New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-04
Sessions Still Closed With
German Anthem, Says
Ex-senator
German Press Here
Is Hotly Denounced
Demand for Its Suppression
Voiced at Americaniza-
ton Convention

WASHINGTON, April 3.-Rcprescnt-
a1ives OF every State, including more
than dozen governors, met here to-
day at an Amcricanization conference.
called by Secretary Lane of the In
terror Department, to draft recommend
atlons to Congress for legislation pro-
viding for a national campaign against
illiteracy.
The opening session was given over
largely to dcnunciations of the foreign
language press and the teaching of
enemy tongues in the elementary
schools.
In a speech full of invectivc against
'he dlsloyalty he declared was prev
alent to great extent in some sections
OF the Middle West, former Senator
Aa1e Young, of Iowa, urged that the
Federal government take immediate
steps to protect school children from
the malignant effects of German propa
sanda. The singing of "Deutschjand
User Allies" and "Dc Wacht an,
Rheim," he asserted, marks the CLOSING
OF the days session even now in moro
than 1000 Middle Western schools.
~ Dlverginng from an excoriation of the
German language press, the former
senator said: "If the United States
senate would eXpel Senator La Toilette
1T would be like driving a whole Ger
man division from the Western front"
Lane Outlines Urgent Need
Secretary Lane opened the confer.
cncc with an address emphasizing the
urgent need for dealing with the
lilteracy problem, and outlining the
purpose OF the conference 1t then
was proposed that the conference OBJ
tam special Congressional hearings
for the presentation to Congress Of .
programme calculated to improve the
educational condition of the nations
large foreign-born population. Sew
eral resolutions along these lines were
approved and were recommitted for
consideration by special committee.
Among the recommendations offered
by Levy Mayer, of Chicago, was one
urging industrial heads to refuse to
employ men of alien birth unless the
intention of taking out citizenship
papers first was signifed. Another
proposed that instruction in academic
branches in all non-publc schools be
given only in English.
Up to thirty days ago, in some Ne
braska schools the American national
anthem was unknown, German hymns
always having been the accepted pa
trlotc songs, according to former
Lieutenant Governor r. L. Mctcalfe of
the Panama Canal Zone In a few coun
ties of that state, Mr.. Metcafe said, the
German born population prcponderatcs
so greatly that the English
schools are practically unattended. In
assaling the foreign language press,
he declared that one of Nebraskas
enemy tongue newspapers gave away
on July d, several months after Amer
ica entered the war. souvenir spoons
bearing the likeness Of the Kaiser and
Won Hindenburg.
Cause of Italy's Reverse
ltaly's failure to guard properly
against German propaganda was the
dominant reason for the overwhelming
defeat she suffered last year on the
Isonzo front, the conference was told
by VIII irwin, war correspondent. re-
Gently returned from the Western
front.
eve arc trying great experiment
asserted. "can we gather together
from the ends of the earth people of
different races, crecds. conditions and
aspirations who can be merged into
one? If we cannot do this we will fail
If We do this we will produce the great
est of all nations and a new race that
will long hold a compelling place in the
world"
Touching upon the war and the mill
tary situation in France, the Secretary
quoted Won Hindcnburg as saying that
the first act was over.
"But it is never the first act that
tells the story" continued Mr. Lane.
''Thc climax comes in the closing
scene, and in that closing scene Amer,
ica will play her part, and it will be a
noble part. 1t is nv solemn conviction
that when success comes to the Allied
armies under General Foch it will come
because Of what we do, because of our
men in the field and tho spirit and
sacrifice of our men and women and
our boys and girls at nome"