Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-06-19

prove his condition and character.
4 specIaI secretary. DIR. Peter Rob
erts. has been placed In charge OF TINS
work. DIR. Roberts has studied the
needs Of the immigrants in the coal
fields OF Pennsylvania. He Is the au-
thar Of a painstaking study or the III
lustrIal and sociological conditions OF
the foreign speaking In that state ana
he is qualified 10 lead In adapting the
work OF the association TO meet these
great needs.
The association Is now doing work
In four Of the ports of entry on the
Atlantic. Its agents meet the lmlnl-
grants. minister TO their necessities
guide many to trustworthy boarding
houses and find employment for many
others. Those who 90 inland are given
letters and cards Of Introduction to
association secretaries, who also all
them. Ii is interesting TO know that
the plan works. Immigrants aided by
the secretaries have sent back letters
Of appreciation for services rendered
and for the spirit manifested.
The leaders in this movement. how
ever. feel that they must get hold or
the immigrant before he lands In New
York or Boston, Philadelphia or Que
bee. He must be cultivated at the
ports of embarkation. He must be
told. as Robert Watchorn. commission
er of immigration IN New York. puts
It, that an agent of the Young Mems
Christian association stands at the
gate TO welcome him" With this In
view. plan of cooperation between
the International committee and the
worlds committee is being perfected
BY which agents of the association VIII
work in the ports OF embarkatiOn in
Europe. aiding immigrants and direct
ing them into the hands of similar
| agents I'm the ports Of landing as well
as In inland centers of distribution.
| The association feels that the first
impression made upon the Immigrant
| Is important. and its aim Is 10 safe
| guard the foreigner" from crooks and
sharps. to help him find his destina-
| ton. his friends or the needed employ
ment and thus impress upon him that
he comes to Christian and law abid-
Ing country.
A conservative estimate will place
| the total non English speaking work
| ers in the industries OF America at
! 100000. The association feels It owes
duty TO them. Hundreds OF these
wage earners are killed each year in
mill and mine because of their ignO-
rance OF the English language Today
/ scores Of associations are conducting
! classes in English for foreign born
/ men and boys Thousands of these
men prematurely fill graves because OF
/ ignorance of the laws Of health. condi-
! tons OF living and lack OF intelligent
adjustment TO new Industrial Coudi-
tons. The association is trying 10
find ways for bringing light and
! knowledge to the foreign speaking in
! these lines.
Thousands OF these men get into
! trouble for the reason that they do
not know the ordinances OF our cities
and the laws OF the land. A magis-
trste recently said in Youngstown: 1T
/ Is the men who do not know English
| hat get into trouble. When they learn
/ English and know our laws they keep
,ut OF court" The association is try
ing TO help the foreign speaking 10
tecp out of court by teaching them
what the laws are, why they are neces.
sary and the duty Of all 10 obey them.
4 Thousands OF foreigners are voters.
and thousands more aspire to that
IF these naturaliZed foreign speaking
men do not know what vote means
IN democracy. Many OF them know
that 1t has pecuniary value and are not
able TO see further than that Their
previous training and their ignorance
Aave been used by sinister men To cor
rupt the ballot
When Judge in Ohio explained the
election laws TO crowd OF Magyars
and pointed out the crime Of fraud
ulent voting and the penalty. they We're
surprised, and their comments We're;
I'VE didn't think that" I'VE didn't
think 1t was wrong" I'VE took the
word of that boss that 1t was all
right" Secretaries are giving and pro
noting talks among Foreigners OF
naturalization, the duties of natural
lied citizens, the way officers are
chosen. TIE duties of officers wheI
chosen and the Importance of knowl
edge and conscience in the electors OF
q democracy.
These lines of activity are followed
In four ways-by the personal touch OF
secretaries and teachers who brinl
into service broad sympathy for theil
foreign speaking brethren; by litera
ture specially prepared to meet the re
quirement of the foreign speaking il
his work, in his home and as a member
of society and of the government, ant
by lectures accompanied by stereop
ticon views which tell them the stories
Of the rise and growth of America
the men who sacrificed to achieve the
results Of today and the hope of to
morrow. To this heritage the foreign
born come, and the association hopes tC
help open their eyes and their hearts
to Its meaning and enlist their sym
pathy and interest, their devotion and
cooperation in making the civilization
OF North America what 1t ought to be
BY cooperation with other agencies
who are at work in lettering the con
dition of non-English speaking peoples
In Industrial centers, and especially IL
the cities, much good will be effected.
In this work the association is not
attempting to proselyte any member OF
any race. Proselytism is not in tho
programme. The emphasis is placed