The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-21

l come here merely to signify by my presence my deep personal interest Americanization bill which independent department of maintenance of s1Oo GOO a year. I had not had an opportunity bill No 7O8, approved by the committee Education, but as l heard it read this afternoon, felt that could give it whole hearted approval.
 There ought to bs need-there can be no need of satisfying the judgment of this committee great problem $ first importance. The trv America awakened to her, duty and universally efforts being made throughout the land to begin to do the work should have been doing 20, yes 30 years
 How wrong have been!
 To invite the stranger from every land to come to and live among us, and when he came take pains make him know language, our GUS toms our ways, our laws our institutions, our tra- dtons, history ideals We left him prac- tfcalIy shift for himself He had to find his employment, to make his home 10 get along as best he could. There was as rule no place where he could go for information. Not infrequently he has exploited and plundered by the people whom he had come, and especially by some of his people
 Coming across the seas to find new home away from oppression and to be protected in his ac- tion and life by the liberty of the Great Republic his treatment too often has made him forget his early admiration for America; he feels a stranger and forsaken.
 Americanization is an effort to treat the strang- CT in civilized, neghborly. christian way, to help him to become true American citizen by teacf- ing him our language. by adapting him to our GUS by seeing first of all that he gets justice and really enjoys liberty and by answering his questions helping solve his problems.
 In word. would lend him hand and be to him neghbor
 will not stop to talk of dollars and cents, For the future well-being of our country is wrapped in the proper solution of this problem
 Will you if I say that it is absolutely futile for the state to this work appropriation of $25,ooo year. It cannot be done.
 cannot well much less than S1OO- 900 year. The reason it must require much is because a good many localities cannot carry this work, and the State Department. through districts do it for the locality and practically without any great amount of help.
 One other subject l must touch. I am told that here of the opinion that idependent de- partment of Anericanization is mistake; that this work be we'll if better done, if under the State Board of Education.
 I mistrust this idea springs from antipathy to creating commission and belief that business of the could be better done and missions. And I very glad that Governor Hol- combs advice followed in years but to the A1nericanzaton cause both Governor HoIcomb and I agree that it be better done as independent department and probably cheap could be under the Board of Education.
 In case, my first impression favored transferring this work to the State Board of Edu- cation, and placing it under the Superintendent of night schools.
 I know about the work and to take more active part in it. I became vinced that it would be a grievous mistake O commit this tremendous task O the State Board of Education. That board already has plenty o do.
 Then the nature of the work in very consider able degree, is largely apart from the duties of State Board of Education. The Americanization work only has in charge the bringing for cational classes of the Public School. forms Parochial schools fraternaI halls factor and the like.
 The State Boards of Education should furnish should teach local to be able teach the foreign-born.