The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-06-10
SEE UNION OF ALL CITIZENS
Elimination of "Hyphen'' Is the End
Sought by immigration Board in an
Effort to Bring ALI Glasses Of Amer
lean Citizens Closer Together.

The Immigrants in America Review
is spending out a patriotic call to all
citizens, American born and foreign
born alike, to make the Fourth of July
Americanization Day, and to get to-
gether as one nation and one people
for America in peace or war. We be.
lieye that all races in this country are
first for America, but that we need to
know and understand each other bet
ter. If American ideals and purposes
and opportunities are to. be fully real
lied, the barriers that separate the
newly naturalized citizen from the
native born must be swept aside.
The Review therefore offers prize
of $3.50 for the best article on What
America Means and How to American.
ize the Immigrant, with program fol-
Fourth of July celebration especially
designed to welcome recently natural
lied citizens and alien residents.
Frederic Howe, Commissioners of I'm.
migration at Ellis Island, has ad.
dressed the following letter to the
mayors Of American cities:
u. S. Department of Labor Immigra-
tion Service, Office of Commissioner
of immigration.
Ellis Island, New York Harbor, N. Y,
May %, 1915.
Ny Dear Sir:
You may be interested in learning of
most significant civic demonstration
that may be Of value to you in connec-
tion with Fourth Of July celebration
in your city / refer to the 'fCitizen-
ship Receptions" or "New Voters
Day." which the cities of Philadelphia,
Cleveland, Baltimore and Los Angeles
have recently held as a final step in
the naturalization Of foreign born
aliens.
Each year large numbers Of aliens
are admitted to citizenship The pro-
cedure is for the most part informal,
and is attended with no recognition on
the part of the community of its sig
nifcance to America and to the alien.
The purpose of the reception is to give
dignity to the ceremony and at the
same time impress its meaning upon all
citizens.
The idea arose in Cleveland in 1914
when the "Sane Fourth Committee -
assumed the responsibility for a pro-
gram arranged by committee repre-
senting all local patriotic and civic or
CARNATIONS. Through the clerks of nat
uralization, the names and addresses of
aliens admitted to citizenship during
the preceding year were secured, and
invitations for the reception were sent
to each. At the reception, each new
citizen on entering the auditorium and
showing his ticket, was presented with
small American bag end also seal
button of the city with word t'Citi-
zen" upon it. A platform decorated
with the flags of all nations was re-
served to seat the new citizens. The
audience itself was secured by general
publicity through the newspapers,
which gladly gave publicity to the idea.
The program opened with national airs.
This was followed with the unfurling
Of a large American flag, the 'Star,
Spangled Banner being sung and the
"Pledge of Allegiance" being recited
in unison. Officials representing the ma
ton, state and city made addresses.
followed by a speech of appreciation
by one of the prominent foreign born
citizens.
The significance of such reception
given on the Fourth of July is obvious.
Should they become national in scope.
they should have great civic value. L
am sending you this information with
the thought that you may desire to ap-
point a Mayor s Committee for the or
ganization of such reception in your
city in connection with whatever exer-
else may be held on the Fourth of
July.
There will be ''National American
ization Day Committed which will
furnish information and answer INCUR
les, / would appreciate having from
you an expression of your ideas on this
subject.
Very respectfully yours,
fSIUnedA Erndar;n n uomo