The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-13
Americanization Day to
Impress Aliens Planned
Howe Plans Big Celebration for the Fourth
at the New Lewisohn Stadium:-H Hopes to Awaken
Native Born Also to Sense of Citizenship.

a1ter the war l expect Ellis Island 70
be q very busy place. I expect that
the close of the war will bring a
great increase in Immigration, espe-
cially from Russia. Austro-HunRary
and the Balkans. Germany. England
inc France will grid themselves to
rebuild their industries and otherwise
rehabilitate themselves. Germany has
already socialized industry 10 a phe-
nomenal degree, n may compel Eng
land and France to do the same
These countries will probably keep
their people at home.
"1n addition, the loss Of millions OF
men will create an important vacuum
which. with reconstruction work. will
tend to increase wages. This will au-
tomatically check immigration from
those countries. These forces. how
ever, will not operate to the same
degree In central Europe. in which
countries the most devastating losses
ave occurred.
ut Ia from the countries OF central
Europe that we must expect immigra-
ton. Moreover. millions OF women
will be hu~sbandless and fatherless, and
millions OF children will be left with
out their protectors. Friends and
relatives In this country will aid their
coming here. as they do at the pres
ent time. for a large part Of the i'm
migration to this country Is assisted
. private individuals already here.
"on account OF the disturbance to
which more than four hundred mill
IONS Of people have been subjected
apA tha roa,ItIp- ,,s.r,. r.I.,,. a,l
burdens of taxation, millions of people
will be unsettled. Because of that, ir-
respective of the efforts Of foreign ma
tons. these millions will turn to Amer
ica as a refuge from conditions which
will prevail In their W countries.
VIVA are w "a do with these COM
ing millions? That is the problem
toward the solution Of which we are
working. beginning here at Ellis
Island and taking the second step at
the Americanization celebration Of the
Fourth of July. When they come we
must be prepared to receive them in
such a way and In such a spirit ~
~helpfulness as will make Of them pre-
pared citizens. We need TO Amer
icanize them as soon and az thor
oughly as possible. In the future we
want no divided allegiance.
There Is a tax of 81 a head on i'm
migrants and a large surplus has ac-
cumulated at Washington in tho
treasury. II has been suggested TINT
this might he used TO solve the in
ternal immigration problem. with
this money the Government might de-
velop an educational system whereby
the alien could be prepared for intel
ligent citizenship.
1T Ia an obvious duty for us 70
look after the immigrants. no, ONLY
when they land but after they leave
the entrance port and reach their final
destination. We don't do It now. But
in the future they should not m.
aiIoWed to be dumped upon us as they
have in the past. Besides the estab-
l!shment OF internal schools for these
new arrivals they should be better
protected from exploitcrs and diShon-
est persons who rob them. All this
and more we Will be- called on 10 do
Tor the millions who Will be coming 10
us as o as they can get away from
their war ridden countries"
The change in the treatment Of inn
migrants began n few days after Dr
Howe's appointment as Commissioner
Soon after taking charge he called a
meeting of his staff of assistants and
made them a little speech. He ex-
planned TO them that he thought that
they should aim to do something more
for the immigrants besides seeing tina,
they were properly examined and were
not swindled. He believed that aliens
coming TO America should be moro
kindly received.
mat his assistants were prompt in
accepting his suggestions Is obvious
To the visitor familiar with former con-
dlti"ns. Immigrants receive more
consideration than formerly. Will,
waiting for their medical certificates
10 be examined and passed upon fam,-
lies and friends are allowed 10 sit
together. There is no pushing the
men down one aisle and the women
down another regardless of whether
n are family parties or not.
me enect OF the new method on tho
Is marked. CA entering
me main floor the anil with
when all turn their attention to thu
nag streaming down from tho visitors
gallery Is noticeable. No baby ia too
young not to have It's attention calle-i
10 u. ono mother with a groun ~
four boys changed her scat that m,
eldest boy might sit Immediately under
the flag.
This h~umaniz'ng process has not
stopped with courteous treatment.
There have been many practical and
some far reaching reforms. p~reviouslv
families on their arrival at Ellis Island
were separated at once. Fathers had
the care OF their sons above a sneci-
fled age, while mothers kept the gjrIs
and younger boys. It was a separa-
Ion or the sheep and the goats. the
men on one side, the women on ,ho
other, regardless Of relationship. II
FOR any reason immigrants were A..
tanned they were kept apart as strictly
rs on their arrival. Now family group,
are allowed 10 spend their dave
together and visit friends.
Women in the detention dorarrm.,,
are not only given an opportunity 70
work and read but materials and
books are supplied. Last winter many
ONE made articles OF clothing FOR
themselves and their families and
some OF them made and sCld wares ~
various SOFT. A Kindergarten cIass
was conducted for the children. Thera
are classes for men and a physical d
rector Is promised TO take charge M
their exercising.
1npfnnl 80 I-.,.