Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-23
Uncle Sam and characterization.

year the annual budget for furnishing the nee
essary instruction to 5000 would amount to
sS56.c5o. On the above indicated basis of
sliding scale in individual requirements. one
half of this sum, it Is estimated, would furnish
the necessary instruction to every man and
needing it in Washington today. With
the accumulation of ignorance and illiteracy due
to past short-sightedness cleared up once and
for all, the annual cost of maintaining 100 per
cent AmericaniZation in the District would fall
to somewhere in the neiEhborhood of $4,000
x X
These figures are necessarily the toughest
type of estimation Uncle SAM owing to the ma
ture of the problem. But even such they may
interest you. Say $1,000 for providing all
needed Americanizaton instruction in the Dis
trict today. Does that seem excessive? Can
you think of any investment calculated to yield
you more substantial returns in future security
and prosperity than this?
AS matters stand. Americanization work
in the National Capital is utterly unable to
meet the needs of the situation Devoted to
the task which Is theirs: seeing. with clarity
borne of daily contact with existing conditions,
the urgent need of their pupils, the little band
of teachers functoning under the current ap-
preparation works day and night in the task of
carrying the complete significance of the spirit
of America to those who, through inevitable
circumstances have so far Sensed it but vague
ly. In the classrooms, among the groups
they meet and instruct in the hotels, in the
homes of their pupils, the need for broadening
of the field of their effort is before them. Yet
human capacity is limited by strict laws, and
that limit. under existing conditions, has, far
the paid teachers go, long since been reached.
X x x x
So call for volunteers has been made Vol
unteers to go to homes designated by the
schools, and there. with all the sympathy and
understanding and tact they possess, to help
AmericaniZe Washington. The response has
been gratifying-yet there is always need for
more For any citizen of the District, or
: woman, to whom the appreciation Of the
gency of the task in hand is vital thing, the
director Of Americanization classes has work in
plenty. For there can be doubt but that
those who lack complete Americanization social
relationship with 100 per cent Americans is of
even more importance than teaching.
That's how, broadly speaking. matters stand
in the capital of the nation, Uncle Sam. AS you
inquire into the details you will learn that in
the classes adults must be segregated from the
young folk: that the naturalization bureau is
intensely interested and partially dependent
upon Amercanization activities and that there
innumerable complications incident to meet
ing the economic conditions and the inherent
preJudices of the people to be met in spreading
American ideals. You will see, if you will look,
and, seeing, you will understand. And once you
understand, uncle, unless this nephews estimate
of your justice and broad mndedness is all
wrong the forward thrust of the whiskers on
your chin will mean two types of business. And
of these will be that of placing at the dis
posal of all who need it the opportunity to be-
come Americans. through and through. Then
and then only, can YOU in equity. say: You
who not Americans, get OUT"