Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15

Others for whom the information bureau be-
comes the main point of contact with the govern
ment bring in reports of enemy alien activities
Mlngling as they do with other foreigners, loyal
and otherwise, these sef-appointed secret service
aides of the safeguards of the American
people against the spy system More than one
spectacular discovery of espionage by government
secret service agents be traced to hint In
broken English by an apparently un-Americanized
foreigner.
Of all requests received by the bureaus the
most urgent those for aid in becoming citizens.
When told that they must learn to read and speak
English and ks5sw something of that mystery, the
governPoSSt, becoming citizen looms up for many
as TASK of almost insurmOuntable difficulty. Here
again the bureau to their assistance with the
address of a night school for foreigners, where
both text books and tuition are free For some to
whom night school proves too formidable or too in
convenient there classes in factories held at the
noon hour or late in the afternoon.
The greatest problem of the government in its
help the foreigner" campaign is reaching the
woman alien. Usually, it is not necessary for her
to learn English to become a citizen, she takes
the citizenship of her husband. Her children, who
attend American school, speak English
with fuency If not accuracy, while her husband
learns English in his business dealings, and is
quainted with the government information bureau
a help in difficulty. But in the home, the Ian
guage spoken is the native tongue which the
woman understand, and her contact with the
English-speakng world is limited to the grocer and
insurance collector, both of whom may be of her
own race. With the foreign atmosphere retained
in the home Americanization of the family is i'm
possible
Strange to say, though the and children of
the family look upon their womenfolk unpro-
gressve. yet the men object strenuously to educa-
tion of the stayat-homes. This is attributed
mems observations of the liberty of American
women, which they would be introduced
disastrously into their own homes if their wives
become educated in the American way.
The decided opinions of foreign husbands often
close the night schools to these women to whom
the subjects discussed by husband and children be-
come each day more unintelligible The only means
of teaching the is by having classes at their
homes, and this is being tried out in various cities
with success A group of women-possiby Poles
Russians, Italians, Danes and Syrians-together
with American teacher, gather in home
eager to struggle with the inconsistencies of the
English language.
THE gratitude of the women" says one of the
teachers, els touching" They fattered to think
that the government is interested in them and show
their appreciation by attitude of generation for
the teacher because she represents the governments
Through her they learn about the of their
city, free wards in hospitals, Clinics libraries and
cooking demonstrations. If she has in service
of the United States allies the interest of
the immigrant mother is intensified that there
is trouble she will not take to learn all she can
about the United States
Because of wartime limitations set upon immi-
grafton and because of the bond of feeling between
the allied nations, the task of Amercanizing the
foreigner has become simpler than in the past.
Also it has become more important than ever. 1t
has never before been true that the American
lied immigrant is asset whereas the un-Ameri-
canized immigrant is liability.