Devunich, Stephen, undated, tape 2, side 2

Joni Rabinowitz: These new people that are coming from Yugoslavia, What what are they like? What kind of people are they? Are they joining the CSU?

Stephen Devunich: Very, very few. Now we do and we urge, but they tell us we are too much the leadership and they see a few too much pro-yugoslav. See they would like to see. More equality in Yugoslavia. That's what they tell us. Some of them, which was with the quisling government and their leaders here and clergy, was all. I would say majority with the quisling during the war. And they are here. They want to put themself as a leader. They want to call themselves to be a leader of the Croatian people, which they are not the people not accept them. And the proof is a Croatian, which was just concluded in the September. They work four years hard work. They publish the bulletin, their paper they have in Chicago named Danica, which is an English is a morning star. This is a clergy, what we would call them. And they don't deny they are still pro quisling. A quisling name was Dr. Ante Pavelic.

Rabinowitz: And the new people that are coming there are they're fleeing from Yugoslavia. Right. They think the CSU is too allied with the many.

Devunich: And the most come from the Germany. They there was an immigrant from Yugoslavia, from Croatia to Germany to West Germany. The West Germany was able to pay most, I would say. But they have difficulties now in present time, too, with this inflation and everything. But they trying to from Germany to come to this country and they did come and they so the many many was accepted by the government as a pro no as a fighter against the communism. That was the fake. They do fool and trying to fool and they think this is a very popular and they will succeed. And I do think on this question or issue, they they have a preference and to to get to this country and the many churches. Bring them here because they tell the people that they are they can't stand there because they the communism there. But if you ask me, I visit three times after the war. Last time of 73, I was 69 there. The many didn't have to go, but they are crazy for the cars, for the automobiles. Everyone was want to have arborville they do have The cities are packed already. That's what they go to get and make more money. Yugoslavia workers can be paid. And in the same time compete with the developed industrial countries. They did build plenty, surprisingly, that we didn't have almost no industry today there is a industry there. The city where I was born, it's a, they said, most polluted city now because too many factories seen. They produce. Very valuable things. I was in a factory, one factory where they produced the motors for the big US power plants. And they built they get the the contract, you know, on competition basis. They built the power plant all over the world, Yugoslavia, which I would say the Croatia is most industrially developed.

Rabinowitz: When was the first year that you went? The first trip you took back there to visit. What year was that?

Devunich: 46.

Rabinowitz: Did you did you visit with your relatives there?

Devunich: I tried to. I was rushing. I struggling even to get a passport. The country didn't want to give me a passport because they said we cannot guarantee that time for your life. I said, I know that you do. You did give to somebody the passport and I'm going to prove to you and I'm not scared to go there. I will go on my own responsibility. You give me a passport. And finally I got the passport that my was I was hoping that I was going to find my mother living. Yet Father died at 40 before the war.

Rabinowitz: And you hadn't heard from your mother since. Since when?

Devunich: During the war? I didn't know. I didn't hear from her. From them. From since war started. The last war. But my mother died 1944 when they bombarded the Zagreb. She she died at that time. So I. I didn't find the mother alive. Well, of course, I had four brothers and three sisters. There still was alive. Three passed away. Two brothers. And my sister died. That was the first time the country was complete. Over. Over or what? How to express myself. There was nothing. And this country was really contributing the most as a people. As if you go. According to the population, the Yugoslavia lose 1,000,007 hundred people in the last war for the beginning of the war. They had only 14 million population. Now they have over 20 million already. But there was fighting inside quislings. They fighting Germans. They fighting the Italians. So they fighting really the they contributing as a nation occupied by Hitler. The most. They you could say, for of course, our country did help. I know that General Donovan was sent there and he parachuted in the Tito staff. General Donovan.

Rabinowitz: He did what.

Devunich: By parachute? He was dropping by American plane in the Tito generals, general staff, you know.

Rabinowitz: Okay.

Devunich: I don't know what how do you call it? You know where. Leadership of the partisans. So he was with with Tito. And it was hard. Very, very hard struggle. The Yugoslav contributing. And they had very hard time to get help from the United States. I know that they send the people that he was. You called it on the table with the secretary of state asking help.

Devunich: No, the representative the name was, I think. A portion of which. Uh, they have a lockdown, but the, the relationship is, I think, getting very, very good now. The United States and Yugoslavia. Even if Westinghouse now built building the first atom plant on the river of Sabah, which is on the border, Slovenia and Croatia, it's the first atom atom powerhouse plant.

Rabinowitz: Who are electric?

Devunich: Yeah, electric electricity.

Rabinowitz: Um, the first 20 years that you were in this country before you went back to visit, did you keep were you writing and sending money over there to your family?

Devunich: Yes, I do help the all the time. Sometime I send less penny. I help from Canada and from this country all the time. After the war, my wife sent a hundred packages. Hundreds. She packed herself and sent a different, you know, this relationship big. So we helped him and helped him, you know, because they didn't have nothing. I know. 46. I bring so much. Let's. Too much to talk about it. I know this young. My nephew. He said if that wasn't for you, I never will succeed to go to be a doctor.

