Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-13
The Hyphen in Politics.

Secretary Straus of the Department of
Commerce and Labor says in an inter-
view:
Il leave here on October IS for Cleve-
land, where l will speak on the following
day. I have distinctly stated that l would
not speak before any sectarian audiences.
and no meeting that Is called as such or
advertised as such will be addressed by
me.
Il will be glad to address audiences
comprised of native and foreign-bor citi-
zens, but do not believe In hyphenated
organizations. nor do l recognize any
religious division of the great body of
the American electorate
These sentiments are worthy of the sue
cessful and distinguished man who ut
tered them, and If they were general the
country would benefit.
Why should there be ''hyphenated or
ganizations'' of any kind in America when
1t comes to governmental policies? Why
is not the word American sufficient?
When we are abroad We are glad to rest
upon that single designation. No visitor
from these shores is a German-American
in Germany, or an Irish-American in Ire
land, or a Jewish-American in Palestine
He is simply an American, and If he be-
comes embarrassed in any way and needs
apply to his country's representative. 1t
is not question then as to where he or
his father may have been born, but as to
his citizenship and his right to the pro-
lection of the stars and stripes.
Why should not the same hold true here
at home: We are all Americans. We
want what Is best for America We are
all interested in preserving the national
..vaA ~
can business. American wages, American
standards OF living, and American innu-
ence in The affairs OF the world, are, or
should be, the common solicitude. y ma
tionaf policy which stioaid injure or ao-
vance America would injure or advance
the citizen, no matter where born. We
are all in the same boat, taking things in
their larger relation.
Tnis ~ fundamental. And yet politi-
clans have played upon prejudices and
encouraged class ana race and religious
divisions, until the electorate in certain
sections looks like patchwork the hy-
phenated American aoOunds and IN cam
paign years is harangued by speliDinuers
and leader writer's az though his interests
uttered through German, or IRISH, or Jew
.sh sources and influences.
This means graft ana pull for some of
the leaders who 90 tins work. They mas
quera0e as men with goods to deliver
un election Jay. This one wants it be-
iieved that ne carries a certain vote in
his vest pocket. Another smiles approx
ingly on the suggestion that WORD from
him goes a long way III determining the
choice at the polls of men OF certain
strain OF blood. Party managers are urged
to treat with them on such pretenslon and
oasis. and sometimes do.
Mr. Straus wants to speak to Ameri-
cans az an American. where they were
DOrn is nothing 10 the zeal point The
point Is that great campaign Tor control
of the government is III progress, and
every citizen of the country is Interested
in it. German-born, Irish born. French
born. Italian-born, American-born Jew
and Gentle. Catholic and Protestant, all
should weigh the matters presented as
,;,cy may appear to bear upon the for
tunes Of the whole country. What is best
tor the United States? What policies
will send us the most safely along the
pathway Of substantial prosperity. and
hold US together, as We are now held to-
gcther, for the common welfare?