Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-06
Americanizing Aliens.

! charged with continuing the work, which the wa
has shown have been already so well established
of cementing the many and peoples represente
in this country's population into homogenou
nation The achievement of national unity, involving
the assimilation of 100000 alien born residents
this country, is the peculiar task of this bureau
which is beginning this season the greatest cam
paign in history to effect its aims
Realization of the ideal of America as the melting
pot in which the peoples of many lands fuset
into new and characteristic national type is thu
purpose of this bureaus Americanzation work. Las
May, congress passed law to Americanize every
man and woman of foreign birth in this country anC
it chose the bureau of naturalization to have charge
OF the citizenship training which will be carried
through the public schools.
Foreigners are becoming citizens by hundreds Of
thousands every year and the has done much to
promote interest in America among the aliens living
here. There still however, many difficulties in
the way of a successful accomplishment of the great
plan to every inhabitant of this country Amer
can in thought word and action.
For example there are 500, 900 foreigners in New
York city who can not read write, or speak English
Probably 100 languages and dialects are spoken
here. There are between ten and twelve million
persons in this country who allegiance to other
nations In no other country in the world is there
so great percentage of aliens.
The bureau of naturalization is more closely in
touch with the foreign born than any other govern
ment organization. Through its naturalization ex
aminers it has gained acquaintance with about three
million immigrants and during the last four years
schools begun their great work of instruct
ing the millions of others the essentials of Amer
can citizenship
This great educational work is going in nearly
two thousand communities, the home cities of mil
lions of immigrants Hundreds of thousands OF
these have taken out their first papers, bu-
has prevailed upon the school authorities wher-
ever these candidates live to open evening classes
in which first paper men and their wives may be
taught what they ought to know about the American
government
The first thing taught is the English language
conversation, reading and writing. Every foreigner
ambitious be told that he speaks English like
an American. The government sends an urgent ap-
peal to every applicant for citizenship asking him
to go to evening class in the public schools of
his city. It also furnishes free textbooks Is these
men and women and will recognize the work of the
public schools in a certificate of graduation pre-
scented jointly by the government and the schools
foreigners when they come into American citizen
ship
Thus far, the surface has been barely scratched
for less than two per cent of the aliens in this
try have applied for citizenship instruction. The
Americanizaton of the other 98 per cent is the al
most herculean task the bureau of naturalization
faces The aid of every resident of the community
must be enlisted in the work if it be effective
Employers of aliens can aid in the work by having
their workmen, particularly those who are deficient
in their knowledge of English American institu-
tons. the evening citizenship classes at once
Those who have foreign-born friends or acquaint-
who are thoroughly naturalized can see to
it that they throw off the foreign influence by urg
ing them. in friendly manner to enroll in one of
the classes
Our foreign-born soldiers many Of whom have
become naturalized since entering the army-either
in camps at home or on the fields of France-wiu
have American homes to return to. if the bureaus
program is carried out properly here. The rela-
tves and frends of these young can have the
meaning of Americanization brought home to them
just the young men themselves discover it in the
army
The doors of thousands of schools are open to the
foreigner who sincerely wishes to become an Amerf-.
can and the teachers will receive him with cordial
welcome. The schools have already accomplished
a great work in the naturalization program but
there is much to be done. Many other schools
will be opened in the future. it is expected.
The government. through its bureau of naturaliza-
lion, and in cooperation with the public schools is
a helping hand to every allen who comes
here If they realize their opportunity they will
embrace 1t gladly. 1t is the duty OF Americans 10
make that foreigners understand what s being
lone for them