Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-12-01
FIRST PAPER" MEN
GO TO NIGHT SCHOOL
GoNCrnmcnt Gives Aid to Those Who
Are American Enough 10 Want
10 bc NaturnliEcd.
PLAN FOUND BENEFICIAL
Foreigners EvinCc Desire TO Learn
Language and Customs OF
United States.


with the coming OF peace, the bu-
rcau OF naturalization OF the a. s.
department Of labor Is charged with
continuing the work, which the war
has shown to have been already SO
well established, OF crmcnting the
many races and peoples represented
in this country's population into one
homogeneous nation. The achieve
mcnt OF national unity, involving the
assimilation OF 100000 alien born
residents OF this country is the PEE
cul!ar task OF this bureau. which is
beginning this season the greatest
campaign in its history TO eftec, is
aims.
Realization Of the ideal or Amer
lea as the melting pot in which the
peoples OF many lands are fused into
Il new and characteristic national
type is the purpose OF this buryiu's
Americanization work. Last May,
congress passed law to American
lie every man and woman OF foreign
birth in this country. and it chose
the bureau Of naturalization 10 have
charge OF the citizenship training
which will be carried on through the
public schools
Foreigners are becoming citizens
by hundreds OF thousands every year,
and the war has done much to pro-
mote interest in America among the
aliens living here. There are still
however, many difficulties IN the way
OF d successful accomplishment Of
the great plan to make every inhabi-
| tant Of this country American IN
thought word and action.
For example, there are 500 600 for
eigners In New York city who can
not read, write or speak English
| Probably 100 languages and dialects
are spoken here. There are between
100000 and l2,O0O.000 presons in
| this country who owe allegiance "a
other nations. In no other country
in the world is there so great per
Centagc of aliens.
The bureau Of naturalization Is
more closely in touch with the for
| eign born than any other government
organization. Through its naturaliZ-
alton examiners, It has gained ac-
/ quaintanCc with about 100000 i'm
migrants. and during the last -four
years the schools have begun their
great work Of instructinE the mil
| lions OF others in the essentials Of
american ClllEtNSnlD.
This great educational work is go
! ing on in nearly 1000 communities
the home cities Of millions of immi-
grants. Hundreds Of thousands OF
! these have taken out their first pa.
pers and the bureau has prevailed
! upon the school authorities where
ever these candidates live to open
evening classes in which first-paper
hn o
what they ought to know about tho
American government.
The first thing taught Is the Eng.
! lish anRuaEe-conversa readinp
and writing. The government send,
an urgent appeal TO every applicant
| for citizenship, asking him to go tC
an evening class in the public schools
/ of his city. 1t also furnishes free
| textbooks to these men and women
and will recognize the work Of tho
| public schols in a certificate of grad.
uation, presented jointly by the gov
ernment and the schools to foreigners
when they come into American citi'
Zenship.
Thus far, the surface has beer
barely scratched, for less than pei
cent of the aliens in this country
have applied for citizenship instruc'
ton. The Americanization Of tht
other 9S per cent is the almost her
culean task the bureau Of naturaliza
tion faces. The aid Of every resident
OF the community must be enlisted II
the work, II 1t is to b effective.
Employers Of alieCH can aid In the
work by their wOrkmcn, particular
those who are deficient in 'thei,
knowledge Of English or of American
| institutions, enter the evening citizen
ship classes at once. Those whC
| have foreign-born friends or ac
| quaintanCes who are not thoroughly
| naturali2ed' can see to II that they
| throw off the foreign influence 10y
urging them, in a friendly manner, tC
enroll in one OF the classes.
Our foreign born soldiers. many o.
whom have become naturalized since
entering the army-either in camp,
at home or on the fields Of France -
will have American homes 10 return
| to, II the bureaus program is carried
| out properly here. The relatives ant
| friends Of these young men can haV,
the meaning OF AmericaniZatior
! brought home to them, just as tn,
young men themselves discover 1t IL
| the army.
The doors OF thousands Of schools
are open to the foreigner who sin
| Ccrely wishes 70 become an American
and the teachers will receive hin
with cordial welcome. The schools
/ have already accomplished a grea
/ work in the naturalization program
| but there is much more to be done
/ Many other schools will be opened
! in the near future, il is expected.
The government, through its bu
reau OF naturalization. and in coop
GRAFTON with the public schools, Is eX,
tending a helping hand to every alier
who comes here. II they realize theil
opportunity, they will embrace &
gladly. II is the duty of Americans
TO make sure that foreigners under,
stand what is being done Tor them.
The courts are showing thorough
appreciation OF what the bureau and
the schools are doing, for they hav,
in the last two years recommended
that -. 00O aliens take the CitiZe nshiT
courses more than the total number
Of aliens admitted to citizenship In
L. g l.. .lgA L.