The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-01-09

standing Of the principles OF the Amer
lChn government proved the greatest
sucking point. About 10 per cent Of
IN the FOR ctEsnshlR relied
only q small percentage OF all aliens
even Try TO get final papers as citizens,
ana that these are commonly the best
;S ~ the proportion Of unqualified
~ the entire body of unnaturalizeu
aliens must be appalling.
Ihese persistent failures OF candi-
oates opened the way 20 conferences
or local school authorities with the nat
urauEation judges ana the bureaus In
spectors The hrrs town In which night
schools were opened TO provide citi-
senship classes for deficient aspirantB
was Hartford Conn. Judge Platt, OF
the United States dietrict court--a son,
by the way, Of tho late Senator OrviIle
II. F1att--is credited with starting the
movement in that city. He was inn
pressed with the Importance Of the new
secure. compliance with II, and ar
ranged session with the school board
which resulted in starting the first cit
inenship classes. only n few attended
very promising. Judge Plat helped the
thing along by taking the side of the
inspectors, He sentenced" some OF the
ill-equipped applicants TO six months
IN the night schools "Go there, and
come back In six months with the cer-
sary work, and I'll give you the citi-
Senship papers," he would say.
Private Organizations Helping.
Private educational institutions, the
Y. M. G, A.. Jewish organizations, pa
triotic societies. and many associations
Of naturallzed citizens became interest,"
ed in this educational work, and start
ed schools to help II, or else appealed
to the public school authorities to es-
tablish II in night schools.
The movement spread at amazing
pace all over the country. Now, II -
organized in fortY-two States, and in
over 500 cities and towns. II II I'M
possible to state the number of people
actually taking the courses, but II is
places attention has been attracted TO
the work by making notable civic oc-
casions, with impressive ceremonies,
on the occasion Of the graduation Of
citizenship classes. and also on the occa-
sion of comforting citizenship on them.
President Wilson made an address at
one of these occasions In Philadelphia
few months ago; local notables every
where are doing II constantly
A iine-tooth-como organization Is be-
ing perfected as fast as possible by the
Bureau of Naturalization, to get the
aliens into the citizenship movement. A
great card index system Is Kept. which
shows the exact record OF every alien
making an application for first papers.
Court records are transcribed each
month. and the cards forwarded 10 the
Naturalization Bureau. showing the
record of all declarants. This record
the bureau transmits to the school
authorities where the declarant lives,
calling their attention to the facts, and
urging them to get the decIarant into
the citizenship schools. At the same
time letter Ii sent to the declarant,
and. II he is married. another to his
wife. They. are urged to. go on with
the citizenship work; and the most
practical OF arguments is presented TO
them: they are shown how certain they
will be TO improve their, station in
life by dint of acquiring the education
offered.
Alien Missionary Society.
Beyond this, tho entire forolgn-born
student body is being organized into =
wonderfully efficient missionary 81
ciety. to bring In others to the schools.
and induce them to apply for citizen
ship. This is the best OF ali ways to get
the work before tho whole alien poru-
lation
During the coming year II is planned
to hold in Washington n big conVen-
ton of people interested in this work.
school officials, teachers. judges. inspec-
tors and Leople who under the system
have been led to become citIzers. This
is going to be a most instructive gath
ering, and II will be expected to foTmu-
late, out Of real experience. plans fer
perfection of the system.
Among the cities that have taken
greatest interest and attained the larg-
est success In this work are New. York.
Chicago. New Bedford, Rock Island,
Angeles. Cleveland. and Philadelphia.