The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-12-12
The Alien and the Job.

Probably no movement CnaL mas pecH
started in Kenosha in recent years has
gathered such measure of support as
the movement that is demanding that
men who hold jobs in Kenosha have
the qualification Of citizenship. Max
ing Kenosha an American city for
American Citizens is going to be quite
b task Like a lot Of other big move
ments it is blazing the trail for other
patriotic communities and the result
of the experiment in Kenosha is 60
ing to find nation wide interest. 1t
may be tina tKenosha will meet with
difficulties in carrying this plan into
practice but it can be said that the
principles ON which the movement is
founded are economically and pa
triOtically sound.
TO be good laborer a man must
be good citizen. The man who takes
no interest in the nation in which he
lives, has no ties to bind him to that
country and no strings Of obligation
leading to the capital of it is not ex-
pected to make a star man when it
comes to doing the work Of that ma
ticn. A man to be good worker
must be fair with his fellow workers.
He must feel the comradeship Of equal
opportunity and equal responsibility.
The idea win not appeal to class
of men who have invaded Kenosha to
fatten their private purses, without
giving anything in return. Men who
they owe to the common country will
undoubtedly declare that the sugges-
Eion is unfair. That it 1egislates
against large number of the men
who have worked in the city. These
men must be told that if they value
their place to work they should value it
highly enough to be willing to accept
citizenship as the qualification for it.
Industry in Kenosha has gained much
by the support Of foreign born labor
but industry has paid heavy bills for
this labor. Kenosha is not locking
the door to the foreigner. On the
other hand it is opening it wider. Tt
is offering him not only chance to
earn but is throwing in his way
chance to be citizens Of the great
est nation in the world There may
have been a time when men might
have had some sentiments which would
have caused them to hold to the old
countries across the seas. That cause
no longer exists. The United States
of America has done it's full part to
fight the battles Of the nations which
these men came from. It has come to
be their blood relation. To declare al
lsgiance to this nation to these men
NO longer means allegiance to
stranger but rather the allegiance to
the preserver of the old time homes
of these men.
Some men may refuse to accept
these conditions. They may insist
that they viii designate themselves
as TO what nation they win remain CT
items Of. If such men there be, we
viii wish them we'll but we will tell
them to move along to some commun-
ity where the idea of patriotism and
labor is not united as it is in Keno
sha.
Men who have served under the col
ors, no matter where they were born
are coming back as workmen and as
citizens. 1t would be an insult to the
sacrifices Of these men to ask any
thing less fro mthe men who remained
behind.
The movement has not as yet gained
the support of all employers of labor
In Kenosha. Some Of them may hest
rate. They may feel that it is going
to mean the loss of men who have been
valuable in industry but it is certain
that sooner or later all employers of
labor in the city win come to the pa
triotic view that q Good Citizen makes
the best laborer.
There is no hardship to be placed
on these men. The doors of citizen
ship are still open to them. They may
yet get under the flag and enjoy all
the privileges of the flag. 1t is for
them to make the choice but the choice
must be made quickly. Scores and
hundreds Of these men realizing the
fairness Of the proposition have al
ready renowned their allegiance to
foreign potentates. Others must take
this step if they expect to continue
to be part Of the working life of
Kenosha.
fKenosha an American City for
American Citizens" is the newest and
the best slogan of a great and grow
ing patriotic city.