The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-07

Nearly 100000 Persons Living tfere
still Retain Allegiance to Other Ma
1lons--sohools Give instructions to
Adults in Essentials Of American
Cltizenship-Helpine Hand to Be
Extended to Every Alien.
Now that the war has ended, with
its evidence of the solidarity of
Americans, native and foreign-born,
the bureau of naturalization of the
United States department Of labor
VIII increase its educational work,
well underway before the war
An announcement issued by the bu
reau said there were 17,500000 alien
born residents Of the United States,
and that nearly 12,0OO0OO persons llv-
ing here retain allegiance TO other ma
tlons. II was stated that in New
York city alone there were 100000
foreigners who could not speak, read
or write English, speaking some 100
languages and dialects.
The work of Americanizing this
vast number OF foreigners who them
selves or their children are destined
to become fuIl-hedged Americans is
to be pressed with renewed ylgor. In
the last four years the schools have
begun the work of instructing adults
in the essentials Of American citizen
ship. This work has been conducted
In 2,000 communities, the home cities
of millions of immigrants. But, the
statement issued by the bureau says:
Few Have Applied.
"Thus far the surface has been
barely scratched, for less than two
per cent Of the aliens IN this country
have applied for citizenship instruc'
ton. The Americanlzatlon Of the oill-
er 9S per cent is the almost herculcan
task the bureau OF naturalization
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-
ticnlarly 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 acQuaIntances can see to il that
they throw off the foreign influence
By urging them, in 4 friendly manner
TO enroll in one Of the classes.
"Our foreign-horn soldiers, many o.
whom have become naturalizcd since
entering the army-selthcr in camps
1T home or on the fields Of France
viii have American homes TO return
TO, II the bureaus program Is carried
out properly here. The relatives ant
friends of these young men can have
the meaning Of Amerlcanizatiol
brought home to them Just as tn
young men themselves discover It II
the army
School Doors Opened.
The doors Of thousands OF school
are open TO the Foreigner who sin
ccrely wishes 10 bec0me an American
and the teachers viii receive him wit
Il cordial welcome. The schools hav
already accomplished a great work q
The naturalization program, but ther
is much more 20 be done. Many 9th
er schools will be opened Ia the nea
future, 1t is expected.
The government through It's bl
d reau Of naturalization, and in co-oI
GRAFTON with the public schools, is cs
tending a helping hand TO every allie
= who comes here. If they realize thel
opportunity, they viii embrace
gladly. Il IS the duty Of American
10 make sure that foreigners undel
stand what is being done for them.
The courts are showing thoroue
appreciation of what the bureau an
the schools are doing, for they hay
in the last two years recommends
that 10000 aliens take the cltizenshi
courses-more than the total numb,
of aliens admitted to citizenship
fhvn, WOO 80. g an. f.aA s1...ri,