ing and hearing before representative of said Department
in Washington D. c. the Croatan Fraernal Union of Ame
ca declared to be tax exempt all of its subor
dnate lodges Further regarding any charities conducted
by the Croaan Faernal Union of America donations to
said charities by individuals, would be deducbe for
purposes The net result of this hearing that the Gro
attain Fraernal Union of America enjoyed greater tax
exempt status than it had heretofore enjoyed.
matter of great concern to your General Coun
sci and the Croaan Faterna Union of America has been
that of naturalization of members There those who
took the position that membership in the Croatan Fraterna
Union of America in and Of itself sufficient
for suspendng action Naturalization and in in
stances denying naturalization.
Wherever this situation throug ghou the United
States in the various immigration and Naturalization Dis
tcs attempted that belief by correspondence
and personal visits if necessary Along that line main
tanned close contact with the Office of the Commissioner
of Naturalization in Washington, D. c. 1t sometime
before the Office of the Commissioner of Naturalization
sued statement that the Croatan Fratema Union of
America did not within the province of the mmgra
ton and Nationality Act of 1851 commonly known the
McCaran-Walters Act and that membership in the Gro
attain Fraternal Union of America not and of itself
sufficient for denial Of citizenship
1t is worthy Of note that this situation followed
closely only by your General Counsel and the Supreme
fcers of the Croaan Fraternal Union, but Cleveland
Ohio one Brother Cerezn, in representing member who
had imm grafton and naturalization difficulties able
ascertain from the Department of Justice findings and facts
which have been of great benefit to members
Similar questions the status of the Croatian Fra
ternal Union of America regarding employment edu
cation military We proud to state that in