Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1919-03-14

WcRidlls III TINS county are employing
a foreign language for political ends
and recognize nothing but their owl
nationality has, OF course. no founda'
ton III fact. 1t is not true, nor has
IT ever been true, that every officia
in Winnesheik County was a Nor
wcgian. To put it exactly correct,
may say right here that there is no'
a single public official in the county
today who is a Norwegian. or so con.
siders himself. unless, indeed, our very
capable and alert Clerk of Court, Mr.
Moore, may some day be argued into
admitting that he came from Norway
They are all American boys, born anC
bred IN the good old state Of Iowa
The editor of the Capital evidently
suspects that Old Morse is the oficia
language Of Winnesheik County: that
the officials are wadling around il
wooden shoes and leather breeches
talking in the vcrnatular OF Lei
Erikson, the Norwegian d~iscoverer OF
America, and that when an American
comes along to pay his taxes, he must
bring an interpreter with him in order
to make the outlandish outfit under
stand. am sure. the editor. for the
NdhA VI aNlllNl NhliiLdAlDll VIII OC kldh
To learn that someone has been play
ing a joke on him while pretending to
state facts in regard to Winneshcik
County. ! am rot AT all certain that
any of the county officials here has
any apprcciable knowledge OF the
Norwegian language. but | am
probably safe i'll saying that most OF
them have not. Some OF them. il is
true, are born of parents who either
themselves. or some OF their ancestors.
were immigrants from Norway. There
are others who are sons of parents.
who came from other countries. In
elccting public officials in this part
OF the state we usually do not stop to
question the candidates where their
grandparents or great-grandparents
came from. Our present senator III
Dcs Moines, Mr.. Reed. | believe, has
come from old American stock, and
the same is true of Mr.. Hook. our
representative, who shares the honor
with his Norwegian constituents of
having had his Amcricanism i'm
peached by Mr.. Young. But surely.
some time in the dim past even their
ancestors were immigrants from some
other country; or they would not now
be representing WinncShcik County
in the legislature.
Since our county was organized in
1881. it has been represented in the
legislature by eight men of Nor
wcgian blood. DEBORAH, with about
the same percentage of residents of
Norwegian extraction as the county
as a whole, has never had a mayor.
nor until recently a postmaster. Of
that race. and | can recall only three
instances during the last twenty years
where Norwegians have been elected
TO the board of education. though
many of them, i'll respect to educa-
tional and business qualifications,
would probably measure well up to
the average. There arc at present two
men OF Norwegian extraction III the
city council. and occasionally there
has been a member OF that nationality
in the council in former vars; but it
has been rather an exception. So
much for the statement that the Nor
wegians are runnig everything to the
exclusion Of all others.
The assertion Of the Capital that
there is more Norwegian spoken in
Winncsheik County today than III
fifty years is such an extravagant lie
that one only can wonder as to its
origin. Though Norwegian, indeed,
is spoken, the use of the English
language i SO Overwhelmingly general
among the people OF Norwegian
nationality here that the fairy tale of
the DeS Moines paper is devoid even
OF the slightest Scmblancc of truth.
Norwegian may honestly and right
fully be spoken, here and elsewhere,
but the common use of foreign
languages is diminishing rapidly. In
this, as in other communities where
immigrants originally settled in
greater numbers, there are yet older
people who read and speak the
English language with difficulty. and
some not at all. am, of curse.
aware that the editor OF the CAPITAL
colder people" with contempt. Up
this way we have a different CON
ccption OF the Fourth Commandment.
We teach our young folks to love
and respect their elders, and try to
have them appreciate the great work
they did in anticipation of the coming
generations. We know also that most
OF them came here AT an age III their
lives when learning a new language
is a very difficult task at best: and
VIC know the life OF the pioneer did
not afford the opportunity. They are
good and faithful American citizens.
and worthy examples for their sons
now enjoying the blessings which they
created. The knowledge OF English
should by all means be encouraged.
and it is encouraged To the fullest
extent among the Norwegians every
where. Even in Norway the study of
English is so common that a large
number of immigrants arriving at our
shores from that country today have
a lair knowledge OF the language. !
think. however. that il has been de
monstratcd beyond a doubt by the
pioneers that such knowledge is not
an absolute prerequisite to good
American citizenship. Lacking the
opportunity to learn much OF the
language themselves. they were eager.
and. in thousands OF instances. made
great sacrifices 10 have their sons and
daughters avail themselves OF the best
educational facilities within reach.
Vet, il we are % do the bidding of
Mr.. Noung and his followers. the
time has now come to forget our
fathers. to bclittlc and SANDER the
memories OF the pioneers.
English is forging ahead at a swift
rate as school and church language
among the NorwcgiauS in Winnesheik
County. and. indeed. all over the
country. In the little city OF DEBORAH.