The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-01
Eveniing Chat

ON SS6tsnber first the United
States Bureau Of Education in the De.
partment of the Interior begins its ma.
tfon-wide campaign to induce 8. 000, 900
on-EnglishSpeaking immigrants to
attend night school and learn the Ian.
sdage of America.
The Commissioner Of Education has
designated men dealing with the i'm.
migrants problems from every angle
10 serve on national committee of
one hundred to further the purpose OF
the campaign. This action is the re.
Z suit OF resolutions adopted by two
conferences held dur.
ing the recent meetings of the Nation.
al Education Association in Detrois
) and in New York, at which times It was
\ decided that the removal of the ina.
biIity Of tho foreign.born residents to
speak English could be fastened by
concerted effort and cooperation Of all
Interested agencies and individuals
working intensively on a nationwide
basis prior to an Immediately SUISSE
quent TO the opening Of evening schools
I'm October.
Letters Of appointment lave been
sent to representative industrial lead
ers, educators. labor and immigration
Officials, state officials. editors. OFF,
GERS of patriotic, civic aua racial or
s ganizations and public spirited citizens
in every section OF the United States.
The function Of the committee will
be to cooperate with the Bureau IN en-
listing the active interest CT school Gu.
Z perintendents, chambers Of commerce,
commercial organizations, industrial
establishments, labor uuicns, and PR.
svate organizations.
y For the purpose OF enlistiig iative
and foreign.born American citizens in
X the american First" campaign an en-.
rollment blank headed Sign this card
q and join the Americanization move.
ment" will DO used. Thousands OF
these cards. asking each signer for his
personal help, will be disseminated in
states and cities where immigrants re-
side. Through the active assistance
I secured in this manner the Bureau ex-
poets to be able to reach thousands Of
Immigrants which 1t could reach in no
other way. Cooperating sub.commit-
tees will be appointed in the principal
Immigrant communities.
Joe Koeich told sad story to one
Nof his compatrlots from Austria yes.
terday evening In the local station
room Of the Monongahela Valley Trac.
ton company. All Joe's troubles had
arisen from the fact that he had been
misunderstood for the past two weeks
and has been unable to communicate
with any OF his friends.
Speaking only one Of the Austrian
dialects he has been in this country
for little more than two years hav-
ing come over to New York shortly
before the war began. Since that
time until the past two weeks Joe has
lived with group OF his countrymen
Joe, with a number Of his friends in
the big city. obtained employment at
3 steel mill in Birmingham, Ala. He
with the other members Of his party
set out for Birmingham in charge of
an Interpreter who spoke English and
q number Of other languages. When
the train stopped at Cincinnati Joe
got out to walk around bit and be.
came separated from his friends in
some manner SO that he missed the
train.
He wandered around the city for a
whole. day and found no one who
could speak his language SO finally
boarded train going in what he
Imagined to be the direction Of the
place In which his job awaited him.
Instead. however, he was put off some-
where in Indiana and until yesterday
had been wandering all around from
st. Louis to Clarksburg. Yesterday
he came to Fatrmont on an interurban
car and while in the waiting room
here he heard q countryman speak.
ing in his language. He was almost
overcome with Joy and rushed forward
and seized the local man by the
shoulders. After much explanation
and many pledges Of friendship the
wandering man was sent on his way
rejoicing with through ticket for
Birmingham and q card with direc.
lions to railway employees to see that
/ he arrived at his destination. He viii
probably arrive at Birmingham this
time unless the railway strike occurs
to again divert his journey.
The nut crop this season will bel
one Of the well.known bumper" vari.
ETY. according to the best available In.
formation now at hand. Many pic.
sMckers, farmers and persons sojourn.
ing In the rural communities report
that all present indications are that
chestnuts (the kind that grow on