The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-09
CLERGY APPEAL
FOR EX-GERMANS
Issue Protest Against "Unjust-
Treatment Of Loyal Amer
lean Communities"
IND0RSED BY w. II. TAFT
Tree. However, That Teuton
Language Be Forbidden in
All Primary Schools.

4 r-otes. against what Is termed IAN
unjust and un-American treatment Of
loyal American communities Of foreign
speaking eltisens." especially in the case
o.German church congregations through
out tho country, was made in a state
nient issued yesterday from the offices OF
the religious publicity service OF the
Federal council or Churches OF Christ In
America
Included in the statement 4, n Ie,ter
on the subject from ex-President Taft
and an extended presentation of condi.
tons by the Committee OF the General
: War Time Council OF the Churches
which IS composed Of the Rev. DR.. Rob-
en- <. Speer, chairman the Rev. William
Adams Brown and the Rev. Dr. HENRI
A. Atkinson. Instances are noted where
especially in the middle West. CLERGY
and priests, 1t is reported. have been for.
hidden 70 administer the sacrament" ana
one case where "a church was b1rned
down, the women of the congregation
with difficulty rescuing their service fas
Which they then hung up over the smok-
Ing ruins
Views OF Mr.. Taft.
10 the Rev. DR.. Atkinson and ia as
follows:
II have your letter in respect 10 thu
German churches. That at present IL a
very serious difficulty. a difficulty which
mink Is enhanced by extreme measures
directed to the forbldding Of worship in
German In German churches. This IL
III advised. I strongly favor the excIu-
zion OF German from the public primary
schools l think the State Governments
should require that general primary edu.
eaton should he given to children In
English. and that they should supervise
education In private. Lutheran or other
~rochial schools by law forbidd!nc
general education in primary schools in
arv lansuaee but English
NWo should prepare the children of
those who come from another country,
speaking a language different from our
own. 10 become American citizens. with
,l!l understanding of the Constitution
unt laws OF this country and OF our free
institutions. They cannot acquire srjch
an understanding unless they know the
English language The furnishing OF an
opportunity to learn German In second
my schools. l think. should continue for
hose VINO need the language in the pur-
Euit Of their studies
Blamcs Extreme Patriots.
"One OF the e:fficulties In a situation
IKE the present is that men by their
extreme and unreasonable opinions seek
70 earn a reputation for patriotism that
hey don't deserve, and TO put In the
rnpatriotic class men who are Just as
strongly American a s they because they
do not 20 the length o: their hysterical
proposals"
The General War Time Commission In
its supplementary statement deplores the
Indifference OF German immigrants and
others toward learning our language. but
adds that many Of these groups have
,7"en among Our most loyal citizens
The commission urges II broad policy
~ Americanizatlon, energetically carried
out in order TO bring the foreign born
;ere into sympathetic relationship win
American standards and institutions.
I'VE emphasize" the statement OF the
commission continues, the necessity o.
the use Of the English language through.
out the country as the language of com.
tnerce. social intercourse and religious
worship. The education in all schools il
the United States should be In the Eng
llsh language"