The Detroit times., 1915-05-20
MAKING GOOD CITIZENS
by FREDERICK N. KERRY.

WASHINGTON. May 2O.--The recent visit ~
President Wilson To Philadelphia To welcome
soNeral thousand recently naturalizcd American
citizens Was only the beginning OF a series of
such meetings,
The presidents trip inaugurated most i'm.
portant policy OF the federal department Of
labors division OF immigration. which has for
tts object scheme OF education into citizenship
for the increasing numbers OF immigrants who
are each year entering into citizenship
Americans
The immigration bureau has been hard IT
work on plans for such an educational course
course OF instruction" In citizenship is being
prepared and the cooperation Of the public
school officials with the federal authorities IL to
be sought The object il to change that por
tIon OF the alien body which is now In n condi
ton ranging from helpless dependence and
mere sell maintenance TO "A state OF productive
capacity according To statement just issued
Toy tho department
Up 20 the present time. no attempt has been
made 90 guide newly naturaliEed citizens into
citizenship The public attitude toward the i'm.
migrant alien has not been welcoming one
ie has been freely admitted into the country,
but nothing has been done TO prepare him fof
citizenship This has been partly due 10 lack
~ concentrated responsibility, 90 inertia, AMI
possibly 20 opposition from certain quarters
witch would prefer To see the alien absorbed
into industrial NE without tie dangerous power
or the ballot
The action Of the labor department Is based
on belief that citizenship is something for
which a man or Woman car be trimmed and that
% Is just as much the duty OF the state TO train
immature citizens for citizenship as It Is to
educate children IN tho public schools for useful
work IN N. community
Comprehensive az Is the educational system
m THIS country for the advancement OF academic.
technical and professional knowledge" says the
bureau OF naturalization. yet ~ does not furnish
the necessary curriculum for the education OF
the allen and naturalifcd citizens In the sub.
lrct@ ot law, civil polity. and economics. Com
INK as they do from countries where education
No. al has hagu adj
leCt"d and whore self government has never
existed. o. is obvious that the fundamental prin-
riples % self govcrument must be- systematically
drilled into the dormant but healthy minds or
these newly enfranchiscd peoples. IL Is believed
by those who have given the subject close study
that The day viii come when II will be possible
20 establish a system that viii operate with
comparative uniformity throughout the United
StatrS. system that VIII teach that the mnda-
mental requirement ~ good citizenship Ia
sense OF the moral obliRat4on resting upon every
citizen Co obey the Laws as we'll as a mental con-
CeptioH az hat those laws are
The bureau Of naturalization II OF the opinion
ffa ~ vii not be difficult 20 establish coopera.
Ton between the federal government and the
public school authorities IN cities which are
repttrs % immigrant alien population, so that
tho school system may lay before the alien
BODY OF this country means whereby IL may
Doc instructed and enable II TO contribute to a
most substantial degree towards It's industrial,
social and political Advancement
The president ia Philadelphia congratulated
some 200" men or all nationaliios just become
Ha'urahzed American citizens II is understood
that other meetings 81 similar nature are TO be
bold iu other cities on similar occasions. either
by itc president or By high officials OF the gov.
eminent
IN The last year lo5 439 certificates OF natue
aliSa'ion were issued by the labor department,
and there now some 500 600 additional men
Who have declared their intention OF becoming
citizens This number is steadily increasing and
the work Of the naturalization bureau Is conse-
qu"nty becoming heavier all the time Tha:
congress VIII he asked TO provide additional
appropriations Tor handling this problem Ia Ger.
tain The nov policy 81 education TO be under.
taken by the bureau will OF course have the
effect ~ stimulating naturalization among aliens
ia the states Who have not yet declared their
Intention ~ becoming citizens
The department believes that education and
distribution are the methods which must bs
adopted % handle the immigration problem. To
make of Tho newly arrived immigrant the kind
OF citizen that he ought 20 be, and then to place
him IN touch with the job for which he IL best
lifted these are 20 be the two lines OF effort
of IN" labor department IN trying 10 cope with
the stream Of foreigners who are coming-and
Who VIII probably come In increasing numbers
after the Uar-to our shores