Rabinowitz: Because of the way you helped while you were in this.

Devunich: Country. I have everything. I closed, closed, closed. And everything I help. I help him. We helped other ones. Every one. They always get help from us. Yeah, all of us. Even now, here and there. Sometime because they have still hard time. Because the dinner, their their money are. Leaning on the dollar and they know the situation. I believe you understand that they they suffer too. They all over Europe. This stuff.

Rabinowitz: Could. Could we get. Oh.

Devunich: No. Because I'm. Oh, I know that I could.

Rabinowitz: Why don't we talk about it later? If you don't want to talk about it on the tape, let's talk about it.

Devunich: Later, okay? Now. Now it doesn't register. It might. I don't know. See, I didn't take it out. I. You are satisfied to see if you know.

Rabinowitz: I have some more questions?

Devunich: Yes, I think so. There is logic.

Rabinowitz: What? You were you were an officer of the lodge here, right?

Devunich: Yes, I was an Officer Lodge one the first time I come. I was a secretary of education. And the. Entertainment Committee.

Rabinowitz: When was that?

Devunich: Oh, right. 28 or 29 after. It was a different officer. I was the recording secretary. I was Easter mostly. I was mostly president.

Rabinowitz: You've been an officer ever since you first came there.

Devunich: Most of the time the officers and I was a delegate on six conventions.

Rabinowitz: At six conventions.

Devunich: Six conventions. I was a delegate from the lodge. This is a great honor to be a delegate. Yeah.

Rabinowitz: Have you ever been employed by the CFU?

Devunich: Yeah. During. During the war, I was employed four years in the headquarters because the company had a hard time and they couldn't give me an answer. The company was engaged in the war production and I wasn't a citizen, so I was an enemy alien and I accept the job there in case the company would be forced to to relieve me on the pressure of the government. So they produced the anti air shells. They produce the parts of aeroplanes and things like that, see? But finally they find a way that I was staying on the job. I never quit. They make the steps, steps outside. We passed the war production departments. I was always in a machine shop seat. All my life. The machine shop was six floors, so. Yes. I didn't. Expire. I didn't want to be an officer on Seaview. That wasn't. I enjoy to work with the people and because I had a job. See, when you have a job and you have a professional job and you like the job you produce, My job was almost a hand production. And that's the difference. And to be a. Mean harm in the office. Yeah. So there is always the people did urge me to run for this and that, but I never run.

Rabinowitz: National, you mean?

Devunich: Yeah, I never run. No, this is enough work. Plenty of work. Who wants to Who is willing to work as a lot to do? You know that I know, right?

Rabinowitz: What was the relationship between the CFU and the unions?

Devunich: Well, we even have in the bylaws, that is, if you is a pro workers organization and it should help workers in the struggle for their better living, mainly helped them even we did lodge.

Help good money.

Devunich: Some strikes right in Pittsburgh during the struggle. When the people you know, was a lot a lot of strikes when it was CIO organize. I don't mean that was a really struggle after the organization you know industrial organization. Cio CIO stand committee for industrial organization these three initially because as I said before, the workers. Ask for better condition, more protection, more safety, more money. And to be classified. As they should. There wasn't. See, the foreman shop was everything. Even if you. Personally, my experience that I know I developed the things and I tell them. He is. His first name was Emil Elmer. But this way is better. You should do what I tell you. Okay. When the union come, then he comes to me. Steve, what do you think? What? Yes. Is it true?

Rabinowitz: Has the curfew? Does the curfew still help people out that are striking?

Devunich: If there would be if they ask, they do help. And a lot of fields, not only, let's say the flood that we have when that. Dam was busted, I don't know what happened.

Rabinowitz: Farmington.

Devunich: I really know. I forgot the name of it. Now that the houses and everything was.

Zlata Krajncich: In West Virginia and also East Pennsylvania.

Rabinowitz: See that one? Yes.

Devunich: If you help all history, the people even in other countries did I remember where the see that is really necessary to help. They wasn't only helping their own people. I know they helped many, many times. The whole country, the whole country got help many, many occasions. Yes, sir. But you see, if you was a major factor to organize relief after the war to the people, which didn't have nothing that I know in 46. I tell you, I was there. They didn't have nothing. I traveled 18 days. There was no transportation. American Express line, Take me on the victory boat, which was a war supply boats they they had loaded supply for the division which was established in Trieste. And they have. Part of the. Cargo for Yugoslavia and for Albania. When they stop to unload. The jars for Albanian people to put, you know, to help them that way, which was a big, big, you know, load The Italian was almost barefooted. The workers which unload see the the country they stopped then their own workers have to unload. I was see how they was poor you know you could see their staff and and. Of course, the Croatia and the old Yugoslavia. They got the help through NRA.

