Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-04-23
EVERY CITIZEN AN AMERICAN
Women's Foreign Language Division
of Victory Liberty Loan Committee
Has Active Organization.

Every citizen an American. Every
American government stakeholder.
Bolshevik doctrines will not flourish in
the ptnds and hearts of those who
have a proprietary interest in their
government"
That is the threefold object Of the
newly organized wOman's foreign-lan-
guage division of the Victory Liberty
loan, according to Mrs. Edward Beh.is,
director for the Seventh federal re-
serve district.
In reply to a question, Mrs. Bemis
said: "Our foreign-born women have
often had reason in the past to think
we cared little for them, but now since
their sons and brothers and husbands
have fought side by side with ours the
differences have fallen away. We are
all women of one country, working to
one end-a united America"
Mrs. Bemis believes there need be
no lack of cooperation between the
native and fOreign-born inhabitants Of
America. She is inclined to place q
large part Of the responsibility for a
lack of united interest at the door of
the countless native Americans who
stand in need Of Misunderstanding.
War work has shown that much of the
renewed patriotism on the part of de-
scendants of the older generations of
Americans may well be learned from
our patriotic foreign born. '.@ s.+ p
The Council of ForeignLanguage
Women has been presenting "Gifts of
the Nations" to the people Of Chicago
since the Third Liberty loan campaign
After a program attended by fifteen
nationalities, the majority being Amer
leans, one foreign-born woman said !:
This is the first time since | came to
America that l have been asked to do
anything with the American people"
Said another woman: II always could
speak enough English to get things at
the store. but never before did Ameri-
can ladies' want to talk with me- Now
l Shall get books and learn to speak
English like the rest of them"
itages of many of our foreign nation
alities may well be emulated by our
far newer civilization" said Mrs.
Bemis. There is an innate courtesy
In some of these older countries, and
they have a patriotism engendered by
years of seeking the liberty found in
America. .39-i
"We want to know our foreign-lan-
guage neighbors for what they can
teach us as much as for the service
that we ourselves can render them.
Every member of each community
has an interest in supporting our gov
ernment's financial program. We must
bring the boys home; we must estab-
ders and we must help this country
and Europe TO stand free and fer
peace. We women are as interested
In this as men can possibly be-"
The five states of the Seventh dis
trict Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wis
consin and Iowa. will have a foreign
language chairman for women. Each
county where there are resident for
eign groups will have as county chair
man woman who understands the To-
cal needs of the various communities
Group meetings are planned for eacf
nationality wherever 1t exists in con
siderable numbers.
"Out Of this work will come-if Oui
hearts are in it-that united Interest
In the service of our country which we
call Americanizstion."
HELP FINNISH THE JoB."-
Give to Enjoy Blessings of Peace.
We are enjoying the blessings of vic
n,linir Of yuhnt hof