ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1956-08-22
sZAJEDNICAR"
Croatian Immigration
To Allegheny County |
By STJEPAN GAZI, Member, Lodge 20
Copyright applied Rights Of republication reserved)
CHAPTER VII - PART
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROATIAN COMMUNITY
By STJEPAN GAZI, Member,

The striving of Croats to be publicly recognized
such by Americans - Competition for supremacy
within the Croatian community
= he the Croatian colony entered decisive phase
after the foundation of the Croaan Society," and after
the establishment of their Catholic parishes The Croats
classified by American authorities as well as by the
public either Austrans Hungarians The other small
nations belonging the Habsburg Empire did not fare
better Instead being mentioned Croats they were
entered in the American official files Austrans and
Hungarans subdvded into Croats, Dalmatians Bosni-
ans and Hercegovians their native provinces. The
Croatian leaders of Allegheny County tried to enghten
the American public the true nationality of their
countrymen.
Danica arranged meeting for January 2S, 1895 to
which it's editor invited the representatives OF Pitts
burghs public life The task to initiate the guests of this
meeting into the history and aims of the Croatian Nation
had been confided to Croatan visitor Dr. Theodore
Theodorovich who explained: "Our people are not yet
very we'll known by the larger part of American who used
to generalize them with those of many other nations
naming them all "Hungarans'. We are not Hungarans
we are Croats speaking own language having glo
history of past and great future before U.S.
This conference of several organized to this
purpose.
The tendency to unity the immigrants in all parts of
Pennsylvania and later all over the United States in
ected the Croats had set up branches of their
Society the country Thirty three associations sent
their delegates the second convention of the Society,"
September L. 1885, in Wheeling West Virginia. An order
given there to the Supreme Committee to obtain
charter. petition for this charter was subsequently
presented to Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh,
signed by Josp Subasc Josip Buneta Petar Pavlnac,
Franjo Zbrat andre Gvacovsky Mike Gracan Miko Ma
lie Albert Sediak Franjo PAWN John Veverka, Charles
Brabec Josp Ponos Franjo Lepec Josp zegudovc John
Lovrencic and Zdravko Valentn Muzna 1t granted
by Judge John M. Kennedy, on October a. 1895
At the third convention held in Cleveland Ohio, Sep
tember 49, 1885, the newspaper Napredak published until
that date Hoboken New Jersey, designed to func
ton the official organ of the Croatan Society," In
this quality it moved to Allegheny City, where it set
up office S42 East Ohio Street Danca had ceased its
publications prior to this convention)
To the Croatian Society a broader basis the
Supreme Committee decided to change its to Ma
tiona Croatan Society of the United States of America
obtaining to that end charter granted by Judge
F. H. Collier, May 3, 1897.
Wagner Hail. McKeesport the site of the fourth
convention June 21 1897 when Bylaws revised
|
The industrial development of Pittsburgh essen
ta the further progress of the Croatan colony Pros
pert strikes and economic crisis succeeded another
influencing the lives of Croaan settlers Some of them
recrossed the ocean, others went westward, while still
others adapted themselves to the American way of lfe
thus promoting their personal interests These last only
few and nearly all of bourgeois origin had already
received some business training in Croatia
The keeping of a saloon at that time the easiest
and sures way to prosperity. The who chose this
business able to gain great influence upon
his compatrios the saloon had gradually become the
most important center of immigrants. The proprietor
acting also agent for the companies provided them
with labor forces and recruited fresh immigrants
for them. His saloon simultaneously employment
office housing agency, we'll an important meeting
place in church matters.
He collected union dues subscriptions for newspapers
kept steamship ticket-agency, functoned banker
and also political and uridcal adviser among the
immigrants, whom he served intermediary in their
dealings with the authorities. He obtained his American
citizenship than There remains no doubt
that his interests always first Such an impor
tant personality had evidently decisive voice in the Gro
attain Society," we'll in the many church committees
AS saoonkeeper he managed quickly to learn little
English which enabled him to act interpreter for his
compatriots.
The only intellectual rivals, inspired by the same
ambition Of dominating the existing colonies, were the
priests Sooner later the two sides bound to fight
each other openly When this finally happened the parish
church and the associations became the number one tar
get To defend his against the adversary the Rev.
Bozc reacted by dsposng of the official newspaper Ma
predak for which he substituted his Now Svjet
Il New World December TO- 1897 In addition he pub