The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-05-29
cal |
Is Sent Out to Make thezFourt:hl
of July an Americana
cation Day.
e.,eerAl 70 r.r rrlraeA.,.

tGPGGtAL TO TIE TGLEoRAA1'
NEW YORK, May 29--The 1mmi-
grants insAmerica Review ascending
out a. patriotic call to all citizens.
American born and foreign born
alike. to make the Fourth OF July
AmericanizationzDa Day. andSto get to-
sether as one nation and one people
for America; in peace orwar. We be-
lieye that all races in this country
are first for America. but that we
need 30 know and understand eacn
other better. If American ideals and.
purposes and opportunities are to be
fully realized, the barriers that sep
arate the newly naturalized citizen
from the native born must be swept
aside
The Review therefore offers a prize
of $3.50 for. the best article on What
America Means and How to Aaer;-
canize the Immigrant. with a pro-
gram for a Fourth OF July celebration
especially designed to welcome re-
Gently naturaIized citizens and alien
residents
Frederic Howe. commissioner of
immigration at Ellis Island, has adj
dressed the following letter TO the
mayors of American cities:
You may be interested in learning
of a most significant civic demonstra-
ton that may be of value TO you IN
connection with Fourth OF Jniy eel
ebration in your city. refer TO the
Citizenship Receptions. or New,
Voters Day. which thescities of PHI.
adelphia. Cleveland, Baltimore and
Lost Angeles have recently held as
final step in the naturalization of for
eign-oorn aliens.
Each year large numbers of aliens
are admitted. to citizenship The
cen dure is for the most part Informal.
and Is attended with no recognition on
the part of the community of its sig
nifcance to, America and to the alien
The purpose of the reception Is. to
give. dignity to. the ceremony and at
the same time impress its meaning
upon all citizens.
The idea arose in Cleveland in.
1914 when the Sane Fourth Com,
raittee, assumed the responsibility
for a program arranged by a COM
mittee representing all local patriotic
and civic organizations. Through
the clerks of naturalization, the
names and addresses Of aliens ad-
mitted to citizenship during the pre-
ced1ng year were secured, and invita-
tons for the reception were. sent to
each. At the reception. each new
citizen on entering the auditorium
and showing his ticket, was present.
/ ed with a. small American tag ana
also a. sea- DuIIOnF OF the CITY. SS1IAst1
j word ..Citizen" upon it. A platform
decorated with the flags of all ma
| tons was reserved to seat the new
citizens. The audience itself was Sc
cured by a general publfcity through
the newspapers. which gladly gave
publicity to the idea. The program
opened with national airs This was
! followed with the unfurlins of large
/ American flag, the Star Spangled
| Banner being sung and the Pledge
! OF Allegiance being recited in uni
son. ofncfals representing the ma
ton. state, and city made addresses.
followed by a speech of appreciation
BY one of the prominent foreign-oorn
(; citizens.
The. significance of such a recep-
ton given on the Fourth of July is
; obvious. should they become nation
al In scope. they should have great
CIVIC value. lam ending you this IN
formation with the thought that you
| may desire to. appoint mayors COM
mittees fo- the organization of such
a reception in. your city in connec--
ton, with Whatever exercise may be
held ON the Fourth OF July.
! There Will; be a National: Amer1-
canizat;on Day Committee which viii,