New Britain herald., 1918-10-24

ain.)
 If you were not native-born and have not become naturalized, then you are in the technical and legal sense "an alien" in America and you are not considered Americanized, al- though you may have harbored the very spirit of democracy from your early childhood. or you may feel as devoted to America as numbers of the native born. More probably you have not come to feel or recognize that this land of liberty places a def mite duty and responsibility upon you, such as you cannot afford to be lax about regarding. When you think of this as the land of liberty and op- portunity, do not forget that it is also the land of obligations.
 You are living in America. You are enjoying the protection and advan- tages of an American city. You earn your living in an American industry, owned and run by Americans. You are made more happy and comfort able by your being in America. But what are you doing to show that you are of America and for America? !? Have you heard the call of "the unit ed people of the United States to make English the common language of this land? That applies to you, in the country in which you now are It is sort of defiance and offense to your friends and benefactors if you neglect or refuse to learn the lan- guage of this people among whom you have your home and make your money.
 Just now you are urged and invited by President Wilson and the national government, by the State of Connect icut and by the City of New Britain to learn the English language, to make yourself an American, if you expect to live and work here. The public schools of this city provide free evening classes, and citizenship instruction, free of expense to you. The city Chamber of Commerce has done much to improve your oppor- tunities here. The library, the Y M c. A. and other organizations are
 
 vancement and Americanization. But are you MT. Newcomer and MT. For eign-l language trying to learn English and to secure citizenship? Are you becoming one of the makers of America? There is where your duty and your opportunity both lie The woman is included here as we'll as the man.
 Still further is your duty pointed out to you both by your employer and by the American Labor organiza- tions. The employers of this city are now ready to undertake great trouble and expense to make you a more in telligent English speaking worker and citizen. Your 'boss'' will help you. The Federation of Labor declares for requiring "a fair knowledge of the American 1anguage' of "all employed foreign language aliens" Those who understand the matter know full well that the accidents to machinery and to workers will be greatly reduced, the changes or turnover in their help will find less cause, the health of the employees will be safer, and the eff1- ciency of production will be much stimulated, if you will but accept free the help that is offered you, to be- come at least enough American to speak the language of this great Re public, which millions O. poor souls in Europe and Asia have learned to love more than you do, unless you adopt it's language while here.
 You can never learn to be an Am erican except by acting, speaking, and living as Americans do. You can learn how to be a good citizen only by being a good citizen. The good citizen knows America for the land of opportunity. He knows that he Is free to bring out the best that is in him materially and spiritually, if he does not encroach on the rights of others in doing so. But he realizes that every right has a corresponding duty and every privilege a cores bonding obligation. The good citizen believes in hard work and honest la bor. He knows that every desirable member of the population must ac- cept stuff cient of the harness to help pull the load that society has to pull. The crowning fact in a democratic civilization Is the spirit of service and the readiness of the people to sacrifice for the welfare of the coun- trv which means it's people.
 When the war days are over, per haps your present work will be open only to persons who can speak the language of this country, and per haps any advancement, if you do speak English, will be dependent then on whether you are citizen or on the road to becoming a citizen. If you have bought Liberty Bonds, and if you own property here, all that will be in your favor, but most l of such people will also see the great 1 value of speaking and of reading English. Now is the time for you to see the light and to prepare. Democ- racy and Americanism will be hurt l and wronged by you persons who re- fuse to speak the language of Amer 1