The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-04-10
To the Oregon Federation of Women'S
Clubs

Greeting: You are now thinking of
programs for next years work. You
are expecting revival of club in
terest and enthusiasm. You have 10y
ally permitted patriotic service to ov.
ershadoW the regular club work, but
now you no doubt want to plan a pro-
gram that will meet both needs. Have
you considered an characterization
Program?" Every department of the
government, every educational organ
ization is considering the great prob.
lens of Americanization. Beginning
with the immigrant and following him
in the process of becoming an Ameri-
can citizen is interesting in itself, but
to study the reasons why he chooses to
come to America, why he needs help
in his new surroundings, how we are
to reach him through our own Ian
guage, how we are to create right
social atmosphere around him, how we
are W pIOHiOlt COiilluSllCS anu hoiiO
all these and various other correlated
studies can be made more than profit
able as years study.
There has come realization OF the
seriousness of the Americanization
work, intensified by the revelations of
the war. A nation made up, as is
America, of diverse elements must be
unified to be safe. Americanization
should take within its scope the native
born as well as the immigrant. Not
all anti-patriots are foreign born. The
attitude Of the alien toward this coun-
try, in great part, is reflection of the
attitude of our own citizens towards
MIN. Americanization should under
take to teach the duty of the host. not
less than the duty of the guest.
"Americanizaton means infinitely
more than teaching English to foreign
ers. That is of great Importance. but
there is much that cannot wait tor
new language. 1t must never be Tor
gotten that these people are beng
transplanted. and in transplanting it is
fatal to destroy the roots. If while the
roots are fresh and vital they are to
find the subsol of American ideals, OF
an intelligent conception of liberty, and
of a new loyalty, the foreigner must
be reached in language which he un-
derstands, and through medium with
which he is familiar.
With true democracy, the goal OF
Amercanzation as motto, the Ore
gon clubs through the combined efforts
of their committees on Library and
Literature, Music, Civies. Education
and Public Health could put on state
wide program which would result IN
permanent good.
We take the liberty of suggesting a
few topics from the California program
Of the State Commission of lmmigra
ton and Housing. which will show the
POSSIBILITIES OF SuCN IL uiliteu SIAOlt'
Amercanization propaganda in Eng
lsh and foreign language press.
Cooperation of foreign societies.
Carefully prepared series of films tc
present in concrete visual form patrl-
otic information and inspiration.
Community singing.
Preparation of patriotic programs Tor
national holidays.
State competitions for Poster Cam.
paigns, Patriotic Songs. ESSAYS or
Ideals of Democracy, plays dramatic
ing democratic and cosmopolitan spirit
of America.
Development and energizing OF even
ing schools in English and citizenship
for the adult foreign born.
Home teaching and mothers classes
for foreign born women.
Americanization Of rural districts.