The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-03-30
URGED TO TREAT THEM WELL
Says a Wise, Sane, Hospitable Wei
come, Careful Preparation Of
Them for Citizenship May
Save US Trouble.

It was a somewhat serious and de-
cidedly thoughtful group Of women who
slipped chocolate yesterday afternoon
in the Congregational church parlors,
and nibbled cakes as they discussed
the lecture of Mrs. Margaret Howard
of the National Home Missionary asso-
citation of the Congregational church,
Just given before the aid society Of the
church.
Mrs. Howard had asked some peril
nent questions ON the subject of immi-
grafton and she had given some food
for earnest thought In the half hour
she spent discussing the immigrant
problem with the women who had
braved the sleet storm to hear her.
Hold Citizenship Lightly?
EDO we ourselves think so little of
American citizenship. that we are will
ing to entrust it to the hands of ignor
ant newcomers who do not know how
to use it?' she asked, after making
the statement that there are eleven
states in the United States in which a
foreigner, ignorant of our language or
customs, may climb out of the steerage
and twenty-four hours later vote for
any candidate from dog catcher to
president. of the United States, merely
by declaring his intention of becoming
an American citizen.
She said, American-hke, some people
regarded it merely as joke, matter
of amusement, that ignorant foreigners
may take out naturalization papers and
that their voting privileges are utilized
by corrupt politicians to work their
ends.
She said it is well to consider what
we have offered the foreigner in return
for what he does for us.
What Foreigner Does For Us.
In weighing his services she called
attention to the fact that he does the
laborious, hazardous work which Amer
lean born men would shirk She asked
what would happen to our industries
were the underpaid foreigners suddenly
snatched away and sent back to their
own shores. She suspected, she said,
that it would have a paralyzing effect
upon those industries. She said we
paid them poorly, often less than a
decent living wage; we do not provide
them good housing; we introduce them
to the saloon almost as soon as they
reach this country and provide little
other shelter or entertainment or hos
pitality for them than that which the
saloon offers.
Kills Off Workers.
In one year in Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, 526 workers in industries
were killed. 1900 injured; $50 made
helpless cripples; 80 had one hand cut
off; Sc were blinded; 486 children were
made fatherless,' she said, and asked
what effect this treatment is likely to
have upon their attitude toward Amer
lea in some crisis which may arise.
We have begun to feel now as if
we were walking on the edge of a
precipice, she said. "What do YOU
think will be the attitude of some of
these people in case of a war?
Take it in your own town Of Keno
sha. In the census of 1910 you had
1922 men of voting age. Of these
1922 were American born of American
parentage; 1,761 were American born
but of either foreign parentage or
mixed parentage Of foreign and Ameri-
can born; 4,141 were foreign born;
l,401 were foreign born but natural
lied; III had taken out their first pa
pers; /, 445 are frankly aliens, not hav-
ing even declared their intention of
becoming citizens.
Would Foreigners Be Loyal7
''These conditions have probably
changed and the proportion of those
born In other countries has increased
since that census was taken
In case of a war between this coun-
try and some foreign power, where do
you think would be the allegiance of
foreigners living in the United States2
Would it not be with their native
lands9 And especially would this not
be true in the case of those who have
been unjustly treated by the police, by
industries or by communities
The speaker said the present cessa
ton of immigration seemed a providen-
tlal interference to give this country
an opportunity to catch its breath and
think what sort of situation it is pos
sibly facing.
Need Good Night Schools.
No teacher who has struggled all
day with day school problems is in fit
condition IN tnaohI foraiopare IN +ha