Evening star., 1919-05-14
HASTE IS DANGER
IN AMER|CAN|z|NG
Head of .SIovak League Tells
Conference Best Way Is to
Educate Aliens Children.
SEES "MAGIC" IN SCHOOLS

Americanization workers were
warned of the dangers of trying to
hasten the process of Transforming a
foreien-born person into an American.
in defiance of natural law, by Albert
Mamaty. president of the Slovak
League of America, speaking at to-
days session of the Americanizatlon
conference in progress In the ne"
Interior Department auditorium.
You cannot completely transform
a man or woman not born in this
country into just such Americans as
you are" Mr.. Mamaty declared. 1t
is impossible. but 1t is also unneces-
sary. The result desired Will be
achieved in the second or third gen.
Grafton. Forcing Americanization on
immigrants will accomplish just the
opposite of the result hoped for"
The magic of the American schools
is what will turn the children of for
eign-born parents into real Americans
such as the native born, the speaker
intimated. Nothing can stop the chill
dren of the foreign born, he said,
once they experience this magic, from
becoming Just such children as yours
are"
Can "Overshoot Mark"
Workers with the foreign born, in
the Americanization work being con-
Quoted by the Americanization divi-
sion of the bureau of education, under
whose auspices the conference is
being held, were warned against the
danger of "overshooting the mark.
Mr.. Mamaty declared that when he
cautioned the workers he tonly meant
= tn oor fIJI nf
procedure, and get in touch with the
Headers of the foreign born. thus Sc
curing the invaluable aid which these
latter can give in Anericanization
work.
The president of the Slovak League
deprecated the thoughtless attitude of
some Americans in clubbing foreigns
"Dagoes," ''Hunkies," etc, terms used
indiscriminately to designate immi-
grants from certain parts OF Europe
about which Americans knew little De-
fore the world war.
Study of racial differences made by
the American people in their efforts to
keep up with the news OF the war,
however, will do much to do away
with this careless way of talking. and
in its place will come more sympathy
and understanding, Mr.. Mamaty as
serted.
Nathan Peyser Speaks.
make the act of naturalization a
holy act" was the message brought
the conference by Nathan Peyser of
New York, one of the speakers in to-
days general symposium on "Secur-
ing the Interest of and Cooperation
with the Foreign-Born." Today is
racial day at the conference.
The immigrant group. Mr.. Peyser
said, is a bulwark for the nation, and
an asset for the future. Immigrants
are first our guests, during good be-
havior, until they become naturalized
and one with the country at large.
Tells of Aliens Assets.
H. A. Miller Of the Mid European
Union told what the foreign-born can
give to and need from America Mr..
Miller characterized the peace con-
ference as the "best Americanization
agency" Felix J. Streyckmans of Chi
cago gave an account OF the work OF
the foreign language division of the
liberty loan organization of that city,
and how the racial organizations can
be used to tremendous advantage IN
Americanization work.
The part Of naturalization in Amer
icanization was described this after
commissioner of naturalization of the
Labor Department. There Is no other
government agency in any of the ac-
tivities that can be conceived of which
can have created for it the machinery
that will bring to the United States
government such a large portion OF
it's foreign-born residents" Mr.. Crist
stated.
Secretary Lane of the Interior and
Secretary Redfield of the Commerce
Department are scheduled to speak al
the Americanization banquet to be
held at o'clock tonight at the New
Ebbitt Hotel. Motion pictures OF the
delegates, with Secretary Lane al
their head, were taken at the Interior
Department building at noon today.
Committees to Develop Plans.
Committees to develop plans for
making citizens of foreign-born resi-
dents of the United States have been
selected by the conference as follows:
Committee on training teachers-John
]. Mahoney of Lowell, Mass. chair
man; A. F. Jenks, Minneapolis; Don
D. Lescohier, Madison. Wis: George
Smith, Buffalo: Miss F. X. Wetmore
Chicago; William McAndrew, New
York, and E. r. Wiles. Akron, Ohio
Committee on teaching English-W
NJ. Roberts of Chicago, chairman; H
H. Goldberger. New York: DR.. Peter
Roberts, New York; Charles F.
Towno nocton. ho r. Finch