Denver labor bulletin., 1916-12-09
TO AMERICANIzE
ALIENS IS SLOGAN
Nationwide Campaign to In
CulCate Patriotic Spirit
Pennsylvania Commissioner Of Labor
Issues Appeal to. Unions to Help
Educate the Foreigners
Especial Correspondenee.)

| PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5.-John Price
jackson, Commissioner OF the Pennsyl-
vania department of labor and industry,
| and chairman OF the national committee
of one hundred, has just issued the fol-
lowing appeal to members Of labor un-
ions in Pennsylvania:
The non English-sp speaking immigrant,
who works beside you, does not always
understand the orders OF the foreman
given in English. Hence he may do the
wrong thing, and cause your injury. He
makes an unprePared member OF a union
because he does not understand proceed
ings and is, therefore, not always en-
abled to act intelligently for the welfare
| of the union.
In Pennsylvania are ,39O,364 foreign
born whites ten years OF age and over.
| OF these, s64 ,564 are engaged in gainful
occupations and 466, ,s25 do not speak the
English language.
To overcome this condition which is
general in every section OF the country
the United States bureau Of education
/ has initiated a nation wide America
First Campaign" to induce the non-Eng-
| Iish- speaking immigrants to attend night
school and learn the language of Amer
ica. The federal commissioner of educa-
| tion has appointed a committee of one
I
| spirited industrial leaders, educators. la
| Dor and immigration officials, officers
/ of foreigners organizations, and Others.
| TO assist in this campaign Several
| Pennsylvaniaus are members OF the com
/ mittee and Pennsylvania is expected TO
| do its share in this great national move
/ ment toward producing a more unified
I America. Representative Of organized
/ labor are on the committee. Among the
| best known to labor union members l.
| John Mitchell. chairman Of the indus
| trial commission, Albany, y. Y.
! The commission of education has seen
/ fit 10 appoint the undersigned chairman
| OF the national committee Of one hun
dred. and it is in the interest Of this
| committee and of the United States
bureau Of education as well as the Penn
/ sylvania department of labor and indus
| try that l am writing you.
| Nav | urge that your organization
| participate in this movement by Amer
| icanizing your own union, if it has any
non English speaking members. The cam.
| paign is worthy of general Endorsement.
| Several unions have indorsed it already.
| Stimulate non English speaking members
to attend evening school or petition
school authorities to establish such
schools. il facilities do not exist. Secure
| a copy OF the letter OF the lnlNtl states
commissioner of education, To All I'm
migrants to the United States" and read
it in your meetings This and other in
formation regarding this great national
movement in which hundreds of individ-
uals and organizations are cooperating
can be secured from the chairman of the
executive committee of the national com
mittee of one hundred. Harrison H
Wheaton. United States bureau of edu'
cation. Washington. d. C, who is di-
recting the America First" Campaign
Rlanks for "Three Months Enlistment
J in the America First" campaign may he
| secured in quantities from him for the
signature of members who desire to
| help. Mr. Wheaton. for two or three
years. has been the consulting expert OF
| the Pennsylvania department Of labor
! and industry with reference TO the i'm
migrant. and has directed much valuable
work in this state. 50 that we are par
ticulsrly well prepared in Pennsylvania
to Join successfully in the cooperative
state and national movement for Ameri-
| canization.
Yours for a country unified in Ian
| guage. purpose, and ideals.
JOHN PRICE JACKSON.
Chairman National Committee OF
! One Hundred.