ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1959-04-22
-=l894-1959=
T. r. u
65th Anniversary
BY Stephen F. Brkich
- English Editor -
:1894-1959.
Eighth Convention

(NCS), which was to merge
with other organizations in
1926 to become the Croatian
Fraternal Union Of today,
was held Sept. 26-Oct. 4, 1904,
in st. Louis, Missouri.
The Delegates had to re-
sort to the use of two differ
ent meeting quarters before
they could wind up that g.
day conclave. They opened
the Convention in Anchor
Hall and finished their busi-
ness in the Bohemian Sokol
Hall.
President Petar Pavlinac, in
his message to the Conven-
ton, reported that the total
NCS membership at the time
stood at 1875 regular and
7,4O6 associate members and
the assets of the Society at
$57, ,694.47.- He also revealed
that 304,293.80 had been
paid to beneficiaries since the
founding Of the organization
in 1894.
Underscored in the Presi-
dents message was the fact
that the NCS was rapidly
"outgrowing it's officers" a
state of affairs which was to
lead to an increase in the
Home Office clerical staff in
order to keep up with the
problems of the Society.
Illinois Says OK
. The first cheerful news
to come before this Conven-
ton of 1904 was a letter from
the Insurance Department of
the State of Illinois granting
the NCS long sought permis-
sion to operate in that terri
tory.
Credit for working the
hardest to obtain this permis-
sion was given A. G.. Janko-
vic, then Treasurer of the
NCS.
On the other hand, gloom
settled over the Convention
when the NCS Secretary re-
ported heavy losses of men,
bership due to the extremely
hard times which were pla-
guing America in those days.
Most of those unfortunate
Croats had no choice save
that of returning to Europe
in the hope Of making a liv-
ing.
Russia VS. Japan
. Among the kilograms
sent during that st. Louis
Convention was a wire to the
Russian Ambassador to this
country, in which the Dele
gates wished Russia success
in it's war with Japan.
For the record, the Russo
japanese War occupied the
headlines during 1904-1905.
Port Arthur was surrendered
to the Japanese Jan. 2, 1905,
and the Russian humiliation
was made complete with the
signing Sept. 5, 1905, of the
Treaty Of Portsmouth, New
Hampshire.
Protests from the floor
were a dime a dozen during
this conclave, with the loud
est ones aimed at NCS Organ
izers. This was rather strange
when no such field agents had
been commissioned up to that
time.
Financial Secretary Josip
Marohnic also aroused the
Delegates with his ringing de-
mand for a complete reorgan-
ization of the NCS. Said he:
"At the present rate, we
(NCS) cannot continue very
long as an organization"
As a step in that direction,
the late, great Croat leader
suggested the establishment
of a Reserve Fund for
: Emergencies" Unanimously
agreed.
Home For The Aged
. A new fund was estab-
lished in 1904 to erect a home
, for aged and disabled men,
; bers Of the National Croatian
Society.
The Delegates voted that
members had to, contribute Is
cents annually to that fund
until such q time as the pro-
/, posed home could be built. In
the meantime, the fund was
to be used for the payment
Of sick benefits.
In those days the Lodges
paid sick benefits for the first
8 months, after which the
, NCS took over the responsible
lity Of meeting the payments.