July 6, 1918
Lithuanians, Greeks And Serbs Are Giving U. S. Loyal Support
The Baltimore Sun Newspaper 06 Jul 1918, Sat
Lithuanians, Greeks And Serbs Are Giving U. S. Loyal Support
All Have Strong Organizations in City For War Work and Many Have Joined The Colors Were In Liberty Parade.
This is the fourth of a series of articles by a staff reporter of the Sun on what the foreign-born and descendants of foreign residents of Baltimore are doing to help the United States win the war. This article deals with the work the Lithuanians, Greeks, and Serbs. Other articles to follow will treat of the work of races of Northern Europe and of the Central Empires.
By Marguerite E. Harrison.
ARTICLE IV
In the Loyalty Day parade on Thursday there were thousands of foreign-born citizens whose native countries and national aspirations are practically unknown to the average American, and yet they are a vital part of the life of the community and perhaps more in sympathy with America's war aims than many native-born Americans.
Prominent among these are the Lithuanians and Serbs, both identified, though not identical, with the Slavonic races, and the Greeks, who have a flourishing colony here. The number of Lithuanians in Baltimore has been various-Iv estimated, but it may safely be asserted that there are more than 6,000, and the Lithuanian element has been steadily growing for the last few years and there are now numbers of influential and well-to-do citizens among them.
They have not assimilated American habits of speech very readily and their industrial and commercial development has been much among themselves, but this is largely due to the fact that they have for centuries been forced to assert their racial identity in order to prevent being wiped out as a nation. For the last 40 years no books, newspapers or magazines in the Lithuanian language have been permitted by the Russian Government, under which the majority of Lithuanians live, in the provinces west and north of Petrograd, along the Baltic. Consequently America means first of all to the Lithuanian the free use of his beloved tongue and the practice of this national customs.
American Second Fatherland
"America to us is a second fatherland." said the Rev. Joseph Lietuvnikas. the priest of the Lithuanian colony, in speaking the other day of the tendency among his people to cling to their national customs. "We love her all the more because she typifies liberty to us, and I do not believe that keeping up our speech and customs makes us any the less good Americans."
That this is literally true is shown by the way in which Lithuanians all over the country have responded to all the Government's war needs. Since the with, the work of the- entry of the United States into the war the Lithuanians, numbering nearly 1,000,000, have contributed over 25,000 men to our overseas army, by far the greater percentage of whom are volunteers. They have subscribed large sums to all the Liberty Loans and are taking an active part in Red Cross work, the War Savings campaign and other national war-work movements. In addition an enormous amount of money has been sent abroad by Lithuanians for the relief of their countrymen who have suffered more than any other people, except perhaps the Poles. Their inaccessibility has rendered it difficult to help them, and since the Russian uprising in the latter part of the past year they have been cut off from all" material aid from this country, and their territory has been repeatedly fought over and occupied both by Russians and Germans.
Active In Local War Work
Here in Baltimore the Lithuanians have contributed through their own organizations $175,000 to the Liberty Loans, $80,000 of which was raised during the past loan. They have a Liberty Loan committee, which is a permanent organization and which, pending the floating of the next loan, is making plans to assist in the War Savings campaign. Its headquarters are in the offices of the Lithuanian Building Association at 112 North Greene street, and its members are John Chesno, chairman ; Joseph S. Vasiliauskas, J. A. Galinauitis, Ambrose Laukaitis. Peter Lazauskas and Vincent Saukitis.
The Lithuanians were among the first foreign-born citizens to volunteer in the United States Army. They desire to serve as Americans, and there has been no movement among them to form separate military units, similar to those among the Poles and Bohemians. Among those who enlisted from Baltimore, at least three boys are already in France. They are: Anton Stnelis, 656 West German street ; Vincent Chernius, 657 West Baltimore street, and Petras Metelis, 420 Camden street, all of whom are in the army. The list of volunteers also includes Kasimir Barsaukas, 524 Portland street; Frank Dubinsky, 604 West Lombard street ; Mike Paserbskis, 420 South Paca street ; Vincent Kreivenas, 535 Columbia avenue ; Vincent Misiukas, 539 Columbia avenue, all of whom are in the army, and Albert Grichis, South Paca street ; Franas Zikas, 713 West German street ; Vincent Skirpstas. 659 West Saratoga street ; Joseph Kakauskas. 530 Columbia avenue ; Jon Vilkauskas, 707 West Lombard street, and Albert Valinkas, who are with Uncle Sam's fleet. Joseph Jushka and John Tushka, brothers living at 120 South Greene street, both volunteered, one in the army and one in the navy.
