Evening journal., 1919-03-13
AMERICANIZATION
BY Dr.. Leop Id Vscczro

The term "Americanlzatlon" has been
variOusly defined. 10 Is a reaction, 10
use chemical expression, between
dissimilar and heterogeneous elements
resulting in q similar and homogeneous
substance. It is the conversion Of
raw material imported from all parts OF
the globe into the finished product, the
standardized product. This impl es the
existence Of a standard which is an
ideal called Americanlsm. The corro'-
larry Of this Is that not only the fore gn
born, but the native stock as well needs
TO be Americanized when 10 does not
reach the fixed standard. American'zl-
ton properly understood is the bleni-
ing Of the best ideals OF the old world
with the new world.
Prior TO the beginning OF the worlds
hostilllies, America was chiefly con-
cerned over selectlve imm!grat on
Southern Europe opened It's gates and
the oyerfowing surplus population
took q westward course. Desirables and
undeslrables flooded The American
shores The character OF he NOW i'm
migrant differing from the old In re-
ligion and racial chaiacterls les, gave
rise TO a widespread alarm over the
future or this commonwealth whien
was being fed too rapidly 20 allow
proper gestiOn and S m iation 7t
these new elements: hence the organ
ization Of societies OF various shades
TO OBJ truct and rest let imm grafton
Ext,dvagant descriptions Of the new
arrivals were deliberately made, so tiIt
the new immigrant was depicted as 4
dangerous adjunct to this country.
The European conhagratlon, and the
subsequent entrance Of America into
the worlds arena. served as a great
revelation 10 America. The old immi-
grant. as represented by the German,
began 10 give symptoms Of dislOyalty
and rebellion. whereas the new immi-
grant from Southern Europe gave an
irrefutable proof OF its genuine value
20 the commonwealth. over 10000
boys OF foreign birth went TO France
with the American EXpedltlonary
Forces. The 3J millions Of foreign birth
and parentage remaining In the United
States gave remarkable assistance to
the government by subscribing to the
Liberty Loans, contributing to the Red
Cross and working faithfully in the
munition factories.
This unexpected and extraordinary
situation worked a remarkable change
OF sent ment in this country. The inn
migrant, owing to the uncertainties
OF the Old World and the higher wages
earned during the war period, has be-
come a permanent factor in American
life. The native-bOrn. by closer con-
tact with the foreign born in the mu-
milton factories, cantonments and the
trenches. has come to a better under
standing of the stranger within our
gates. The old restrictiOnists have
come TO a realization that there is no
immigration TO restrict, since European
governments themselves will probably
restrict emigration Hence the con
sciousness Of converting the residential
foreign human material into full fledg-
ed Americans has crystallized into con-
crete movements throughout the coun-
try. The Secretary Of the Interior has
pointed out the necessity Of absorbing
and assimilating the foreign-born as
the greatest opportunity OF this COM
monwealth and as a natural bi-prOducl
Of the war AmericanlzatiOn societies
have risen in every State and the sem
timent has gone so far that the Federal
and State authorities have come to the
conclusion that they themselves should
undertake this monumental work in
stead OF leaving It TO private charity.
on March 6, 1919. in the House Of
Representatives at Dover. speaking as
the chairman OF the racial groups of