Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-14
|}cH0OLs INSTRUCT IN
DUTIES OF CITIZENSHIP
,lasses at John Marshall Night
High School Prepare for
Naturalization.
GOVERNMENT BUREAU All
list OF Foreign-Born Citizens Who
Apply to Courts for Registration
as American Citizens Is Furnished
to School Authorities.

Through the action of the school au-
horities the public schools OF Rich
nond have Joined the ranks of over
90 other cities and towns throughout
he United States In cooperating with
ne bureau Of Naturalization of the
nited States Department of Labor In
Is national movement for the climina-
ION OF the hyphen and the Americana
alton Of candidates for the privilege
Il citizenship.
The Commissioner Of naturalization
las been advised that the night schools
II Richmond opened October 4. and
lasses which mag be- attended by
oreign-born persons are being held in
wo buildings. Instruction will be
,iven in reading, arithmetic. language
md spelling.
The Bureau OF Standardization win.
rom month to month during the eur
cnt scholastic year, furnish the school
authorities Of Richmond with the names
md addresses OF aliens residing in this
lily who file petitions for naturaliza-
ION or declarations OF intention. This
Stll enable such applicants TO get in
ouch with the Americnnizing influences
u the public schools and receive val
liable assistance in preparing for citi-
,enship.
Last year there were l23 persons
VINO applied for citizenship IN Rich
nond and iIenrico County. Since July
1910, 38l aliens have declared their
Intention and $50 have filed final APP
lications for citizenship.
'oREIGS-RORS POPULATION
OF RICHMOND WAS a,0S3 IN 1910
Tho foreign born white population Of
richmond In 1910 was 1855. or 80 per
ent Of the total population OF this
lumber 900 were males who had at
aimed their majority and only 9t3 were
hown to have been naturalizcd.
In 1910 there were 3.ls7 males of
ot!ng age who were classcd as ILL.,
crate. or these IL were foreign born
ihites and goo were native whites the
percentages Of illiteracy being 5.5 for
he former and Ia for the latter.
In 1900 there We're hftythrcc per,
ons ten yeas OF age and over who
we're unable to speak the English
anguhge Up To i've years ago this
lumber had Increased TO 3l2 or 4s9
'er cent more than in 1900.
i Among the Approximately 100000
3oreign-horn residents In the United
states In 1910, l.5503Gl forei-n-lSrn
whites were classt,d ar illitcratcs. These
llitcratcs arc the natural prey Of de-
Ilgning and scheming foreigners and
natives as we'll. and are compelled To
ray tribute. both in cash and blood.
|
MANY SCHOOLS INSTRUCT
IN DUTIES Or CITIZENSHIP
i II Is safe to state that although So
POO foreigners have been refused clti-
,:enshlp because Of mental and moral
infltness during the period OF Federal
supervision, at least that many have
3lecn admitted during tlie same period
II spite OF these deficiencies. for the
'ocrts have been reluctant TO refuse
Iitizeaship wher. proper educational
ABILITIES have not been provided In
! many places the public schools have.
indcr the Inspiration OF tho Bureau OF
Naturalization, now opened their doors
o the foreigner so that he may be in
'tructed In the duties OF American citi-
:enship. and IN these localities the
I,ouris have readily responded TO the
Few order of things and refused citi-
I:enship unless tho candidate could come
/ IN to the higher standard which nn.,
been brought about BY the Federal
supervision. This system the bureau
las tried out for years and with sue
less In various localities. and there Is
now scarcely State in the whole coun.
Try that Goes not have citizenship
chcols or under the direction OF private
1igencies.
II IS confidently believed by those
|.ho have made an exhaustive study OF
Existing conditions that this great ma
ion wide educational movement will.
beyond question, change that portion
()f the alien body which Is now In =
condition OF helpless dependence ana
mere sclf-maintcnancc to q state OF
productive capacity.
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