The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-12-06
NATURALIZATION OF
1750G,000 ALIENS


Information and Education Service
Educational DivisionD
With the coming OF peace, the Blu
reau Of Naturalization of the U. S.
Department of Labor is charged with
continuing the work, which the war
has shown to have been already so
well established, of cementing the
many races and peoples represented
in this country's population into one
homogeneous nation. The achieve
ment of national unity, involving the
assimilation of 17,500,OOO alien born
residents of this country, is the pc
culiar task of this bureau, which is
beginning this season the greatest
campaign in its history to effect its
aims.
Realization of the ideal Of America
as the melting pot in which the peo-
pies Of many lands are fused into
new and characteristic national type
is the purpose of this bureaus Amer
icanizaton work. Last May, Con-
gress passed a law to Americani2e
every man and woman of foreign
birth in this country, and it chose
the Bureau of Naturalization to have
charge of the citizenship training
which will be carried on through the
public schools.
FOREIGNERS are becoming citizens
| by hundreds of thousands every year,
and the war has done much to pro-
/ mote interest in America among the
aliens living here. There are still,
however, many difficulties in the
way of successful accomplishment
Of the great plan to make every in
habitant Of this country American
in thought, word, and action.
For example, there are 100000
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 owe allegiance to
other nations. In no other coun-
try in the world is there so great
a percentage Of aliens.
The Bureau of Naturalization is
more closely in touch with the for
eicn born than any other govern
went organization. Through its
naturalization examiners, it has gain
ed acquaintance with about three mil
lion immigrants, and during the last
four years the schools have begun
their great work of instructng the
millions Of others in the essentials
Of American citizenship.
This great educational work is go
ing on in nearly 1000 communities,
the home cities of millions of immi-
grants. Hundreds of thousands of
these have taken out their first Pa
pers, and the bureau has prevailed
upon the school authorities where
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 Eng
lish anguage-conversat reading,
and writing. Every foreigner is
ambitious to be told that he speaks
English like an American. The Gov
eminent sends an urgent appeal to
every applicant for citizenship, ask
ing him to go to an evening class
in the public schools of his city.
It also furnishes free textbooks to
these men and women, and will rec
ognize the work Of the public schools
in certificate of graduation, pre-
Sented jointly by the Government and
the schools to foreigners when they
come into American citizenship
Thus far, the surface has been
barely scratched for less than two
per cent Of the aliens in this coun-
try have applied for citizenship in
struction. The Americanization of
the other 98 per cent is the almost
herculean task the Bureau of Natur
alization faces The aid of every
resident of the community must be
enlisted in the work, if it is to be
effective.
Employers of aliens can aid in the
work by having their workmen, par
ticularly those who are deficient in
their knowledge of English or of
American Institutions, enter the eve
ming citizenship classes at once.
Those who have foreign-born friends
or acquaintance who are not thor