Yugo.
May 3, 1942
Gary, Ind.
RE: Croatian Catholic Union
125 W. Fifth Av.
Gary, Ind.
The Board of Directors are as follows:
Executive Board:
X Rev. F.J. Cuturic, Spiritual Leader
2823 Princeton Ave.
Chicago, Ill.
X George Rakic, Supreme President,
125 W. 5th Ave.
Gary, Ind.
John Cavlovic, Supreme Vice-Pres.
1252 Sandusky Ave.
Kansas City, Kan.
X George Ramuscak, Supreme Sec.
125 W. 5th Ave.
Gary, Ind.
Joseph G. Pavlic, Supreme Treas.
125 W. 5th Ave.
Gary, Ind.
Board of Trustees.
X Rev. M.S. Hranilovic, President
847 Crouse St.
Akron, Ohio
Paul Salopek, Sec.
1111 Kennedy Ave.
Duquesne, Pa.
Joseph Erdeljac, Member
2501 E. 82 St.
Cleveland, Ohio
Paul J. Domsich, Member.
1537 - 121 St.
Whiting, Ind.
Iggy Jurkovich, Member
1124 Wilcox St.
Joliet, Ill.
Supreme Trial Board.
X Rev. John E. Juricek, Pres.
5912 So. 36 St.
Omaha, Neb.
Tomo Bullum, Sec.
1042 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angelos, Calif. [sic]
John Rozman, Member
17515 Goddard Ave.
Detroit, Mich.
Grgur Mekic, Member
50 Simon Ave.
Lackawanna, N.Y.
Andro Grahovac, Member
9618 Escanaba Ave.
Chicago, Ill.
Editor of the Organ, "Our Hope"
Francis Kolander
125 W. 5th Ave.
Gary, Ind.
Chief Med. Examiner.
Dr. John F. Ruzic
23 55 W. 63 St.
Chicago, Ill.
Legal Adviser.
A.L. Zivic
508 Union Natl. Bank B'ldg
East Chicago, Ind.
Junior Order Director.
X Rev. V. Ardas
2260 Adams St.
Gary, Ind.
All those marked by an "X" in front of their names, are pronounced supporters of Dr. Ante Pavelich, the Axis puppet ruler of Croatia. The C.C.U. is under the supreme influence of Dr. David Zrno, the Franciscan Provincial of Croatian Catholic Section of that Order.
Dr. Zrno is a declared agent of Dr. Ante Pavelich. Through the influence of Dr. Zrno, Rev. F. Cuturic was elected at the last convention of the aforesaid organization as the Spiritual Leader of the same, according to the by-laws, the Spiritual Leader is the highest officer of the Union. Rev. Cuturic was publishing articles regularly in the "Indenpendent [sic] State of Croatia" a weekly, used to be published in Pittsburgh by the "Croatian Homedefenders" up to the month of March of this year, which organization was entirely pro-fascist and organized upon orders of Dr. Ante Pavelich.
To control the action of this C.C.U., one Stanislav Boric, who is here on a temporary visa as a visitor, was employed as an organizer of the aforesaid Union, with headquarters in the main office at, 125 W. 5th Ave., Gary, Ind. Stanislav Boric came to the United States a few years ago from Zagreb, where he was employed by the Hrvatski Radisa, a trade organ. He was sent here by Col. Kvaternik, who is now in command of the Axis-Croatian army of Dr. Ante Pavelich. It is a well known fact, that the said Boric was put in the office of the C.C.U. to control the action of the Board for the benefit of Axis propaganda in this country. Since Boric's arrival, those marked with an "X" have redoubled their propaganda for the cause of the Axis.
Up to this date, the Board of Directors of the said C.C.U. has never issued any statement condemning the present Quisling goverment [sic] of Dr. Ante Pavelich in Croatia. Francis Kolandar, the editor and an extremely patriotic American citizen, publicly condemned Pavelich, Hitler and the Axis puppets in general and called upon the Board to draw a resolution to the same effect. For this, Mr. Kolandar was violently condemned himself by those marked "X" and a campaign is now on to have him ejected from his office.
It is advisable to take proper action to elimnate the present Board of Directors and all of the Axis sympathizers in the said organization. This organization will have a quadruannual convention beginning the 20th of September, 1942, in Steelton, Pa. At least the following should be eliminated: "X" Rev. F.J. Cuturic, George Rakic, George Ramuscak, Rev. M.S. Hranilovich Rev. J.S. Juricek, Rev. V. Ardas.
During the last war, Rev. Hranilovich was a pronounced Austrian propagandist and since the last war, has continuously worked against the national interests of Yugoslavia. He is the father-in-law of Stanislav Boric. The most suitable and patriotic person for the Spiritual Leader would be Rev. Separovich, who is in charge of the Croatian Rom. Cath. Parish in Milwaukee, Wis. He is the most respected and liberal of all members of the Croatian Franciscan Order in America.
The proper person for the President of this organization would be Mr. Joseph Erdeljac, of Cleveland, Ohio, at present a member of the Board of Trustees.
Mr. Francis Kolander, the present editor of "Our Hope" would be the proper person for the office of Supreme Secretary, as he is well qualified for said work in every way and is an ardent American citizen. He has a son in the U.S. army.
The addresses of the Lodges of this organization will be submitted in the reports to follow.
SK/Y