The Italians of Cleveland

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THE ITALIANS -O F CLEVELAND Each had its officers, peculiar aims and social purposes, together with insurance and benefit features. Some, like the Society of Christopher Columbus, were mutual associations guaranteeing to his family in case of a member's death $100 toward defraying funeral expenses and an indemnity raised by an assessment of $1 on each surviving member of the organization. Obviously this was a precarious insurance method. To stabilize and standardize dues, rates, indemnities, and focus their purpo es, all these local organizations were united and incorporated by the state legislature in 1917 under the name, "Federated Societies." Each society is represented in the federation but has nO,t lost its identity, as the by-laws and rules of the latter body must be ratified by the local order to be coercive. Officers of the federation are elected annually. Salvatore Russo, connected with the Ohio Macaroni Co., is at present the presidential incumbent. In April, 1919, the largest society, "The Fraterna," affiliated with the "Sc,ns of Italy." Six others have made application to do so. It is expected that there will be a still further amalgamation of all these smaller bodies into one great representative organization. Social Clubs Of purely social clubs there is no end. Most of those with benefit features have been attracted into the Federation. But many organizations made up of persons coming from the same town or district in Italy remain separate. The "Matrice" and the "Imerse," social clubs, both of which meet at Alta House, the "Sinagra," a local"mutual life insurance association numbering 100 and limiting its individual mortuary indemnity to $300, are open only to those coming from the same Italian cities, and are constructed with the purpose of obviating the need of Am rican relief. Others are charitable or semi-patriotic in character. "The Daughters of Italy," a ocial organization unconnected with the benefit society bearing the same name, belongs to this class. It was organized in 1910, meets in the basement of t. Anthony's church, arranges for Columbu Day and other parades, was active in our several Liberty Loan campaigns, as well as in welconling returning members of .the . E. F. This is the organization which has arranged the Soldiers' reception banquet and ball in the Winton Hotel for the 17th of May, 1919. The "Aureliu ," a less pretentious organization, was responsible for the sale of more than $300,000 worth of U. S. Liberty Bonds, and $25,000 War Savings tamps. Still another type is the purely recreational club, meeting for the most part at Alta and Hiram settlements. A few like the "Jolly Good Fellows," an organization made up of 25 men who meet at Alta House for recreation, to prepare plays and otherwise entertain them elves ; and the various small Spaghetti clubs which bring their members together at a restaurant, are unfederated and adaptable to any purpose which is expedient at the time. They are for men only, and they often have definite social and political purposes. The Prentice C1ul, on the other hand, is a purely women's organization. It was initiated by Misil Belle Sherwin at Alta Hou e for the young girls in Little Italy, now its membership of 6Q. is wholly of married women, some of whom are charter members. It affords recreation, arranges lunches, parties, games and dances for its members. Through the winter it has engaged in war work, in the summers' taken care of the sick in the colony and in general promoted facile social relations in the settlement. 36
THE ITALIANS O F CLE VELAN D Somewhat similar in purpose is the "Noyes," named after the Alta House directress, a club for young married mothers, where they may get away from the irk and monotony of home life. Their tiny babies form the touch of nature which makes the world akin. The "Romolo Matrons," the "Young Unmarried Women's Club," and the "Romolo Juniors" are women's and girls' organizations serving a similar purpose and meeting in the same place. A Federation of these various women's clubs under the name, "Italian Women's Club," is now in process of organization under the presidency of Mrs. B. A. Buopane. Its purpose is charitable, social, musical and philanthropic, more particularly to keep the societies and individuals in touch with the great movements of the day, a task in which it is admirably succeeding. A ball is to be held under their auspice at the Winton Hotel April 29th, 1919, in honor of the returning Italians and Americans who fought with our expeditionary forces in Italy. This federation, as the men's organizations, will seek incorporation. Athletics The younger men and boys are proud of the past achievements and present standing of their athletic clubs in the various lines of sport. There are two baseball leagues, a Senior and a Junior, with eight teams in each. The names of the former clubs are an interesting contrast to the latter-J effersons, Marconis, Lincolns, and Garfields, over againsl/: the Altas, Macks, Cubs, and Elks. These athletic club are organized and supported by the boys themselves through common dues collected throughout the year. Atheletes in Training Rocco Novario of the Cleveland Athletic Baseball Association has been manager for the past four years of the Telling's-Stroller's, an "A" class all-Italian team which won the state championship in 1916, the city championship in 1917, and which then suspended operations to help America to "win the war." The "Mohawk," all-Italian football team, also carried off the city's championship laurels from 1914 to 1918. In basketball the "Favorite Cones," made up of Italian operatives of the Favorite Woolen Mills and financed by its manager, the "Mercedes" and "Red Skins," which carried . the Cleveland and class cham- 37
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