Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/243
“Why Do Czechoslovaks Venerate the Memory of Woodrow Wilson?”
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s Declaration of Independence. Among the more important of the ceremonies held in Czechoslovakia will be the unveiling of a largestatue of Woodrow Wilson, a picture of which appears on the S. L. cover. This memorial has been erected from contributions of Americans of Czechoslovak descent to honor the memory of the guardian of world-democracy.
The late President Wilson was in a great measure responsible for Czechoslovakia’s independence and it was his influence which secured, finally, America’s recognition of it. Consequently the Czechoslovaks look upon him, in a sense, as a liberator.
In view of this fact, the American National Alliance of Czechoslovaks, with head-quarters in Chicago, is sponsoring an English essay contest, the essays to be written on the theme “Why Czechoslovaks Venerate the Memory of President Wilson.” The prize is to be a trip to Czechoslovakia and back in company with the jubilee commission, and, perhaps, direct participation in the unveiling of the Wilson Memorial in Prague. The commission is to leave New York on May 9th, on board the S. S. President Harding.
The conditions of the contest will be announced later. However, it is understood that only high school, college or university students may compete.
The Alliance gives as its reason for its sponsoring the contest the fact that the American public should know “how highly the Czechoslovaks value the help with which America so spontaneously assisted in the struggle for the freedom of the Czechoslovak nation.”
Slovak Delegation Received by Pres. Coolidge.
On Monday Dec. 5th, a Slovak Delegation, composed of 60 members, representing ten Slovak organizations, six newspapers, and ten Slovak Political Clubs, was received by President Calvin Coolidge. The Delegation greeted the President in the name of the one million American Slovaks, and presented to him a Memorandum, petitioning the revision of the immigration quota of Czechoslovakia. They also negotiated with the Senate and House of Committees on Immigration in this regard. The audience with the President was arranged through the courtesy of Senator Reed.
The Delegation was divided into two groups, one composed of the presidents of the ten Slovak organizations, the other made up of the various officers of the organizations, editors of Slovak newspapers, the representatives of the various Clubs. The former was presented to the President by Congressman Guy E. Campbell of Pennsylvania, and the latter by Congressman Adolph J. Sabath of Illinois.