Devunich: No. What what what was the Marshall Plan? Initials. Yes. National under. Yeah. Under UN. Through the Unrra. Under freedom. I would say after the war they can start from the different stock. I see that. 46. A. It was very tough. So the feel to me, as you said, the union was very liberal. In spite, insight aside, we did talk. We have our differences. Which I would say is naturally the more liberal people, progressive people. They won't see the more progress that the others see the other ways. The conservative people or they would they would like to see the people that say things like like you have like you have the example right here. And every year the struggle for the better America we have everyday in Facebook every day. So it's nothing new but. The progressive forces in Aceh, if you will, always prevail. That is my believing, because the people are not dumb. If they didn't have high education, they have a common sense. It's a showing. What are they trying this this time? Just a couple of months ago. Well, the people didn't. The people was. It didn't talk, but they would. They would write. You see.

Rabinowitz: What about during the Depression? How was your life affected during the Depression?

Devunich: During the Depression. Of course, he wasn't born. I don't know. Maybe yes or no. But you know that clergy. The doctors. The professors. All walk of the people of the United States was under $2 or more. $2 a week. It was starvation. You know, the Liberty Avenue around the Saint Patrick's Church. It was built with the cans canteen. They opened the big cans. Let's say a gallon. You know, Stretton and they make shacks. They was living there. They living like beggars in rags.

Rabinowitz: How about. How about you? How were you affected?

Devunich: I did take tell before. I never was without a job. The company kept me. If not not less than two days a week, three days, two days. When I get three days, I give to my what do you call him? He was the godfather, me and my wife to years first child born here. So he has six children. I give him one day. I have enough two days for living. Five days we could buy for a whole week for each. Yeah. That reminds me, when I was in Canada first year, the beef pound of beef was $0.05 in the west. To compare the life and the of course during the that time the people really step on the and they get together and organize themselves. They organize this unemployment councils when the company the gas company shut the gas or electric companies shut the electricity this people organized, they open it.

Rabinowitz: Were you active in the unemployment councils? If I was, were you active organizing the unemployment councils.

Devunich: As a as an employee, I was employed. You see, I wasn't the member. It was the unemployment people, the council people. But I help as much in whatever was I ask. We help in our people are steal the life which done this thing what I tell you nothing didn't happen because they couldn't control. Nobody could control that people with with the kids without a heat, without everything. They shut it off. They didn't ask. That's how what struggle was at that time. But you see this depression bring the Roosevelt era, which is mean the new new life. You know that we have this WW know the job WPA, WPA $0.50 an hour. That was a start. That was a start. But don't forget, during this struggle, during this unemployment council, there was very active on the political field. There was the initial initiator, initiate initiator for the Social Security, for the unemployment compositions. Which there was not no protection. There was nothing. Now, you possible reading about the Hoover under the Hoover? I was most persecuted under the Hoover. When they, of course, was Roosevelt elected first time to the to the secretary of labor was Mrs. Frances Perkins. She dropped all these cases right away. You see the changes and differences, which was I was the 32 on the line for deportation because I was a citizen. I was too radical. I was too active. So they don't need such people. They should separate. That was under the Hoover. But Mrs. Perkins was she was a god bless. And not only you see, that's what we have here, even today. Pioneer Club named Franklin Delano Roosevelt. You know what they call him? Holy Roosevelt. Even today, of course he would. Opposition of the Roosevelt was at that time, but very miserable, you know. And you still will find grumbling against the Roosevelt. But Roosevelt is a big man. And the big president, because he was powerful. He was a wonderful politician. People was listening to him. And during the Roosevelt, we get right to be to get organized. You know, 35 already against the Congress passed the law under the name the.

Rabinowitz: And.

Devunich: A paragraph seven eight the workers is right to get organized. Now we did it was on that but in connection with this era of life of the depression was born. The Social Security. Let them try to take that away from the people today, which is almost 30 millions on that. And every penny is in circulation. When he talks now in our president, our dear president, I never hear him to mention the working people that he is. Of course, he is a supreme man to protect the the big man and the capital not speaking and go too far now. But you I know you understand if this big man with a big money which they can't today trillions not a billions I said many times even I make a speech there will be two weeks coming Saturday. The president said their party and in January they have party for Roosevelt birthday. Who does I mentioned this business club their most Croatian in right here in Pittsburgh. Lawrenceville.

Rabinowitz: What club?

Devunich: Club name? Franklin Delano Roosevelt. That is a retired people.

Rabinowitz: Croatian pensioners Club Pensioners Club. Oh, it's a Croatian group.

Devunich: Yeah. The most Croatian in and Slovenes are in with us and.

Rabinowitz: It's called the FDR Club.

Devunich: Yes. Yeah, that's right. And they are very proud. And in connection, what I tell you is what was born but I mentioned was called to say a few words. I said, Our dear Vice President, he is a very rich man. And they said very liberal man. I said, if he get together those people with the trillions, I said they could pay the debts of the United States, which is only half a trillion. You thinking where our dollar will be and the inflation will disappear. Now they.