Lithuanians Well Organized
Like the Poles and Bohemians, the Lithuanians are highly organized. They have beneficial, religious, social and political societies, through which they make practically all their contributions to patriotic work. They are divided broadly into two groups those affiliated with the Lithuanian Roman Catholic Alliance of America, a national organization of which the Baltimore society is known as Group No. 13, and of which J. Vasiliauskas is president, and the Lithuanian Alliance of America, the local branch being referred to as Group No. 64. There is also a woman's branch of the Roman Catholic Alliance, headed by Mrs. A. Bajoruite.
The beneficial societies are as follows : St. Casimir's, R. Strungis, president; St. George's, A. Laukaitis, president ; G. D. Vytautas No. 1, J. Pantcnrius, president ; G. D. Vylautas No. 2, A. Laukaitas, president; St. John's, John Gankos, president; G. D. Keistutis, Vincent Chesno, president ; S. Dankantas, L.H., John Kablis, president ; Dv. Rudirka. L. W., Vincent Martinaitis, president ; L. R. Mindaugas, Vincent Kveder, president; Workingmen's Beneficial Society, John Poulonius, president.
There are three charitable organizations among the Lithuanians the Lithuanian National Fund for War Sufferers, of which Joseph Vasiliauskas is president the Lithuanian Relief Fund: also a national organization whose local officers are John Alita, chairman: Ignatius Narusevich, secretary and John Chesno, treasurer, and the' Lithuanian branch of the St. Vincent de Paid Society. The relief agencies have sent large sums to Europe since the beginning of the war. and at present are doing what they can to send relief through Switzerland. The contributions to the Lithuanian Relief Fund through Baltimore have amounted during the past three years to over $8,000.
Take Part In Local Politics
Local politics interests a large proportion of Lithuanian citizens, and there are adherents of both parties. The First Lithuanian Republican Club is located at Rollins and Parkins streets and the president is A. Laukaitis. Joseph Rakauskas is the president of the Lithuanian Democratic Club, which has headquarters on North Paca street. There is also a Socialist Club, which, according to prominent members of the Lithuanian colony, has but 15 members. The patriotic activities, as well as banking and business enterprises, occupy much of the time of the building associations.
The First Lithuanian Building Association, 112 North Greene street, subscribed $15,000 as an organization to the Third Liberty Loan, and has bought $2,000 worth of thrift and war savings stamps. It is also the headquarters for an Americanization movement among the Lithuanians. A. Laukaitis is the president and J. S. Vasiliauskas the secretary. Another building association, which meets at the Lithuanian Hall, Hollins and Parkin streets, is headed by A. Grebliauskas.
The Lithuanian Hall is the center of most of the social life of the community. It was built about two years ago and it is there that the pleasure and beneficial clubs meet. It also contains a Lithuanian national library, and it is Lithuanian national library, and it is maintained by the joint subscriptions of the various organizations, which use it.
Other clubs of a religious and social nature, every one of which has done its bit in war relief work, are the Knights of Lithuania, St. Aloysius' Society, the Immaculate Conception Society for women, St. Joseph's Lithuanian Workers' Alliance, the Lithuanian Temperance Society, the Lithuanian Athletic Club and the Young Men's Pleasure Club.
Catholics In Large Majority
Religious lines, although marked, are not strictly drawn among the Lithuanians. At least 5,000 of the 6,000 members of the colony are Roman Catholics, there are about 1,000 freethinkers, and, according to their records only 20 Protestants, who are Lutherans. Contrary to popular opinion, the Lithuanians have little in common with the Poles. They do not speak the same language, the Lithuanian having much less relation to the Slav tongues. It is one of the oldest of all the Indo-European languages, and many resemblances may be traced in it to Sanskrit, as well as evidences of Latin influence. The Lithuanians in Europe "Have had no political affinity with Poland for the past three-and-a-half centuries. Most of them are, technically, Russian subjects, though there are a few German Lithuanians who live in the extreme northeast corner of Prussia, beyond Tilsit. They a very handsome people, tall and fair, and they have a wonderfully rich folklore literature. Here in Baltimore, they live in a colony which extends south and west from Paca and Saratoga streets. Most of them are tailors.
Nearly all of the Lithuanians in Baltimore have become naturalized and they are very proud of their citizenship. Scores of men who had only taken out their first papers have applied for citizenship and have taken their place in Class 1 of the draft, instead of accepting a deferred classification. There is no better evidence t true Americanization, a process that is too often judged by externals. If they can't talk like Americans, they feel and fight like Americans.
Greeks Invest In Liberty Bonds.
