Turning the pages back... October 5, 1934 (10/03/99)

Turning the pages back...

October 5, 1934

For this week's installment of "Turning the pages..." we have chosen to reprint The Ukrainian Weekly's 1934 editorial marking its own first anniversary.

The full text of the editorial, titled "First Anniversary of The Ukrainian Weekly," follows.

* * *

"Well, well, well, time does certainly fly" - must have remarked "Father Soyuz" (Ukrainian National Association to the uninitiated) this morning, as he proudly surveyed his one-year old infant - The Ukrainian Weekly.

Yes, "Father Soyuz" times does fly. Your precious little infant, The Ukrainian Weekly, is out of its swaddling clothes at last. It is exactly one year old today, and essaying its first faltering steps. It may stumble occasionally, you can expect that, but with the persistence peculiar to youth it will rise and try and try again, until it shall be able to walk and progress with the best of them.

Our Critics Are Now Our Supporters

It seems but yesterday that this editor stood by the whirling presses of the Svoboda, breathlessly awaiting the first appearance of The Ukrainian Weekly. And what a grand and glorious feeling it was to see the first issue appear out of the bewildering maze of wheels, rollers and levers. We felt an uplifting of spirit, the feeling that this first issue of The Ukrainian Weekly was ushering in an entirely new era in American-Ukrainian life.

A year has gone by since that memorable day, a year of unprecedented activity among our American-Ukrainian youth, a year in which - we would fain believe - the youth discovered The Ukrainian Weekly and took it to its heart. And if anyone were to ask us today, "What in the brief span of the life of The Weekly affords us the greatest pleasure and pride?" - We would say that those who at the start predicted the speedy demise of The Ukrainian Weekly are now among its staunch supporters.

Thanks to the Ukrainian National Association

For the benefits that have flowed to all of us from the pages of The Weekly, we take great pleasure in thanking the Ukrainian National Association for making possible the publication of this supplement to the Svoboda. Our "Father Soyuz" deserves all the credit in the world for financially and morally supporting this publication by the youth and for the youth. In years to come the significance and importance of this support will be all the more apparent and appreciated.

At the present time, when "Father Soyuz" is celebrating his 40th birthday and simultaneously conducting an unprecedented campaign for new members, we, the youth, can best express our appreciation for his active interest in us by giving him a birthday present - and the best birthday present that we can possibly give him, one that he will most appreciate, is at least one new member. New members, particularly those of the younger generation, are his lifeblood, and without them he will speedily die. And since "Father Soyuz" has a most enviable record of service for the Ukrainian people, it would be indeed a great shame to cut short this service to our people by refusing him continued and more glorious life.

Thanks to the Contributors

And we also wish to take this opportunity of thanking all of our contributors, for through their efforts and cooperation The Ukrainian Weekly has become a truly representative youth's paper.

Our Future Plans

In conclusion, we wish to stress that all of the labor, money and sacrifices that have gone into the making of the Ukrainian Weekly will be more than amply repaid if our young folks join the Ukrainian National Association, and if they remain true and staunch supporters of the Ukrainian cause.

With unbated force we shall continue our endeavors to create of our young people fine American citizens, and true descendants of that race of people who at present are suffering terrible hardships under foreign rule but who, nevertheless, persist in bringing closer that day when they will have their own free and independent Ukrainian state.

Source: "First Anniversary of The Ukrainian Weekly," The Ukrainian Weekly, October 5, 1934 (Vol. II, No. 40).

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