The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-11-14
ADDED INTEREST IN
STATE CONVENTION
Y. M. C. A. Delegates Will
Try to Secure An Asso-
citation in Hammond.

Added interest is given the annual
state convention of the Indiana Young |
Mems Christian Association at Ham
mond, November %, % and "a in the
announcement that Abraham Bowers,
formerly of Indiana, and at present
immigration secretary of the Chicago
association, Is to take part in the dem
onstrations of the associations indus
trial work Mr.. Bowers is the leading
exponent in the Middle West of DR..
Peter Roberts English!teaching meth
cd for foreigners and has had charge
Of this work in the Chicago field and
its manufacturing environs for several
years.
Because of the enormous Industrial
activity and the large number OF for
eign-born men in the Calumet region,
special stress is being laid on the
work of the association among work
men and immigrants. Shop meetings
to illustrate these features are planned
for the first two days of the conven-
ton. English-teaching will be one of
the important themes of the business
mems dinner, where DR.. Roberts him
self will demonstrate his original
method with a dozen recent imml-
grants.
Indiana in general and the indus
trial communities in particular are
the direct benefieiaries of Secretary
Bowers work in the practice of the
glad hand to the immigrant" Hun
dreds of the thousands of immigrants
who land in America every year soon
er or later reach points in Indiana
where they are Immediately related te
some association or otherwise giver
needed help.
Chicago has become the distributing
center for almost all immigrants des
tined for this state, the West ant
Northwest. Under his direction these
men are met at railroad stations ano
either directed to their city destina
lions or placed on trains for othe
inland points.
In the event the immigrant is coin
ing to any one of the industrial cell
tiers of Indiana, the state executiv
by the secretary at Ellis Island. Ney
York, or by the immigration depart
ment in Chicago, and the local assc
citation is on the lookout for him. |
he is bound for Gary South Bend @
Evansville. the secretary at that poin
is notified by the state committee an
either meets the man at the train .
looks him up Immediately after hi
arrival. Many immigrants have bee
saved from financial exploitation b
this service. The cab driver or e,
pressman who grows fat on extol
ton can not practice his trade su,
cessfully under the eyes of an associ,
ton secretary.
Twelve secretaries are now station
cd at the ports of Naples, Genoa. Lii,
erpool, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Havr
Bremen and Triest, for the purpose I
meeting and directing immigrants an
giving them cards of introduction t
the Young Mems Christian Associ
ton in the city where they expect
live. There are more than 800 ass
Citations in the United States who
render all sorts of service needed b
immigrants. &
Association secretaries at ports o
entry in this country have met, alien
from l,136 ships. distributed $500
cards of introduction, helped $500
other men in various ways and writ
ten more than 5000 letters for imm
grants Of 33 different nationalities.
The glad hand follows up ever
man and makes an effort to assim
late him. He is taught English an
eivics in a night school, he is aided /
finding a decent place in which to liv
and he is furnished with good jo
through the association bureau. Wit
out job 1t has been found there
slight incentive on the part Of the in
migrant either to learn English or b
como an American citizen