The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1916-04-06
WILL HURT EVERYBODY
An Unfair Appeal to the Prejudice Of
Nationality from Which All
Would Suffer.

American citizen:
"Tho Packard Motor Car Company
has evolved 4 Ian to abolish the "hy-
phen" from its plant. Promotion will
be Tinted to rativc-born or natural
lied citizens Of the U:.ited States, and
whi'2 Tc Gjrcr.i@in&ti0! is to be made
agaias, lt.lt IN wC:inlcn and now at
work, Il purpose tC acquire citizenship
will he 4 prerequisite to employment,
This coin PAM, in ether words, will re-
quirc CT its employees loyalty to cur
TO lo.Gh% 10 ne company itself. In an
open letter explaining the plan, it Is
pointed oIt how tlle war has revealed
a great political weakness in this
country, since "our hyphenated citi!
zens of all rationalities are.-puhins.
apart according to the thoughts and
ambitions of the lands that gave them
birth"
"Thc Vim Motor Truck Company
of Philadelphia has followed the
example OF the Packard Company
and Henry Disston G Co., and the John
D. Stetgon Company have approved
the idea and are considering its applic-
ability to their own plants"
Whatever may be said of the pur-
pose to GiHCriminate i'll e!npioynents
in favor of the full lcdSed American
citizen, whether native or foreign born,
as against the alien whose failure to
naturali2e indicates; his continued DO
litical allegiance to his native ltsad.
the .tatemcnt from LcSiiess should
open the eyes Of honest and thoughtful
Americans of all and every former na-
tionality to the common danger OF
arousing, on any account, prejudices
based solely upon the fact Of nativity
and previous citizenship.
II it is proper for an American citi-
zen OF French birth to hate and oppose
and discriminate against an American
citizen Of German or Austrian birth in
business, in politics and in society. for
that reason, it is also proper for an
American citizen OF German or Aus
trian birth to hate and oppose and dis.
criminate against American citizens Of
French, British or Russian birth. In a
word, II the fact Of birth and former
citizenship, even when long foresworn
in favor Of American citizenship, is
going to make us hate and oppose each
other, the rule will work both ways
and he who gives opposition on this ac-
count will have to expect it in return.
Both Sides Would Suffer.
Such a condition of hatred and dis
elimination among good Americans,
who came here from other lands to
get away from unfavorable political.
financial, industrial and social condi-
tions and to embrace the larger and
better opportunities of America, would
be no less than national disaster and
is utterly unthinkable. Thoughtful
men shudder TO consider where il
would lead, but certain it is that not
only one side but both sides in such
an unnatural warfare would suffer.
Stirring Up Trouble.
In Missouri just now we have thu
spectacle of man who was formerl!
a member of the Republican Nationa
Committee, twice chairman of the Re
publican State Committee, and WHIT
was favored by the party with the pc
sitions of postmaster at st. Louis fo
four years) and sub-treasurer of tn,
United States at st. Louis (for fou
years)-two of the best paid fedora
appointments in the Western states
flooding the state with letters over hi
own signature, with the purpose t
arouse, within the party to which he i
so largely indebted, this sort of wal
fare of opposition and hatred agains
a man who has been an American cit
zen and loyal Republican of the higl
est patriotism and of the most earnes
activity in one county of the state fo
over thirty years, during which n
man can charge that he has ever beel
guilty of single act of discriminate
against any man, based on birth O
former nationality.
Under all the circumstances, thi
attempt, which is in furtherance of tn
authors candidacy for a public offic'
Is an act of inexcusable incendiarisn
partaking very much of the nature {
arson. 1t is applying the torch to r
publican harmony and strength in o
der to procure a personal politics
profit and it deserves to be, and is b
Ing condemned and repudiated.
Danger to Republican Local Tickets.
Under the peculiar conditions pr
vailing in Missouri, the injection
this sort of an issue, with its far-reac
ing application to every ticket nor
1,a