The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-30

know what Il means. Here. with all our cor
rupton. the individual fights his own battles:
ne makes good by his own efforts, and when
ne attains success IL Is consciously. This n
the difference between the German Socialists
ideal and the Americal ideal: the differences
between a nation of people cared for and
trained as children and a nation wherein every
man works out his own salvation. These are
inc two IDEALS struggling in this war.
The hyphen constitutes a danger I'm our ma
uonal life. So long there are elements of
people eherishing clinging allegiance to a
foreign power. we cannot count in times OF
trial upon the undivided loyalty of those ele-
ments Should the United States become in
vowed with european power. we should not
know whom TO trust either I'm military or civil
lie. III the assertions concerning the extent
OF the spy systems conducted by foreign gov
ernments are true TO a tenth degree cannot
tell whether our nelghbor is an agent OF n for
eign government or not In OF war We
should be compelled to suspect almost every
one whose parents came from Europe
The point has been made that foreiRn horn
citizens should not be put under the suspicion
that the oath OF allegiance they took in as
suming citizenship a perjury This charge
has been made fear in certain cases Justly
With the espionage systems OF Europe in oper.
alton America has actually much to fear and
In case OF trouble so long as the hyphen
exists. we cannot tel! where and when traitors
will develop.
lnasmuch more and more. during this war
foreisnborn citizens have been looked upon
with suspicion. Il occurred 20 me that all suei
citizens should take occasion TO put them
selves record as cherishing no loyalty 20
the country OF their origin greater than that
to the country Of their adoption. and that with
them, absolutely and unqua lihedly. Il is Amer.
lea hrst The time to start such a movement
arrived sent out my appeal The responses
nave been amazing. have received thousands
OF letters from all parts of the country endors-
ing my plan and repudiating the idea Of dual
citizenship. Ninety percent OF these letters
have come from citizens OF German origin
osTRkcIzE THE HYPHEN
ervation OF peace. for international amity and
the strengthening OF own integrity. the
hyphen must be erased What can be done?
The first step must come from public officials
and political leaders Public officials. as Off
Gals. from the President down. shoui' ignore
all functions given by hyphenated societies.
As politicians in the past have ENCOURAGED such
organizations. now-realizng they I'M
patriotic and might on occasion prove treason
abe-they should put the ban upon them Poll
ucians must be brought To understand that by
fostering hyphenated organizations they
encouraging anti-Americanism.
The disapproval-as the original approval
must come first from official sources. II the
mayors OF cities, office holders. politicians.
political workers and all good Americans like
wise. refused To attend the functions Of hyphen-
ated societies they would begin to bring home
TO the minds Of the members that. II they
wish to be Americans. they must drop the
names Of the countries whence they came.
This applies TO Irish-American, Halian-Ameri-
can. FrenchAmerican. German-American and
all hyphenated American ORGANIZATIONS
would advocate that no corporate entity be
given societies bearing hyphenated names
There Is no room for such societies in the
United States, nor Is there any reason for them.
u would be quite legitimate for citizens Of a
foreiFn country. as visitors here. to belong to
organizations bearing the names Of their coun-
tries; In that case they should not be allowed
70 parade under the name American. qualified
or not u is proper for German citizens resid.
ing or visiting here TO be loyal 70 their coun-
try. Those VINO have foresworn allegiance
however. cannot entertain a mental reserva,
ton.
To remove the hyphen we must exterminats
the root OF H. The Hohenzollern ideal OF The
divine rule Of kings crowned by the Almighty
With the Socialist ideal OF human beings
trained 10 work and be cared for in the mass
must be eradicated by education And nv
education those who have been trained f,to
the belief that these ideals are the hest must
be brought to see the greater standards Of
hmerica-of liberty. equality, democracy. Of
Individual freedom. effort and attainment
Those now holding themselves apart must bs
Arought 20 thrill with American enthusIasm
nd 20 respond with whole heart 10 the
principles for which this nation has bied and
on which II bases It's future. They must ses
that there can be no divided citizenship ana
that n they are 20 be Americans In their devo
uoh. affection and loyalty. America must be
first