New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-27
Motion Pictures To Helm
I'm Americanixation

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The movies
have been called in to aid the Amcri-
canization campaign now being cncr-
getically pushed among Americas alien
population by the Bureau of Natural
izatlon of the United States Depart
ment of Labor.
Thousands of feet of celluloid arc
now awaiting the zero hour to so over
the top in a drive that will carry the
gospel of 100 per cent Americanism to
every corner of the land. The pictures
will visualize for the foreigners in our
midst the message that is being sent
out to them through the Bureau of Ma
turalization. They will show them pre-
clsely what the government Of the
United States stands for and what it
aims to DO for its citizens.
The films will be exhibited to the
members of night school classes COM
posed Of aliens who are taking advan-
tage of the opportunity offered them of
receiving free instruction in English
and in the duties and privileges of
American citizens, and will act as a
stimulus and an inspiration to those
thousands of foreigners who have come
to the Melting Pot" to join their for
tunes with those of the libertv-loving
people Of America.
One series OF pictures will project be-
fore the eyes OF the newcomers the his
tory of the United States from the
landing of Columbus to the present day,
showing the struggles Of the early colo
nSts, so similar to, and yet so different
from, the upward fight of the immi-
grant himself; the battles of the Revo-
luton for Independence; the growth
from child nation, occupying but a
strip of land along the Atlantic, to a
country OF millions on millions of free
people spreading over a continent: the
conflict OF 1S61-'65 to preserve the uni
ted nation so hardly won; the agony Of
reconstruction, the development Of a
world power and the final participation
OF America in the world war against au-
tocracy.
There will be traveloguc pictures dis
playing the splendors of Americas
scenery and governmental industrial,
commercial, agricultural and cduca-
tiohal activity. There will be films
showing the service rendered the citi-
zens by each of the great Federal de-
partments. Reproductions viii be
thrown on the screen Of for example.
the latest scientific methods of farm
ing; the highest development OF indus
trial machinery; penmanship; letter
writings marketing by mail, through
the parcel post; household economy
in brief, the aliens seeking a home in
America and a part in its national and
community life viii be afforded visual
repres entation OF the benefits and re
sponslbilities Of an American, and Of
the social and business customs that
make up the machinery Of daily living.
70 cons derable extent the series will
be a reproduction upon the film Of the
printed pages Of the text book Of Amer
icansm written by Raymond f. Crist,
Deputy Commissioner Of Naturaliza
Tor the use in the schools of the very
audiences who Will watch the unrolinec
before their eyes of the drama Of a
nation
Nineteen hundred schools throughout
the country have expressed already
their willingness to cooperate with the
Department of Labor in the campaien
and an elaborate plan has been worked
out for carrying on the work by David
Il. Niles, movie expert Of the Informa-
ton and Education Service of the De
partment of Labor. The films will be
distributed from twenty eight centres.
and Will reach practically every Amer
lean community that has alien inhabi-
tants. The exhibitions viii be held in
the local motion picture houses of each
city and town. The classes will be
transferred for the occasion from school
house to movie theatre by virtue of the
cooperation Of the leaders and man
ayers Of the motion picture industry,
without whose cordial assistance, Mr..
Niles declares, the Inauguration Of the
campaign on such magnificent scale
would have been impossible