The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-13
STRIKES NOW
A SCANDAL
Declared Theodore Roosevelt in Consid-
ering the American Situation-N0
Room for Hyphens in the
United States.

New York, Oct. l3-"The foreign-born
population of this country must be an
Americanized population--no other kind
can fight the battles of America either
in war or in peace"
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt so assert
ed in a speech on "Americanism" be-
fore the Knights of Columbus at Car
negie hall last night. Col. Roosevelt
said that at the outset it was the duty
Of immigrants to learn English and it
was the duty of America to provide
1 them means to learn English.
IF an immigrant is not fit to become
a citizen, he should not be allowed to
come here" said Col. Roosevelt, "if he
to earn his own livelihood and to bet
ter himself, that any man can have.
| Take such matter as the illiteracy
test. ] entirely agree with those who
| feel that very excellent possible citi
zens would be barred improperly by an
illiteracy test. But why do you not ad-
init aliens under bond to read and write
at any certain timer 1t would then be
La duty to see that they were given am
pie opportunity to learn to read and
write and that they were deported if
they failed to take advantage of the
opportunity. No man can be a good cit
izen if he is not at least in process of
fellow citizens.
"The foreign.born population must
talk the language Of the native born cit
izens; it must possess American citi-
zenship and American ideas. 1t must
o4a nd ~, s+a ,,F all i,,l
word and deed and must show that in
every fact it has renounced allegiance
to every prince, potentate or foreign
government 1t must be maintained on
an American standard of living so as to
prevent labor disturbances in important
plants and at critical times. None of
these objects can be secured as long as
we have immigrant colonies, ghettos, and
immigrant sections, and above all they |
cannot be assured so long as we consid-
er the immigrant only as an industrial
asset"
Colonel Roosevelt said that Just as
democratic America required that church |
and state should be separate, that there
should be no distinction of religious
creeds in public office, so there should
be no distinction of nationality. "There
is no room in this country for hyphen-
ated Americans" he said; "when / re-
fer to hyphenated Americans, / do
not refer TO naturalized Americans. Some
of the very best Americans that | have
ever known were naturalized Americans,
Americans born abroad. But hyphen.
lted American is not an American at
Ill. This is just as true of the man who
puts German, Irish, English or French
before the hyphen. Amerieanism is a
natter of the spirit and of the soul. Our
Illegianee must be purely to the United
states.
"The one absolutely certain way of
ringing this nation TO ruin, OF prevent
ng all possibility of its continuing to
,e a nation at ALL would be to permit
t to become tangle of squabbling ma.
ionalities, an intricate knot of German.
Americans, Irish American English
americans, French Americans, Scandina-
ian Americans or Italian.Americans,
ach preserving its separate nationali-
Y, each at heart feeling more sympa
hy with Europeans of that nationality,
han with the other citizens of the I
american republic. a
For an American citizen 20 vote as I
German. American, an Irish-American
r an English American is TO be a trait q
r to American institutions; and those
yphenated Americans who terrorize
merican politicians by threats Of the 7
,reign vote are engaged in treason 20
he American republic"
Speaking of preparedness. Col Roose-
elt said that even in time of peace in.
iyiduals and the railroads should CO.
perate and that industrial disturbances
lould be eliminated. "The strike situa-
on in the United States at this time Is
scandal 10 the country as a whole
nd discreditable alike to employer and
nploye," he said :
Il am certain that the only perma- \
entity safe attitude for this country as J,
.gards national preparedness for self. -
sfense is along the lines Of universal
ryice on the Swiss model Switzerland =
the most democratie Of nations. Its
my Is the most democratic army in =
le world. There isn't a touch Of mill ~
.rism or sggressiveness about Switzer-
nd. II has been found ~ q matter !,
actual practical experience in Switz. =
land that the universal military train =
9 has made a very marked increase in y
cial efficiency and in the ability u the y y
an thus trained 10 DO well Tor himself
industry"
Iurping more national defense Col "
loseveit said that not only should bat. :,
sships submarines. ample coast and ~
% artillery and q greater ammuhition
pply system h. provided. bat there ~
oald be q utilization Of such profes.
M ~ the ownership and management y
motor cars - aviation and 81 enri. :,
eriuR More map making an8 road ~
.pfoterBeuts and railroads bruurit INTO -
sre intimate touch With the var de- -
rtmrut wrrE suggested.
49, wvrr w.~rw~ ~