Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-13
SOLDIERS HEAR
STIRRING FLAG
TALK AT CAMP

DR.. A. Gideon, of New York, repre-
senting the National War Work Coun>
Gil of the Y. NJ. c. A, a member of the
educational staff assigned to the camps
of the Southern department, delivered
a lecture at Souther Field last night
on What Does Your Flag Mean?" The
lecture was given in the "Y' building.
and attended by practically the entire
personnel of men from the flying field.
as we'll as from the Supply depot ad-
joining.
DIR. Gideon's talk was in line with
his special task, which to present to
the soldiers, sailors and marines an
account of the Americanization move
ment as being carried on by the De-
partment of the Interior through the
Bureau of Education at Washington.
He has spent the last four months
among the various camps. This af-
ternoon he left for Columbus where
he speaks tonight at Fl. Benning. Fri
day he will visit the men at Pensacola
The speaker pointed out in his lee
ture last night that the movement
faces in two directions. 1t concerns
the foreigner or the children of the
foreigner who has come here to make
his home among u.s. But it has no
less weighty message for the native
American. IF it is the obligation of
the new citizen to enter fully into the
life and spirit of his adopted country, it
is equally binding upon this republic
to provide conditions that will make
Americanization possible"
The speaker told of the movement
to make genuine Americans of our
citizens from over the seas and stress
ed both the duty of the native born
American to help the new conner to
these shoes to feel and act more at
home and the obligations resting on the
immigrant to assume the burden of
democratic citizenship
DR.. Gideon is a forcefuI speaker,
who has natural eloquence and a
profound culture. He is an alumnus
of the University of Cincinnati and of
Harvard, as well European univer-
sites, where he received his Phi. D.
degree. He was for ten years profess
sor of modern languages in the teach
er's college of Colorado and the Uni
Versity of Wyoming. He has been for
five years the national field repre-
sentative of the simplified spelling
board of America, and an important
part of his work now consists of the
development of spelling reform in con-
junction with the program of Ameri-
canizatiOn, the two hand in hand, ac-
corGing to DR.. GideOn's earnest con-
tentiOn.
I'm order to become thoroughly Am
ericanized our citizens must not only
be educated politically, so that they
can appreciate our institutions and
form of government, they must learn
to exercise their right of suffrage in
manner becoming to citizens of free
republic. The right to vote carries
with it the obligation to vote To ev-
cry privilege there belongs a CORES
ponding duty. Let the new American
beware and let the native citizen also
take heed, lest the subtle force known
as invisible government make so great
Roadway that nothing remains of the
rule of the people. In that case we
might just as well live under the iron
rule of a kaiser, of king, prince or
other potentate."
One of the chief duties of the new
citizen, DR.. Giden pointed out, is to
learn the language of his adopted
country. Opportunities for education
must be extended beyond the school
into the shop, factory, mill and mine.
The new American must not be
forced or expected to give up the Ian
guage of his former home Whoever
commands two languages is that much
better off than he who commands only
one Only narrow minded intolerance
fails to recognize this.
Nor should the native of Ireland,
Italy, France, Russia, Poland or any
other country be compelled to give up
his individuality when he becomes an
American citizen. Democratic Ameri-
ca is grateful for whatever contribu-
ton to her civilization the child of a
foreign country can make.
"a further basis of citizenship in a
genuine democracy" concluded the
speaker, ais a common human stand
ard of living This means a decent
minimum wage, which will enable the
worker and his children to live like
human beings. Such economic con-
4ractc &c ara cnmntinns witnoccndN