Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-12
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bulletin)

Washington D. C., Nov. 11th.-The bill for compulsory education of aliens as outlined by the senators on their re- turn from the steel strike regions will come up for consideration at an early date. It provides for cooperative educational work for aliens by federal and state funds on a fifty fifty basis. The senate committee on education and labor is more than ever convinced that ignorance. of the American spirit and language is the basis of much of
 the present labor agitation, as has been
 said before, one of the most impressive 1 instances of their trip was a conmun- | ity which they visited where they found a population of 2S.e10 of whom | 20006 could4nct speak or read the
 English language. Also that 90 per cent. of the strikers could not read,
 write or speak English. The proposed l legislation will make it compulsory for aliens between the ages of IS and 45
 to attend courses of instruction to be 1 approved by the secretary of the in-
 terior under whose charge the alien
 education measure Vi De carried out.
 Senator Kenyon; ciiair1Haa of the com mittee believes still further protection
 should be offered aliens from boIshe- vik and other incendiary appeals He
 will, in the near future introduce a bill requiring newspapers and other Iitera- ture in any foreign language p1blshed
 in this country to run parallel column of the English translation, so ana chistic bolshevik or other un=Ansfi- can propaganda could not be circulated
 in those publications, without detee- tion. The alien education bill is the first bill ever introduced to make com pulsory the education of adults But the senators are convinced, from their
 recent close w-point, that except foreigners can read and understand
 American principles they cannot be
 easy made desirable citizens and fall
 an easy prey to radicalism.
 Senator Mclean has been an active
 worker in behalf of the proposed meas
 ure. Notwithstanding the long hear- ing of the committee on banking and
 currency, of which he is charman. Mir.
 Mclean attended the night sessions of
 the education and labor committee, of
 which he is member and took a
 leading part in framing the bill.
 Commenting on the proposed com
 pulsory education clause of the bill
 Mir. Mclean said today:-"We did not
 put in the clause deporting persons
 who do not conform, because the ina
 migration committee has a bill before
 congress providing for that feature IL
 seems to me however, that persons who have. been here five years and ; don't care enough to learn the langu- , age ought to go somewhere else. and
 believe there should be a suitable de-
 portation act provided. A large per cent of our foreign population have no idea of remaining here they want to
 earn what money they can and then go back to their native country. These
 people are likely to cause considerable
 trouble and it is important, in my
 mind that they decalre their intention
 Of becoming citizens, and if they do not do so, then they ought to go home believe many of them. would stay and s become good citizens if they learned } our language and realized what Am erica stands for. Anarchistic litera-
 ture is largely in foreign language
 and such people read that and are moi 2 brought in contact with Americans oI catch the. American spirit as they would do if they could read and spesi . or understand the English language l This applies especially to adults. a: s children are cared for under our schoo 5 laws. In such compulsory education 1t is only. necessary to learn the rudi. , ments. and be able to understand What Is said. In Connecticut wherever there have been night schools fol 2 foreigners 1t is astonishing how quick ' ly the adults learn to read and speal t English sufficiently to know what i soining on, and to make their want known. An they have shown great in Il terest in learning"
 0 When Senator Hitchcock returne, o from his brief visit to the white house . few days ago. where he for the frs time saw the president since he wa striken more than six weeks ago. h made it very evident to the men witt e whom he talked, that the president i r still very sick man. He graphical,
 described how the president was boi f stered up in bed on pillows with an in ~ ] verted chair placed behind him to gfv y additional support, and the now fam | ous 'old grey sweater thrown ove - his shoulders. Mir. Hitchcock. said tn = presidents face showed marked evi 3 dence of his long illness and it wa o also made clear to the men with whor if he talked that MT. Hitchcock refrain - ed from going into anyFdetails of tn V status Of the league of nations wit y the president. merely obtaining presi d dential eoncent to do the best that h
 could and also getting a brief and gen n eral presidential sanction of what h e had already accomplished. As a re ,o suits of the freedom of action give
 Mr. Hitchcock by the white house an
 treaty will. now step, lively" on ii < course through the senate. unless tn e unforeseen happens.
 ~ The republicans are now soiidiy UT H ited on the main points of reserve Se tions, except Senator McComber wll
 occupies an isolated position on a
 Island of mild reservation, and who
 this moment hasn't even a Man F.r
 6QV Roey him still too early to predict the final oi ip come. Changes may occur in u
 twinkfing of an eye and j sudden fin: vote is among the possibilities. Recall D. ing the Constitution of the Unite Is States makes provision for the vic, or president to act in the place of u
 president whenever inability of u
 president to act occurs. but that I ,a provision is made as to how that il " ability may be determined. which h. ,o caused considerable embarassmei IS during President Wilson's long absen n- and illness the senate is now dete
 mined on'such lapse shall occur in u
 league of nations, should the Unit. h. States want power to withdraw fro F the league and a safety requirerne Tr clause is certainto be incorporated Ii the ratification. sgs
 Perhaps ne better illustration
 what the United States is facing in tl
 way of religious and racial differenc oh by the adoption of league of, natio ve can be found than in an amendne re and it's rejection which occurred CT the senate a few days ago. Senat
 Sherman called attention to the ia
 that nowhere in the treaty as su or mitted by the president does the nal a of the Deity appear and asked tn
 there be inserted in the preamble t 'se words invoke the gracious favor TO Almighty God.p The amendment v
 rejected on the ground that a major;