New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
u. S. Making Aliens
Into Citizens in
1,7OO Public Schools
100000 Foreign Born Come
Under Country's Laws
Every Year

approximately one-seventh of the
population of the United States is
foreign born, with a very large pro-
portion ignorant of American ideals
and institutions, and to that extent
loyal to the country of their birth.
Never in the history of the nation
has undivided support been so sorely
needed. A knowledge OF American
government and what it stands for can
only be gained by the aliens through
education, but once understood loyal
allegiance 10 the country of their adop-
tion inevitably follows. 1t means weld
ing the heterogeneous masses into one
patriotic body.
With the beginning of the school
year, the door of opportunity is again
opened wide to the adult foreign born.
Last year the public school authori-
ties of the United States, working in
close cooperation with the Bureau Of
Naturalization Of the United States De
part of Labor, maintained night school
classes for alien instruction in approx
mateiy LOO cities, towns and rural
communities located in every tate in
the Union.
The opening of this years classes
is accompanied by every assurance Of
increased attendance and a material
betterment Of the results already OBJ
tanned through this stupendous educa-
tional campaign.
1t is the confident belief of the Blu
reau OF Naturalization that alien in
struction will gradually transform this
vast army of foreigners into an army
OF Americans with common ideals, COM
mon sentiments and unadulterated
loyalty.
With the American nation defending
the cause of civilization and humanity
and taking her place on the side Of
righteousness in this worldwide con-
flict, military preparedness, so vital TO
the country's safety, cannot be possible
without citizenship preparedness. No
one should be permitted to remain in
ignorance of his duty and response
blity as a resident of the United
States, and this, of course, applies par
ticularly to the foreign born. 1t is
certain that had alien instruction been
more universally extended in the past
the question OF divided allegiance
would not have assumed such unpleas-
ant prominence after war was de-
clared.
The present volume Of naturali7a-
ton shows that over half a million
foreign born residents annually bring
themselves within the jurisdiction of
the Bureau of Naturalization. 1t is
the plan Of the bureau, through the
cooperation of the public schools with
its educational movement, TO change
that portion of the alien body now in
state of helpless dependence or mere
self-maintenance to state Of produc-
tive capacity.
The activities of the Bureau Ct
Naturalization show how routine gov
eminent agency has been transformed
into a great humanizing force. This
has been accomplished By linking to-
gether the Federal and state courts,
the Federal Government and the state
public schools, for the purpose of ex-
tending educational aid TO candidates
for citizenship. The work of this bu-
reau now stands for more than natural
ization, as the term is generally under
stood. 1t represents Americanism in
its truest sense. 1t cordially welcomes
and brings into the national family
foreign friends fully qualified, through
public school instruction, for the
coveted title of citizenship.