The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-06-24
OUR ADVANCING FLAG.


Our flag is not extending much on
the sea, but it is extending beyond
the sea. that is. the influence of it
is extending. In the current Review
of Reviews, Mr.. Edward A Steiner
tells how last year more than SOO.-
600 men and women who had been
immigrants here returned to their
native countries.
This writer notes the contrast be-
tween those who have migrated and
those who have remained at home.
This is the more striking where the
cultured development had been at
its lowest and where the church and
state had done least for the masses.
The writer says "The returned
emigrant purposely emphasizes the
difference between himself and those
who remain at home. He does every
thing, wears everything which will
make him like an American, even if
while in the United States he scarcely
moved out of his groove or came in
touch with our civilization Men
wear with pride our clothing, includ-
ing ties and stiff collars, and when
one is in doubt as to a mans rela-
tion to our life, a glance at his feet
is sufficient, for by their shoes, ye
shall know them
Two things have been accomplish
ed by their visit to this country.
They mean a new standard of living,
even as they mean new standard of
effort" He says generally the Poles
are the LATEST people in Europe, lazy
and slothful, that the Slavs and La
tins are inclined to lead an easy life,
and these are the classes that are
transformed by some years in Ameri-
ca
He cites unbiased landowners and
manufacturers who have told him
that America has trained their work
men in industry; that we have quick
ened their wits; that while wages
have risen nearly so per cent, in al
most all departments of labor the eff
ficiency of the labor has been CORES
pondingly increased, most noticeably
where the largest number of return
ing emigrants have entered the home
field.
Then they are buying back their
own country with the money they
earned here. One great state the
villagers bought and paid for with
American money, the same LANDS
where their forefathers were serfs
and on which they had worked dur
ing the harvests for 20 cents a day."
and they have attained a higher
standard of living.
Then the gospel of fresh air is hav-
ing its converts. They dress better;
their homes are better ventilated;
thy are paying attention to sanitary
matters, and, above all, they are us
ing their women better.
Altogether the story is an object
lesson of what our country really is
to this world. 1t is transforming the
European peasant, making his a bet
ter worker, more thoughtful man,
a better citizen, emerging from the
paralysis of generations of poverty
without hope.
We say our flag is advancing is
the world 1t is not al
together unweiconie news that the
Japanese are striking in Hawaii
hey are following an American pre-
cedent. That will extend by and by
% China, litter later her men will
begin to strike, and if the fortunate
'nes in the old countries, those who
)wn the lands and the manufacturers.
lave the sense to by and by realize
hat the freer the citizen is the bet
g. he is, and if they vent better
work they must hold out some hopes
o their workers, if they want better
nen they must treat their men bet
er, and when that is done, those
anne citizens after while will look
Up and say that if land of freedom
s better for the citizens, there is no
rood reason why their land shall
lot be free, and in that way the
oundation stands under the thrones
# the old world viii begin to disinte-
rate, and by and by they will, one
fter the other. topple and fall, even
IS the iceberg at sea when it reaches
certain temperature dissolves and
disappears under the waves.-Good-