Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-10

own benefit"
The Commissioner closed his address
by welcoming the delegates to WASH
ington and wishing them success In
their enterprise.
Work Of D. c. Schools.
A second address of welcome was
made by Ernest L. Thurston. superin-
tendent Of public schools. He describ-
ed the work Of those who seek to be-
come good citizens of the United States
in the Washington night schools. Mr..
Thurston stated that an average OF
about 500 a year of such pupils are at
present engaged in learning English
and the principles Of the government of
the United States in Washington
schools.
He stated that the whole school sys-
tenn hopes to work hand in hand with
the government in the purpose indicat-
ed by the conference.
The difficulties of getting at people
who need the help of such instruction
and the various methods employed at
the present time toward this end were
outlined by Supt. Thurston, who CLOG I'd
his address with a plea for considera-
ton of this problem by the conference:
The relationship of the Department OF
and to the citizenship congress was
discussed by the assistant secretary OF
labor. Outlining the creation of the De-
partment of Labor, he stated that the
promote the welfare of wage earners OF
the United States. and proceeded to
show how the purposes of the congress
interlock with this function.
Guards Citizenship Standard.
THE bureau Of naturalization" said
Mr.. Post, lis the only governmental
agency charged with the responsibility
of keeping the citizenship of the United
States up to high standard. The work
OF the bureau involves rendering In
valuable assistance to the courts which
carry on the actual act Of naturaliza-
ton. One Of its duties Is to see that
the courts shall not improvidently ad-
init candidates, and another is to see
that when candidates appear before
the courts they are prepared to take
on the duties Of citizen.hip. 1t is this
latter function with which this con-
ference is primarily concerned"
Americanism was the subject upon
which the assistant secretary Of labor
founded the balance of his address
urging that all connected with the task
of educating alien applicants for United
States citizenship steer steadfastly to-
ward the great ideal of American
democracy.
A brief address was made by Commits.
stoner Campbell of the bureau of nat
uralization, which was followed by an
illustrated lecture by Representative
Clarence B. Miller. on THE Public
Schools of Hawaii and the Philippines
as a Medium for Training American
Citizens" The lecture was illustrated
by a series of pictures taken by Repre-
sentative Miller during his travels on
these islands.
1t was announced at this mornings
session of the conference that outside
of the morning sessions. when ad-
dresses will be made by men promi-
nently connected with the problems
confronting the congress, round table
conferences will be held, at which
plans will be formulated for a definite
program for the future.
Following the morning session. visit
ing delegates were divided into groups
and set out upon the various sight
seeing trips arranged by those in
charge of their entertainment.
The second business session of the
Congress will open tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock at the Wilson Normal
School.