Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-21
MAKING AMERICANS
: BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

rr1AsHINGTON, Nov. livery year half a mil
wv lion aliens come into contact with the govern
ment on their way to become citizens of the
United States What kind of people are these? what
kind of citizens will they Good stock, most OF
them good raw material; but there is room for I'M
'provement in and enlightenment 1t is Just
year since the biggest movement in our history LOT
educating and enghtening these would-be Americans
took its first steps. 1t has grown into Dig
thing nationwide size and promise commensurate
with it's Importance This is good time 10 s'aho
back and that movement and what 1t means
There picture richer in the little warm intimate
details of human hopes and struggles and ambitions
When some foreign-born resident OF the United
States is sufficiently stirred by the opportunities ana
privileges of democracy, sufficiently touched perhaps by
the first feelings OF patriotism to declare his
intention of becoming American citizen his new
country ought him by assuring him that
he is welcome, that the government is ready to
cooperate obligation the part of the govern
ment has always but it is only in the last year
that It is being discharged Today. when such alien
goes through form of declaring his intention, ne
gets an impressive and Official the bureau
of naturalization to him by The letter
tells him that government is especially interested
In his welfare It wants to show him how he can
become kind of citizen how ne can get
better position and earn more money That alien mas
been caught up in the machinery for welcoming
and improving the would-be citizen
This machinery consists OF extensive cooperation
between the bureau Of naturalization and the public
schools all the country The object of the system
is the citizen The method is by means
of the night school The things taught the English
language and the principles of American citizenship
The applicant citizenship taught what citizenship
means. given training that enables him to pass
his examination final of naturalization. The
standard admission to citizenship is being raised
by the process number Of aliens in boundaries
is being reduced by it, both absolutely relative
total population
The letter Of invitation both to the applicant
for citizenship mis- wife 1t is simply worded
latte and q
ness and comradeship IN it that much
of these people, whose conception that
Of something to be feared and obeyed and avoided.
sophisticated Amercan-born and educated citizen
might recognize a well-typed form letter. but to
the great majority of the aliens who apply for citizen
shin n comes as g. personal communication and its
receipt marks red-etter day. The friendly tone
personal note sounded by the mans own at the
head the assurance his country him
and interested in him and ready to help him. waken
happiness and fresh patriotism in thousands of the
recipients. That in itself is small thing to
plsh, it is only the beginning.
You have only to read a few Of the answers that
pour In to the commissioner Of naturalization
how those letters received. The object
letter is recipient go to school, that he
may become better man and better citizen, and
Of his show that the school training highly
necessary the addressee he learns
to write correctly before he Thanking you
for your high probation, and hoping may able
to preserve my country 1 WISH" is one mans
rounded conclusion. You don't realize uplifting
feel" another
To another man it came the first kindly attention
he knew in his new country. REPLY yours valua-
HE" he writes 81 have notify announce
Won that It is kindly mail and aid
receive and I am kindly grateful happy glad
Won are Hon. Comm Richd. K Campbell and favorable
and interested about my future position with my
family of three born in the U. s. A Enclosed my
extremely and deepest gratitude"
The names and addresses to which the letters are