Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-01
An1ericQnizQfOn
CONTINUED TOMORROW
g A MERICANIIATION. What is

"A it:''
4 definition that is receiving much
favorable comment throughout the couu-
try is one written by Prof. Don ID.
Lcscohier. who has charge of the
Americanizaton work that is being car
ricd on by the University of Wisconsin
He defines this work as follows:
Characterization in the United
States. and Contamination in Canada
differ Fundamentally in their spirit.
method and purpose from the efforts
Of Germany to GcrmaniZe Poland.
Schlcswig Holstcin and Alsacc- Lor-
raine; of Austria to Austfanize the
Czcchs and Croats: aud of Turkey to
suppress the nationalism of the Ar
mcnians. The Central Powers tried to
crush the national cultures and Gus
toms of peoples over whom they had
acquired power by force of arms. The"
continually subjected these peoples to
the efforts of cOnQucrors who sought to
suppress the language and traditions
that had obtained in the acquired ter
ritories, and to compel the use Of tho
language. government and culture of
the COnqucrOr.
But Amcricanization has nothing in
common with such efforts as these. 1t
is an effort to assist the alien among
us to understand. appreciate and par
take of the best in American life and
thought. 1t is an effort to provide
facilities that will enable him to become
an integral part of America and its
life. 1t is movement to ffrlp him
share the privileges and benefits that
a democracy offers to it's people, and to
fit him for his responsibilities as a citi
zen in q democratic commonwealth 1t
aims to help him know our national
life: to help him make our traditions,
heroes and ideals his: to inspire in him
love for America and what it stands
for; to win his heart to the things we
love.
".Americanizaton is more than this.
1t is as necessary for Americans to un-
dcrstand the peoples who have come to
them from foreign lands as for those
peoples to become acquainted with
America. Every people whose feet have
pressed our soil has brought to us ira
ditiOns. customs, capacities. ideals and
personal qualities which are of inesti-
mable value to America. Each race or
nationality. when it first came to our
shores, had to start at the bottom of
the economic ladder. Each ones ca
pacity was Indervalued by the Amer-
can during the early years of its mi
grafton to America. because it had to
rely principally upon common labor for
10 :,
language and customs and fitting itself
into our national life.
There is another point which Ameri-
cans must be taught to remember.
Every alien who comes to America
comes here because, he believes that
America is q better place to live than
his homeland. He comes here hope
fully, expectantly, eagerly. He comes
here in receptive mood. The only
reason that alien propaganda has been
able to retain a hold on part of the
immigrants has been that we have
failed to provide them with proper cdu-
cational, industrial and social oppor-
tunitics. to become n real part of our
life. They have not found us respon .
sivc apd their enthusiasm has been
chilled. They have concluded that we
did not care about them. Amcricaniza :
ton must teach the American to value
the people who have come to us, and
cause him to assist the alien enter into
the privileges and duties of Americas s
adopted sons.
Characterization is, then. process
of education, of mutual understanding,
Of growing together. In a word, Ameri =
canization is n process of mental and
spiritual reconstruction-if we can use
the word spiritual in nonrelgious
sense-which must be accomplished by
multitude of forces in our national
life. Press Bulletin.