South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-01
BY William Lustgarten
The WeII-knOwn New York Lawyer

"HY is the Hyphenf
w Since the beginning OF the great
war there has been much discussion
regarding the divided loyalty Of a group OF
American citizens OF foreign birth or parentage
The problem of the hyphen has not been
focused by Americans Of unqualified loyalty.
fealty and patriotism. 1t has been forced upon
US By those who have obstreperously set them
selves apart citizens with prior allegiance
10, and sympathy with, the land whence they
sprung.
The monstrous menace OF the hyphen has
Deen recognized. Ii presents a serious prob
lem. What the hyphen stands for Is OF ominous
import Of fundamental danger to the peace and
Well-being of this country. OF so great menace
is II that number of Americans have Joined
IN a movement to combat the idea Of dual citi-
Eenship and to erase the hyphen absolutely
and permanently from our national life.
What Is the cause Of hyphenated American
ismf Why Is il bands Of citizens set them
selves apart under the brand OF foreign nation
altsm2 Why are there cliques of citizens who,
because Of foreign birth or extraction act
masse, not Americans, and American
voters. but as bands united In the mutually Of
possessing a foreign blood?
Why there citizens Of German birth or
extraction who have failed to become TOPPER
cent Americans, retaining a conscious allie
glance to their Fatherland greater than that
to the country Of their adoption? Why have
they failed to merge into our national life, to
States2 Why this unassimilability of par
ticular portion which have pressed themselves
upon public notice OF late. attacking and
tagonizing the President in his policy of neu-
trality, and violating the American ideal of
liberty and democracy and the spirit of neu
trality incumbent upon all who align them
selves under the Stars and Stripes?
There is no question to the fact that
portion of citizens OF foreign birth or extrac-
ton. especially those Who call themselves
COMMUNICATIONS. have proved indigestible
as a mass in the great crucible of American
life. II takes some big event. some crisis. TO
bring the fostering sores OF society to head.
The European war has brought the evil Of the
hyphen TO a head. We must now deal with II
as with any other social evil. and 1t must be
recognized as such. II was with this purpose
that, IN connection with other American citi-
Eens Of foreign birth and extraction in New
York. | recently started a movement calling
upon American citizens CT foreign birth or
parentage to repudiate the hyphen and all for
which IL stands, to Join in steps TO fight the
evil of dual citizenship and to join in move
ment 20 promulgate The principles Of absolute.
sincere and undivided patriotism and fidelity
10 this great land. Our purpose is 10 found
an organization, to be called the Loyal Legion.
with branches in all the States This Legion
proposes to fight the idea Of dual citizenship.
whether II be English Americanism. French
Americanism Italian-AmeTicanism or German
AmeTtcanism.
HOW THE HYPHEN CAME INTO BEING.
The hyphen is OF American origin. OF Arnerf
can manufacture. II was conceived and fos-
tered In the United States Singular as it
NAV seem. the hyphen is not a product OK
Germanism. although an element of citizens OF
German birth or parentage have cOnspicuously
adopted IT, and TO a degree marked by citizens
NJ no other nationality in the United States.
60 far As citizens Of German origin In other
countries are concerned do not find the
bvphen. Before the war German citizens OF
Fngland did not call themselves German Eng
ISL or OF France, German-French, or OF Italy.
German-Itaians. The blame for the hyphen In
Ar,erica must not be laid much with the
Germans as with American professional poll
ticians.
THE origin OF the hyphen dates back to the
time of the Civil War when professional poll
Hcians and political leaders endeavored to get
control of the vote OF a number Of people In
masses They attempted to sway voters OF
German extraction in a body, OF Italians. irish.
French and other elements likewise
II was a feasible political eXpedient TO band
men of various national inheritances, and TO
anDaal TO societies. clubs and other organiza-
lions consisting OF members of various racial
origins This practice developed so that to-
6av when a political party goes 10 male up
a. ticket Il selects candidates representing
tbase various elements so as 70 corral each
ra~ticulsr vote Candidates are thus too often
seIected for Office not because OF their fitness
far taat oEiGA. but because Of tcSir popularity