South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-18

on to be turned against these very
propaganda Much useful knowl-
edge is locked up in German books.
The United States. as a world power
and a factor in the international
trade OF the future. must have in
service civilian emissaries. diplo-
mats and soldiers who can speak
The languages of the large popula-
tions Of the world whether their
communication be friendly or 9TH
ervise A knowledge Of German
need not corrupt or mislead any
citizen who has been Americanized
hy birth, environment and training
before he meets the German lang
uage The German language is 20
Doe attacked. however. when Il be-
comes a barrier between the i'm
migrant and "a fair knowledge OF the
aims and ideals of the country he
has chosen. or when IT is forced up
on school children Of the elementary
grades Therefore your committee
recommends the following declar-
alton by the Indiana state council
Of defense:
The fact should be frankly rec
ognized by everyone that ours is an
English-speak people. and that
any use of foreign language which
tends TO- divide our population into
radical groups and 20 rerretuate or
instiu uu-American ideals and pa
poses must be vigorously disco 81
aged The preferred Ianguag OF
communication i'm all schools, col
Ieges and churches and at all pub
Tic assemblages within the state Of
Indiana shall De English. The Ger
man language should not be taught
i'm any public or private school of
Indiana below the high school
grades. and should not be the COM
mon language Of communication in
any public or private school OF any
Grade In no school or college
should the study OF German be
compulsory The statute enacted
i'm 1865 requiring the teaching of
German i'm the common schools
be. as this council has already rec
commended. repealed at the next
session Of the legislature. Great
care should be taken 90 see that in
-tructiou iu German be given only
by teachers who are thoroughly
American in spirit. and that the
text books used contain no covert
attempts 90 Germanize the pupils.
English should be made the pre-
ferred language AZ all religious
services Every congregation Of
any sect should see that its minister
is qualified 90 speak from the pull
pit in English, and at no church
service should German be made
the exclusive language Of communi-
cation. The use OF German
as any part of church ser
vice may riehtfully he regarded as
un-American, and subject TO con-
demnatiou unless &c can be proven
that "a considerable percentage Of
the congregation is unable TO un-
derstand even simplihed English
speech
County councils Of defense. town
ship councils and patriotic citizens
everywhere are requested to act in
friendly cooperation with people OF
German birth or extraction who are
endeavoring 20 get away from the
German language and the Prussian
manner of thought and are striv-
ing 20 put themselves into harmon
ious relationship with the govern
meut 20 which they owe allegiance.
Residents who continue their efforts
90 Germanize any part Of the state
of Indiana are not entitled 10 the
same friendly consideration. The
free use of the German language as
the preferred medium Of expression
i'm any community or church build
ing ar place of public assemblage is
not 20 be approved. II can be toll
Grated only when the German
speaking residents make it evident
that they are trying % become
English speaking Americans.
Respectfully submitted.
Arthur W Brady.
Allan p Philputt
George AIDE
Committee