There are just 500 members, men, women and children, in the Greek colony in Baltimore, and during the three Liberty Loans they subscribed for just $60,000 worth of bonds, or $120 per capita. This record is an indication of the caliber of Baltimore's Greek citizens. In addition they have subscribed to the Red Cross campaigns and are large buyers of war savings stamps, besides constantly sending large sums for war relief work in Greece. Since the declaration of war by this country, there have been at least 20 volunteers in the American Army, and numbers of reservists have returned to Greece. There may be something, too, in the fact that they are all Spartans, descendants of the most virile, the most determined and the hardiest nation of the confederation that made up the inhabitants of the Peloponnesus.
The Liberty Loan committee, which is composed of Steve Monocrusos, Peter Nicholson 3nd Nicholas Sakelos, raised $35,000 during the last loan campaign, and is preparing for the next. Meanwhile, its members are helping with the war savings campaign. The Greek-American Building Association, of which Anthony Konstant is president, has also done much fine patriotic work, as has the Greek Social Club, as 2 South Liberty street. There was a Greek Red Cross committee, now inactive, which raised a considerable sum during the first campaign. Its members included Professor Soho, of the Baltimore City College ; Steve Monocrusos and Peter Nicholson. Mr. Nicholson, like many Greeks in this country, has Americanized his name by the simple process of translation, the termination ''opoulos' meaning "son of."
Greek Orthodox Church A Factor
Most of the activities of the Greek community, however, are undertaken through the Greek Orthodox Church on Chase street and Homewood avenue. Its governing body is composed of the leading men of the congregation, who are also representative men in the community. They engage the services of the "papa," or priest, who is responsible to them. Every member of the congregation is assessed by this body for charitable and war relief funds, and the assessments are so equitably managed and the fund so well administered that pauperism among the Greek colony is unknown. The Rev. James Leloudas is the priest of the church, which is known as the Orthodox Greek Church Evangelium of Baltimore. George Katsaros is president of its governing board and the officers and members are as follows : George Poulitsos. vice-president ; Nicholas Sokokos, secretary ; George Stavropoulos, treasurer ; George Vasilokos, Peter Kavakos. Louis Eliopoulos, George Thiamengos. George Tsagalakis. Spiros Murakeas, Peter Karukas and G. Kardasis.
These men were largely responsible for the raising of over $8,000, which has been sent to Greece since the beginning of the war, and recently they undertook to contribute regularly to a' hospital in Athens for the soldiers of the Allies, which was founded by Mme. de Riancourt, a French woman living in Greece.
The Greeks in Baltimore are rapidly becoming Americanized. They live in different sections of the city, not in a small colony, and they are good mixers. All of them, without exception, are Venezelists and strongly pro-ally as far as politics in their native country are concerned. In local politics, they are first good Americans, then good Democrats. Most of them come from Sparta, a part of Greece where it is not easy to make a living.
About 400 Serbians in City
Few people realize that there is a flourishing colony of Serbians in Baltimore. It has grown since 1906 from a handful of six persons to nearly 400. Its members live in Southwest Baltimore and most of them are employed in the shops of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. They are mostly poor people, but they are not so poor but that every one of them has subscribed to each of the three Liberty Loans. They have also raised and sent back to their own country since the beginning of the war over $4,000, through the Serbian National Alliance, which has a branch in Baltimore. Steve Sirotica, 1320 McHenry street, is the president; Vasa Cvetkowich, treasurer, and Omer Rigyicski, secretary. One of the most active members and a leader in all the work of the Alliance is Michael Chonkich, 351 South Calhoun street, who is selling Thrift Stamps, and sold many Liberty Bonds. He also helped to organize the Serbian unit in the Decoration Day Parade, in combination with the Bohemians. A charge was made for participation and $400 was raised of which $300 has already been sent to Switzerland for Serbian Relief work.
Many Austrian Subjects
"We may be few in number in Baltimore," he said, "but we are big in spirit. Nearly every one of us has relatives who have suffered from German rule in Serbia and we all want to help to crush it forever. The hard part is that many of us are technically alien enemies and Austrian subjects, and thus we are misjudged. For this reason, nearly every Serb who comes here gets naturalized as soon as possible. There is a movement on foot by the Serbian National Alliance to secure recognition of the Austrian Serbs as a friendly nation, and I hope it will go through. Meanwhile, those of us who are lucky enough to be Americans will give our last cent and our last drop of blood to help Uncle Sam."
It is characteristic of the single- mindedness of the Serbians, who are members of the Greek Church, that recently, when they had an opportunity to have a church of their own or give the money in Liberty bonds, they preferred to do the latter and to worship in a church where the priest spoke a tongue they did not understand. To them the triumph of the Stars and Stripes and the rehabilitation of their beloved tricolor of red, blue and white is a religion.