Memoirs of Peter Boudoures Chapter 10 Greek-American Relations and My Involvement in Politics

Mayor James Rolph, Jr.

At that time the Greeks in America had developed a bad reputation amongst a small portion of the American public. The Greeks owned a number of grocery stores, restaurants, candy stores and other businesses in America. Perhaps because of competition, or jealousy, or maybe because they had good reasons, a small minority of people were spreading rumors that Greeks were not the best of citizens. Part of the complaint was that Greeks did not mix with other Americans. Another was that they came to this country for one reason only, to make as much money as they could to either send it to Greece or to return with it to Greece. To some extent, I must say, we were guilty.

Without a doubt, if everybody who came here from other countries did nothing but send money out then sooner or later the resources of this country would be exhausted and this country could not progress. However, all Greeks did not do that. Most Greeks, after initially sending money home, gradually changed their minds and decided to stay and to build their homes and raise their families here. Most became eager to become good citizens and be accepted in this country, just as I did.

This subject often came up for discussion with many Greek patrons of the restaurant. One day when Frank Lamont, Charles Constantine and Dr. Abramopoulos were at the restaurant we discussed the necessity of forming a Greek political club in San Francisco to protect our rights and to give the Greeks a positive image. We could get together and support candidates of our liking, persons who would do the best for San Francisco. At the same time we could pay attention to the needs of the Greek Americans. It was mentioned at that time that all the Greeks at that gathering were American veterans of the First World War and there was in existence a Hellenic Post of the American Legion. We decided that it would be a good place to start.

So we went one evening to the Civic Auditorium to a hall on the second floor where the Hellenic Post was meeting and we discussed the need to form a political action club. There were about 30 t0 40 Legionnaires present, some in favor of forming a political club and others against it. Much was said, and for the first time I realized that the Greeks were divided. One group wanted to promote persons from their side and another had its own candidate. I don't remember the details, but I do remember that it was almost a deadlock. The meeting nearly ended without anything being accomplished. Then, out of the clear, my friend the late Charles Constantine, who was a salesman for one of the big packing houses and who knew a lot of people, stood up and pleaded with both sides to put aside their animosity. He asked them to pick a new person, an unknown, who would be able to pull us together, start the club, and go to work to accomplish our purposes.

And out of the clear blue sky he nominated me! I was sitting next to him. When he sat down, I said, "Charlie, what have I ever done to you? What prompted you to submit my name for president of the political club? What do I know about politics and what do I know about the procedure of conducting a meeting and whatever else a person should know? I'm as green as they make them. I came here to listen and learn. I didn't come here to be honored and to undertake something which I know I'm not qualified to do."

He talked to me and said it wasn't as complicated as I thought. He told me that he had experience and that if I had confidence in him he would guide me and teach me the "ropes." He promised me that before the next meeting was called I would be able to conduct the meetings as well as anyone else could. The argument made in my favor was that I was running the biggest and the best Greek-American restaurant in San Francisco, that I was new and unknown and that nobody disliked me. In a moment of weakness I consented and was elected chairman of the political action club. I couldn't sleep all night and the next day my friend, Charles Constantine, came to see me at work. I told him it was a mistake on my part to accept and that I would resign. As a result of Charles's sales abilities, he again convinced me to stay on. So, I decided to give it a try and not to be a piker and resign.

The Asia Minor Disaster of 1922 And Its Effect on the Greeks
In order for you to understand what was going on, it is necessary for me to go back a little during the period of a few years prior to 1924. During the First World War, 1914-1918, Greece had the mixed fortune to be ruled by two very famous men. One was Prince, and later, King Constantine. He was the commander-inchief of the Greek army in the 1912 war against Turkey, the First Balkan War. Greeks, Serbians and Bulgarians fought together against the Turks and liberated parts of Albania, Epiros, Macedonia and Thrace. Constantine later led the Greek forces against Bulgaria when they attacked Greece in the Second Balkan War. Greece was again victorious. As a result of these successes Constantine was very popular and considered one of the best generals of that time. He became King in 1914 when his father King George was assassinated.

Greece was also fortunate to have as a statesmen at that time, Eleftherios Venizelos. Originally from Crete, he was farsighted and well educated. He became a member of the Greek Parliament and subsequently, Premier. He inaugurated many new ideas in Greece for the benefit of the common people and became very popular.

During the First World War Constantine wanted Greece to fight on the side of Germany, Turkey, Austria and Bulgaria. His wife was the Kaiser's sister.

Venizelos wanted Greece to fight on the side of the Allies, Britain and France, and against Germany, Bulgaria and Turkey. Venizelos wanted to enter the war immediately while Constantine wished to remain neutral. Greece was bitterly divided into two factions. The one side was referred to as the "Royalist" and the other as "Venizelists," or "Progressives." Subsequently, King Constantine was exiled and Greece went to war on the side of the Allies. The Allies won. As a result, Greece was granted most of Macedonia, all of Thrace, including Adrianople, practically up to the walls of Constantinople, and part of Asia Minor around the area of Smyrna.

In the Greek general elections of 1920 Venizelos was defeated and exiled. Constantine was recalled to the throne. The Allies, especially the French, supported Venizelos and hated Constantine. In the subsequent war between Greece and Turkey the French supported Turkey with supplies and munitions. As a result the Greek armies were soundly defeated in 1922. It was truly a catastrophe! In 1923 an agreement was made that Greece and Turkey would have an exchange of populations. Some million and a half Greeks left Turkey and settled in Greece as refugees. This brought tremendous hardship to Greece and caused the second exile of Constantine and the return of Venizelos.

The catastrophe caused many Greeks in America to decide to stay here. Greece was now impoverished and returning there was no longer desirable.