Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-05-09

1000 NEW CITIZENS
Educational Problem for
Aliens Eventually to
be Solyed.

WASHINGTON. May S.-Promi-
nent government officials from Wash
iugton, d. c.. and the state Of Penn
sylyauia, and prominent educators
throughout the east, have Slgnltled
their intention of accepting the IN
Vitaiton Of the mayor of Philadelphia,
Pa, to be present at a monster meet
ing to be held in that city on May
10. The purpose of this meeting Tor
which elaborate preparations have
been made, is to extend a cordial wei
come and hearty congratulations to
the 1000 men Of all natonalites who
have recently become American cit-
zens through naturalization in the
United States district court at Phila-
delphia, and approximately five thou
sand wives and children who received
deriVatiVe citizenship.
THIS is the elimination OF a move
mcnt promulgated by the bureau OF
naturalization of the United States de-
partment of labor, to which bureau is
entrusted the administration Of the
naturalization laws. 1t became ap-
parent to its officers that heroic eff
forts were required to relieve the con-
gestion in the Philadelphia courts
where thousands of aliens were await
ing an opportunity to file their pet-
commonlp known, take out their sec
oud papers, as a preliminary to acquir-
ing citizenship. In order to accomplish
this purpose i'm the shortest possible
time. a few experienced examiners
from the bureau of naturalization
were ordered to Philadelphia where
under the direction of the deputy
commissioner of naturalization, the
necessary preliminary examinations
nd urit
made and the final court hearings
conducted which resulted in the ad-
mission to citizenship of this splen-
didly imposing array of foreiGn-born
applicants,
High Standard.
OF all this number, it may be con
fidently stated, the privileges of citi-
zenship were not conferred on sin
gle man who did not measure up to
the standard required Although
every effort vas made to expedite the
examination of the applicants and
their witnesses, In no instance was
thoroughness sacrificed to speed and,
as "a result the United States streng-
theus its citizenship to the extent Of
the small army admitted while the
newly made citizens have acquired the
privilege, which, by their conduct and
efforts, through study to familarizc
themselves with the principles Of the
government and attain other neces-
sary educational qualifications, they
have so earnestly sought
Astounding as it may SEEM the
millions of aliens who have entered
American ports within the past 100
years have never had systematic
training to guide them in exercising
the rights and privileges of citizen
ship in a democratic form of govern
meut.
The question which presents itself
is therefore, according to promln-
cnt educator. "What Is our duty Ia
these adopted citizens in the way OF
educating them i'm the principles OF
the political system Of our govern
meut which is so free from class dis
tinctions. made or favored by law Oh
custom, that prevails in most Of the
countries of their natVity?" Not
alone should these few thousands re-
Gently admitted be considered, hui
also the eight hundred thousand who
have declared their intention to be-
come American citizens and the five
hundred thousand who have been adj
mitted to citizenship during the pas
eight years. as well as the millonsoo
others who have been naturalized oi
obtained d eriv i've citizenship
through naturalized aliens since the
adoption of the constitution.
To Educate Them.
Comprehensive as is the educadona
system in this country for the ad
NanCement of academic, technical anC
professional knowledge, yet 1t does
not furnish the necessary curriculum
Cor the education of the alien anC
naturalized citizens in the subjects o
law, civil polity, and economics. Com
o ing as they do from countries wher,
education among the lower classes
has been sadly neglected and where
government has never existed, /
is obvious that the fundamental prin
ciples of government must b'
Systematically drilled into the dor
malt but healthy minds of thest
newly franchised peoples
President Churchill of the New
York board of education says: "Th'
earlier you catch the citizen the bet
ter he will grow up. If you can teaci
the boys to keep the city clean anC
their citizenship clean, we give then
motive for life" The proper train
ing Of the adopted citizens of this
country Is at once labor of genuine
usefulness and altruism to them anC
enc of public spirit and patriotism t
the community at large. 1t Is believed
by those who have given the subjec
close study that the day Will come
when 1t will be possible to establish
system that will operate with com
paratve uniformity throughout th'
United States, system that VII
teach that the fundamental require
ment Of good citizenship is a sense o
the moral obligation resting upol
every citizen to obey the laws as wei
rs mental conception of what thos,
laws are.
such a plan of education II is th'
intention of the bureau of naturaliza
uon to perfect and launch. In th'
accomplishment of this purpose, thu
fruits of almost a decade of fedora
supervision OF the naturalization Law
VIII be shown. This movement, al
though stupendous- in its scope ant
comprehensivenes is not beinl
launched without having first beer
,rled out in various parts of the coun
Try under the direct supervision o