The Detroit times., 1913-11-26
NATIONS POWER
TO ASSIMILATE
GREAT AS EVER
m
United States Should Give Immi-
grant Chance for Home MAX.
Ing, Says Famous Journalist
LAUDS FARMING AS MEANS
OF AMERICANIZING THEM
Protests Against Their Exploita-
ton In Factories in Address
Before Board of Commerce

That the American nation has not
lost Its power to assimilate the immi-
grant; chat assimilation and home
making are one and the same thing,
and that the immigrant should be
encouraged to enter agricultural pur-
suits. was the position taken by Louis
N. Hammerling, president OF the
American Association OF Foreign Lam
guage Newspapers. an organization
controlling more than 600 publications
issued In 20 different languages, In
an address on THE making OF Ameri-
can citizens" before the Board of
Commerce at noon luncheon. Tues
day
Mr.. Hammerling deplored the prac-
tice OF exploiting immigrants in
American factories and Industries and
pointed out that. In coming to the
United States. the immigrant came TO
escape injustice perhaps less cruel
IN It's nature. This practice. he said.
was responsible for a great deal Of
the dtsanectiOn and anarchy among
the foreign peoples. Mr.. Hammer
ling said. In part:
People are pouring into the United
states from all over the world at the
average rate OF about one million a
year. They are fleeing the injustice
and inhumanities OF the old world,
and, with hearts full Of aspirations
and eager longings, they are seeking
the hospitality OF America. at the en-
trance to whose principal harbor
stands the welcoming statue of lib
erty.
When the benefcent hand Of JUS
tice resolutely extends its protecting
care over these children of oppres-
sion that arrive on our shores, there
Is an immediate response to such
treatment. II inspires confidence and
kindles hope in the hearts that have
hitherto been strangers to such emo
lions. Thrift and industry, together
with sobriety and good behavior, fol-
low as matter OF course, and our
fellow-man, from the land Of oppres-
sion, realizes that he has indeed
found the land of liberty and the
home Of the free, while the country
has gained q good citizen and a sturdy
contributor TO its wealth and power.
For several generations the talk
has been general In America TO the
effect that our power OF assimilation
was exhausted and that the coming
in OF more immigrants would breed
anarchy and imperil our institutions.
But migration has increased right
along, and. apparently, our power OF
assimilation has kept fully abreast OF
the demands made upon 1t. Indeed
il may be truly said that our power
of assimilation Is measured by, our
power OF domestication. | use the
word domestication in it's true sense
that OF home-making. There Is
little fear that our power OF assimila-
ton will be over-taxed as long as
America affords an opportunity for
homemaking.
Native Americans, who were born
to such wealth Of opportunity cannot
appreciate what 1t means to the poor
and oppressed man OF the old world
TO have an opportunity to make real
he me for himself and his family. Such
a thing In his native country was, as
a rule, impossible, and In most cases
unbelievable. Therefore, to find real
ownership of q real home possible. 10
a prospect 50 inviting and vision
80 enchanting as to stimulate to Its
highest exertion every energy OF
mind and body In Its realization.
Under the spell Of these emotions is
II any wonder that the forlorn for
eigner succeeds? Is 1t any wonder
that the thrift Of this supremely en-
ergizsd foreigner becomes proverbial
In the community In which he resides?
And, finally, II II any wonder that
he makes an ideal country-loving and
law.abiding citizen? He knows, as
the man born and reared in this coun-
try cannot know. the blessings OF lib
erty. freedom. and opportunity.
This now brings to me to the con-
sideration of what conceive to be
the chief means OF making good Amer
ican citizens. A means that Is very
dear to my heart and the furthering
OF which is my greatest desire and
ambition and that Is, the settlement
OF our immigrants on the land. Make