New-York tribune., 1918-12-25
Big Campaign On
To Anericanize
The Foreign Borr
Every Chairman of County
Council of Defence i'm
38 States Enlists i'm Drive

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.---ln response
to the stimulating appeal Of the Bureau
Of Naturalization of the United States
Department Of Labor, letters are pour
ing in from all parts of the country
promising support Of the campaign to
instll in the minds OF Americas for
eign population the ideals of American
citizenship.
With the cooperation of the State
Councils of National Defence, the
county councils throughout the land
nave been lined up for this great work,
which is characterized by Raymond +.
Crist, deputy commissioner of natural
ization, as the most important and far
reaching task confronting the American
people, now that the forces of democ-
racy have overthrow once and for all
the arrogant authority Of Prussia.
Every chairman of county council
of defence in thirty-ciGht states al
ready has enlisted in the big drive.
Where actual enrolment for the work
has not been forthcoming, the failure to
get in line is apparently due, not to in
difference or lack Of sympathy, but to
eXtraneous causes, which have tempor-
arily delayed cooperation.
For example, the failure Of the
county chairmen to respond is ex-
planned by the state chairman as a re-
suit of two causes: First, the infu-
enza epidemic has stopped temporarily
the activity of the organization, and
secondly, no appropriation for the work
has been available, because the Legs-
lature has not held a session since the
entry of the United States into the war.
IN Oklahoma the spirit of the people
and Of the officials of the state is in
dictated by the fact that on September
2S, at the call Of the Governor, Ameri
canizatiun Day was celebrated at the
State Fair, en- the fair grounds at Okla
homa City.
The thoroughness and enthusiastic
prosecution of the campaign through
out the nation are remarkable. Night
schools with classes for aliens are be-
ing established everywhere, and where
such schools were in existence already
a special appeal is being made to aliens
to attend. Employers of alien labor are
freely giving their cooperation by urg-
ing on the workmen the advantages OF
seizing the opportunity to gain q
thorough understanding of the ideals
and practices of American democracy.
In the words of Professor Sarka B.
Hirbova, chairman Of the women's com
mittee of the Nebraska State Council
of National Defence: "Our purpose is
and feel like an American"
The enthusiasm of the partici ipants
in the drive is exemplitied in letter
to Mr.. Crist from George W. Harris,
vice chairman of the Cincinnati and
Hamilton County (Ohio) Council Of
National Defence, in which he declares
that Cincinnati has practically and
thoroughly organized the Americaniza-
ton work, having established special
night shoots and other forms of in
struction for the benefit Of the alien,
and especially for the instruction
in English of those who have
not acquired at least small acquaint-
ance with the language of the country
derive not only a livelihood, but all the
blessings and protection of democ-
recy
In order to centralize the campaign,
Mr.. Harris says, the local council pro-
vided cut of its funds $4,000 for the
remcdelling re OF a building in the heart of
the foreign district, which is designated
"The American House." This establish
ment has become the centre of activi-
ties in behalf Of both naturalized and
unnaturalizad aliens, and from it rad-
ate all the efforts aimed at making
these people American in thought as
well as in language. 1Ir. Harris con-
cIudes:
"Now that the strictly American
part Of the community, probably for the
first time in its history, grasps the very
great Importance OF Americanizing the
foreign born, at least so far as the
English language and the ideals of de-
mocracy are concerned, the termination
of the war will have but very little
effect on their activities"