Evening journal., 1918-06-17
WORKING TO LESSEN
RACE PREJUD|CES
American.Italian Order OF
Unity Has Headquarters
at Pennsgrove
SEEK JUSTICE FOR
MELTING POT MEN

PENNSGROVE, n. j.. juno iT.-With
public attention centered upon the
great American melting pot. what 0p-
pears TO be a germ Of an idea that may
/ give the not an extra stir has cropped
up here In the Inauguration, under
rather modest circumstances. OF an
Amerlcan-Itallan Order OF Unity.
While the big men OF the country
and the scientific investigators have
been struggling with the problems Of
aliens and Allies. a group Of working.
men OF American ard italian birth, aud
some other natlonalitles, have gone
blithely ahead with q shome which
they expect 10 solve the much-discusscd
problem Of race prciudlces and accom-
pllsh the solidarity OF different races.
II has fallen TO the lot Of Harry
Wright, a plumber and pipe fetter and
an Engllshman. 10 be the founder OF
the Amerlcan-Itallan Order OF Unity
and 10 wear the insignia OF the FIRST su-
prcme president Of the order. Supreme
President Wright was duly Installed
with much pomp and ceremony at a
parade Of italian societies from this
place and Philadelphia last Saturday.
The women Of the local branch OF the
Red Cross and a number Of Americans
turned out In the pageant and the
town is still g5lly decorated with 1sgs
Of the Allied countries In honor OF the
event.
The Pennsgroye Lodge. No. 1. Of the
American-Italian Order OF Unity, has
also been regularly instituted and IN
corporsted. Its supreme president pro-
poses 70 start out upon a pilgrimage
to organize branches Of the order
among the Italians In Philadelphia,
Jersey City. Newark. New York and
other parts OF the country
1--WE want TO set Pid Of that word
Dago;' that is the big aim OF our or
ganizatlon." said Supreme President
Wright. in discussing the new order.
Anybody Is welcomed into our order,
but one requirement Of admission Is
that they shall he willing to take the
italian by the hand on a common foot
ing.
"Our order g a beneficial one and
also protective. One OF its prime OBJ
jects Is 10 see that Italians get fair
treatment in the police courts snd law
courts. / know that lots Of them have
been imposed upon because they are
foreigners and some unscrupulous
magistrates and Judges have imposed
penalties upon them according to the
amount Of money they found them 10
possess. What we intend 10 do Is to
watch the police and county courts
more closely and see that the Italians
get a square deal. When any OF our
members get into trouble, our lodge
is pledged 10 look after their interests.
The idea is not to protect criminals bus
TO see that justice is done. This also
applies TO seeing that the Italians also
get a square deal In the industrial and
commercial worlds"
The supreme president exclaimed that
there are lots Of Italians Of the better
class who are eager TO adapt them
selves to American ways and TO be law
abiding citizens and all that they need
Is clear explanation Of the country's
customs and laws Another aim Of the
order Is TO set Italians to become real
Americans and to get those who are
not yet naturollzed to take out their |
first papers OF citizenship.
The initiation fee has been fixed at |
s. while the charter Is open and the /
dues are seyenty-1ve cents a month. |
Members who are incapitated by sick
ness are to receive 81 per week benefits /
for thirteen weeks. and 5000 death ben
efits. The local lodge is said 70 have
the backing Italian bankers in Phila-
delphis and has been underwritten by
a casualty and insurance company.
The Pennsgrove Lodge was organized
about six weeks ago and Il already
has more than 3Oc members enrolled,
about half OF which number are Ital-
lans. A clubhouse has been opened.
Paul Termini is secretary Of the lodge
Carlo DiNIento, treasurer. and Dominick
Trotto and Joseph Boyle. trustees.
A charter is being engraved for the