The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-09
SAYS AMERICANS
SHOULD BECOME
AMERICANIZED
Pres. Thomas of Middlebury
College Says Foreigners
Should be Met Half Way

AmeflcanlZatl0n Tor Americans
was the keynote of the evening meet
ing of the fifth annual Vermont Con-
ference of Social Work held in the
Fairbanks Museum in st. Johnsbury
Wednesday night. President John M.
Thomas of Middlcbury College, ap-
pealed to the native born American
to meet the foreigner half way and
not expect him to make an unaided
effort to become Americanizcd.
In his address the President of
the Conference, Prof. K. r. p. Flint
of Norwich University, dealt largely
with Vermont problems. He stated
that there was lack o. teamwork
among the social agencies, no
thought for the morrow. He caid that
the war Lad developed tremendous
community spirit and urged that the
work should not be abandoned now
that the war is over. Town planning
is comparatively receGt and no at
tempts have yet been made in Yer
mont.
A council with representatives of
all town social organizations upon it
was urged. This to prevent overlap
ping and to help cooperation. A
close sympathy between villagers and
farm people should be developed, as
these two classes have numerou
common interests.
AS an instance of cooperation IL
cited the case of a Vermont high
school principal who was also sscre-
tary of the Milk Producers Associa-
ton. There are 1873 towns of this
state with populations less than 1900
people and these towns cannot ar
ford town manager. For these
communities an official, preferably
the high school principal, should be
appointed to assist and direct tie
town planning. The state can nev =
be greater than the communities that
make it up and the hundreds of dol
lars spent today for town planni IS
mean thousands saved tomorrow
President Thomas stated that he
had no sympathy with superiot at
titude on the part of the American
born toward the foreigner. lie ad-
mitted that most of the immig". ITS
came for money and to better their
material condition and pointed out
that our forefathers came with like
motives, supporting his statements
with quotations from early state doc
uments offering material advantages
to the settler. We should no. con-
denim those who are coming today
with the same thoughts in mind, he
said.
"We may justly claim that the
foreigners settle by themselves, are
clannish and use their native Ian
guage," said Pres. Thomas, ."but the
early colonists did the same"
The foreigner is eager to learn
English and the school plants should
be utilized to instruct newcomers in
English, American History and Gov
ernment. The foreign problem is not
an acute one in many Vermont COM
munities but there is room for the
doctrine Characterization in Vcv-
mont and the subject of that doe
trine should be the native-born.
Pres. Thomas declared that Ver-
monters are loosing some of their
real American qualities and. said the
the true American values his country
more than his life. He charged the
people of Vermont with voting to
save taxes rather than for the good
of their children or their community.
He said that Americanization is need
ed to take the meanness out of our
souls. America is great in power and
great, therefore, in responsibility,
I.1 cN