The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-07-17

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place in these whole United States
where he can get authoritative ans
vers on what we expect Of him. how
he can be Of service, what his duties
and obligations are specifically. There
are not two places in the whole coun-
try where he can get Identical answers
t. all of these questions. There isn't
machinery or interest enough to ex-
change the enemy aliens from the war
zones to non-strategtc industries for
non-enemy aliens and save our man
power. Thousands of perfectly good
meetings are being
held in harmless places instead of fol-
lowing the trail Of the Socialist and l.
w. w. We lack direction, co-ordina-
ton, intelligence, vision and about ev-
cry known war essential in dealing
with this question. We stand at at
tention and act upon complaints only.
instead OF preventing complaints and
Safeguarding what we know are
vulnerable and weak spots open to dis
aster.
Something Should Be Done
Something intelligent and construc-
tive and purposeful should be done
with the alien in the United States
now.
Here we have millions Of men and
women. born In the lands at war with
each other. nervous. apprehensive. de-
pendent wholly upon the statements
printed often in foreign languages for
their information. concerning their
status. rights and duties in wartime.
I'VE have these same millions will
ing to be loyal to America, observe
our laws, give us their help, work in
our industries, If they only know what
theh American wants them to do.
1--WE have these same millions open
to approaches and influences and sug.
gestions from too ardent pacifist and
socialist and other busy anti American
agitators. working through system
with little or no consideration from
friends Of America.
1--WE have others disloyal-their
hearts given to another country
whom we can never Americanize and
whose influence and activities we must
reduce to minimum.
Invited to Help
I'VE have the alien in America today
threatened by his home country, regis
tered and drafted by America, urged to
declare his allegiance and join the
National Guard, anc told that his place
Is In the industries making war
products. And last but not least he is
invited into Home Defense Corps to
look after the firesides when the boys
go to the front.
1T is wonder and to the credit of
all aliens that under these conditions,
Of suspicion, misunderstanding, ignor-
ance, instruction. and absence of
standards that America has been so
quiet at home. 1t is unreasonable to
expect this condition to continue un-
der the increasing stress of war.
Let there come one great calam.
ity that touches the hearts of Amer
leans, whether on high seas or in the
trenches, that takes boy out of every
state or town, and fallen batting" will
run high and alien malice toward
America will find vent. Is this the
lull before the storm and shall we stay
asleep?
Let the. conditions change and
where are we? America has $4,000.
900 Of its people foreign-bcrn or Of
foreign-born parentage. OF these four.
fifths are massed in the industrial
states turning out our war supplies.
1t is impossible that coming from every
land as they do that all Of these people
should be for America first. It is in
evitable that some can be reached by
the enemies of America.
Aliens Not Listed
America has no registration of its
aliens; it has no way of knowing
where they are, whether they go or
who they associate with. The effic.
iency and benefits Of one good system
and one good wide-awake officer in
one locality are not extended to an.
other America has no method of in