Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-23

STEADY demand Tor them set in from
heads of industries, commercial organ
fzations and various miscellaneous as
sociations. Now, in addition to those
in schools. post offices and other pub
lie. buildings, hundreds of thousands OF
Them have been placed In railway sta
where they will better catch the eye
of the foreign population. School SUI
perintendents report to the bureau of
education that the result of the cam
paign has been most marked; and it is
felt that the demand for and estab-
lishment of hundreds of night classes
for foreigners can be laid definitely to
the effectiveness of what might be
called the governments billboard adj
vertising.
x r.
been working for immigrants along its
own particular lines.
Americanizing especially in stimu-
A. Az. lating school au-
~ thorities to open spe-
cia1 classes, the bureau of naturaliza-
ton of the Department Of Labor has
been furthertng the Americanization
work from different angle.
Its particular function has been to
persuade the immigrants seeking natu-
ralization to enter the classes or demand
their establishment. This 1t has done
through maintaining a great card in
dex of aliens making application for
first citizenship papers and correspond
ing with them personally; through fur
nishing specific data as to the appli-
cants to school authorities in the To-
cality in which the individuals live,
and through fostering the American
ization work through Y. NJ. c. AS. Y.
w. c. AS, Jewish societies and other
philanthropic, social and religious or
CARNATIONS. The work of the natural
ization bureau in the movement has
also been largely through courts.
1t is here. where the applicants are
brought to prove their qualifications
and to have citizenship formally con-
ferred upon them, that the scheme of
have been conceived. 1t is declared
that in Hartford, Conn, Judge Plat
of the United States district court and
naturalization inspectors decided in
the case of certain applicants who had
failed to show themselves properly
qualified for citizenship that society
has an obligation to educate such ap-
plicants up to the proper standard.
Thereafter Judge Platt actually sen
fenced the failures to six months in
the night schools. After Serving time
they passed their examinations with
flying colors. From that time on the
great value of the Americanization
work has been unquestioned, and its
popularity with officials. public spirit
ed citizens and aliens alike has grown
amazingly.
One of the most interesting and
amazing phases of the Americanization
work as carried on by the naturaliza-
ton bureau is the personal touch that
is maintained with the aliens. Every
item on court records affecting citi-
nnC h lNn mt &c two thnl no
riodically and sent to the bureau in
Washington for use in keeping its
huge card index of declarants up to
date. With these data before them,
naturalization officials write personal
letters to the individuals, urging them
to take up and keep up night school
work and pointing out to them the
great value of both an education and
citizenship in improving their station
in life.
ed of a keen insight into human psy-
chology, for il the applicant is married
like letter is sent to the wife in or
der that her arguments may assist in
making an American of the husband
Another interesting phase is the move
ment to have the graduates of the
night schools and the more intelligent
and enthusiastic newly naturalized citi-
zens from alumni classes for continued
study. debate and discussion, and or
ganize associations through which. it
is hoped, other aliens not contemplat-
ing becoming citizens will be brought
to see the advantages of taking the
step.
The citizenship work was begun sew
erai years ago, but gained it's first
striking publicity when President Will
son addressed and publicly welcomed
in Philadelphia year ago a group OF
newly naturalized citizens. The pub
licity that the movement has since
gained has no doubt helped it ire
mendously, and it has, of course, re-
ceived great stimulus from the
European war.