Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-13
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HELPING AUTHORIZATION

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work being done throughout the coun-
try, it is natural to suppose that
everyone would want to do all in his
or her power to help the movement.
1t may not be possible for everybody
to teach a class or to act as an escort
to foreigners when getting their
papers, but it is possible for everyone
to do something toward making those
who would be citizens to feel at home
and to realize that they are really and
truly Americans. The least we can do
Is to stop using such expressions as
"Wops." "Sheeneys,' "Polacks," pa
goes" "Hunnies," etc.
These expressions have come to be
so common that we hardly know when
we say them. but they are resented by
those to whom such names are ap-
piled, and rightly so. A man who is
earnestly trying to be q good Ameri-
can citizen ought to have every en-
couragement that those who are
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are none of us so far removed from
European ancestry that we can
poke fun at the man who was not
born here. He has come to America,
1t is reasonable to believe. to make his
home here and to bring up his chill
dren. These children when they
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our most prominent citizens. The
parents, therefore, are entitled to
decent treatment just as we would
like to have had, our forebears treated
when they first arrived on these
shores.
Miss Margaret Williamson, Of Glen
Ridge, who served many months with
the Young Women's Christian Associ-
alton at Brest, caring for the war
brides OF American soldiers, tells of
the interest these young women have
lin their adopted country. '"These
women are eager to become what
America wants them to become" she |
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women to be charitable and helpful
and patient and give them opportu-
nifty to learn to adapt themselves to
the ways of their new country The |
wonderful work being done among
the foreign girls here in Perth Amboy |
shows hat the American women in
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sponsibility, but they are greatly
handicapped for lack of proper facili- |
ties. The time is rapidly approach
ing when this work among the foreign
girls must receive the recognition it
deserves in Perth Amboy.
But what Miss Williamson says
about the duty of American women,
has been told to us by Americanization
workers among the men here in Perth
Amboy. Glasses In Americanization
are becoming more and more popular
among the men n those who attend
are conscientiously trying to become
good American citizens. but they can
not understand why we should con-
tinue to call them by such names as
we AVE already mentioned and
which are so commonly heard on our
streets and In the factories and shops.
Naturally, these foreigners feel that
we are not sincere in desiring them
TO become real Americans when we
continue to apply such un-American
names 70 <hem.
This is one of the biggest handicaps
that the Americanization workers have
to contend with and here Is where
everybody can-help in this noble work
of making true American citizens of
the foreign born hat are among us.
1t is a small thing to do, as far as we
are concerned. but it Is a big thing
In the eyes of the foreigner.
And it is important that everything
should be done t. encourage this work
OF Americanization. We are now be-
ginning to realize that 1t would be a
sad mistake to prohibit immigration
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industries need the labor that immi-
grafton supplies. The shortage due
to so many foreigners returning to
the old country is already being
seriously felt. The only thing to do
is to let these people come here max
ing sure that they are of the desir-
able sort. and then after they have
arrived, do everything possible to
make them rea American citizens.
This can be done through the Ameri-
eanization work that is now so we'll
established. In this work We can
all assist by at least refraining from
referring to them in a disrespectful
and insulting manner.