Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-16
"AMERICA FIRST"
IS TAUGHT ALIENS
Government Expert in Denver
to Start Campaign
Asks Cooperation Of Organized Labor
in Pointing the Way for Making
Good Citizens Of Foreigners

Beginning September 1 the United
States government, thru the interior de-
partment, launched a nationwide cam
paign to stimulate English speaking and
the principles of American citizenship
among the foreign population of the
country. DR.. Frederick Ernest Farrin-
ger, bureau of education in the division
OF immigrant education, Washington, d.
C., was in Denver this week in pursuance
of this work, and called at The Bulle-
tin office Later he had a conference
with John R Lawson. chairman of the
Education Committee of the Colorado
State Federation of Labor. and outlined
the program of the government to make
good and patriotic citizens of non-Eng-
lish-speaking residents thru the simple
method of education.
DR.. Farringer SAYS that in Colorado,
as in other states where a large num-
Der OF aliens arc employed. the Coop
Grafton of organized labor is being sought
by the field agents of the government
in this work The first part of the pro-
gram is to induce adult aliens to attend
night schools in cities where these op-
portunities are provided such as exist
in Denver. In this city, where the 1910
census shows there are 1894 foreign
born whites who are unable to speak
English and over 5000 who are illiterate,
less than 800 attend night school. and
will remain undesirable aliens unless
some plan. is evolved that will encourage
them to learn the English language and
be Americans first"
There are today over 5000, 900 inhab-
itants of the United States who do not
understand the English language, and
they constitute menace not only to
labor but to the government. particularly
should this nation become involved with
a European power
1t is, therefore. with a view of stimu-
lating the interest of these people in
the English language. and in American
traditions, ideals and government that
the America first program has been
inaugurated
The cooperation of labor, civic and
commercial organizatio ons, schools.
churches and the general public is the
first essential to his success. DR.. Earring
ton asserts. Similar movements are be-
ing conducted in Detroit, Mich; Roch-
ester and Syracuse, Y. Y, and other
cities by the government and civic or
CARNATIONS and are meeting with un-
qualified success.
Mr.. Harrington believes that the cam
paign will meet with the same results in
Denver and interviewed the superintend-
ent of schools and officials of labor,
civic and commercial organizations to in
terest them in the plan.
The greatest difficulty to be overcome
is the fact that five-siNths of the for
eign-born population of the United
States is over 81 years of age. Children
may be induced to attend school, but the
attendance of the mature foreigner at
night schools is hard to obtain.
The majority of the class to be reached
by the America first" movement do not
understand the English language and
posters have been printed in practically
every living tongue explaining the plan.
These have been placed in all postoffices.
railway stations, foreign colonies and
other public meeting places. More than
100 900 have been distributed.