The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-30
CURRENT COMMENT.
Absorbing the Immigrant.

How the immigrant is to be assimi
lated Ii d national question which keeps
recurring, An organization which I'M
dertakes to deal with 1t must be al
various and as many-sided as the prob
lem itself This qualification Is met By
an international movement to be know
as the North American Civic League foi
Immigrants. which Is inaugurated undei
the presidency of the Boston Young
Mems Christian Association. While the
work of the organization will be partly
local. its scope will extend to the larger
requirements Of receiving and directing
the movements Of immigrants to this
port.
The incoming aliens, once they can
satisfy certain requirements for entrance
into the country, are now given their
liberty to shift for themselves. Chance
which Is SO powerful a determinant in
the most purposeful lives. has complete
sway over their futures They are ig-
norant Of the country. the customs, tile
laws. They drift wherever they vague
~ understand labor conditions to be
favorable. More often they miss alto
gether the more advantageous location
Instead, for instance, OF proceeding to
tho farming districts where they are
wanted. they drift into the large cities
to multiply the perplexities Of the mu-
nicipal authorities. This North Ameri-
can Civic League starts with definite
notion Of the immediate need. THAT Of
furnishing the bewildered immigrant on
his arrival with information whish shall
enable him to find his way into the place
where he will best fit.
The campaign is to begin on the steam
ships. Cards and posters in different
languages viii advertise the location Of
The leagues headquarters. and the kind
of information which it IL prepared to
furnish As relatively few Of the im-
migrants arrive here with any definite
idea of what they are to do. this will
doubtless prove means of the leagues
greatest usefulness. TO the Italian it
can point to spot on the map and say
with authority, here you viii do well,
there You will not; to the Scandinav-
ian 1t can indicate rural tracts which
want development; the German and the
Austrian it can direct to the towns
where skilled artisans are most likely
Of employment.
1t has long been said that If this
stream Of foreigners can be distributed.
assimilation viii be comparatively sim
pie. II Is when the immigrants herd
in national colonies that they defy the
entertainments Of Amerieanization To
prevent this will be one Office Of the
league. Not less important, however.
win be the details Of Els reception work
at the ports. 1t will act as d clearing
house for all societies which are at pres.
emit laboring for certain national strains
in this current; It will endeavor 10
combat the agencies which are at work to
convert the alien into dangerous eiti.
zen; To be on hand to meet incoming
and assist immigrants in reaching their
destinations by the most direct and
economical routes The detail. ID short
will be infinite, aud detail Is exactly
the thing wanted In public addresses
and in private conference, the immigrant
has been made the subject of endless
generalization. He Is now to come in
Tor the services OF specialists. for which
the country should be the
sounder Boston Transcript.