The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1920-03-10
legion Assists in
AmeriCal1izatiOn
A COMPLETE PROGRAM OUTLIN-
ED TOWARDS PROMOTING
GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

Members of the American Legion
throughout the country have been call
ed upon by Arthur Woods, Chairman
of the National Commission Of the
American Legion to submit defini-
tion of "Americanism."
'In order to be as strong and help
full as possible, this definition should
embody tho ideas of broad and re-
preventative group of members of the
Legion" said Mr.. Woods. can effort
on the part of our million members
to define the tarm 100 per cent AM
ericanism' would greatly help in
adopting such definition.
AT the recent meeting of the
Commission in Indianapolis it was de-
cided that the Commission should try
to define the term SO as to make clear
both to members of the Legion and to
others exactly what it is that the Am-
erican Legion has pledged itself to
defend and support. We feel that "a
great deal of good might be accon,
plished generally if we can adopt y
definition of this term.
"The Americanism work of the
Commission as well as that of Legion
posts in many places has been carried
on most effectively. One post has Sc
cured the active cooperation of the
local labor unions in the Americanism
work being undertaken by the Legion.
By outlining to the labor leaders the
Legion's Americansm program, not
only was their active support secured
but a better understanding of each
other resulted among members of the
two organizations, who found they
were working in entire accord. Anoth-
er post had effected an organization
of most of the patriotic men and we-
men in the community as sort of
AUXILIARY to the Legion in its Ameri-
canism work.
Persons familiar with conditions
tell us that one of the greatest Ameri-
canism problems exists in the small
mining towns where SO many foreign
born are congregatad. In order to
| learn how conditions can be improved,
lit is necessary to make careful study
of these towns, and no organization is
better to do this than the American
Legion"
The Commission has sent out ques-
tionnaires to posts in the mining
some ex-service men will be asked tc
| fleip SupthV GHe liiloEtidItoH. AiiiOiiS
the questions asked are the following
What local organizations are doing
work among the foreign-born? Ir
what ways do they work and witt
what success? What opportunitie;
have the foreign-born to learn about
America, its opportunities for educa
tion, learning trades and betterinf
their conditions Does any one eN
plain to them the advantages of be
looming naturalizad citizens? Ar
there any night schools where adult
can learn English? What opportuni
Ity do the foreign born have to NEE
native Americans? Where do the.
, meet to get acquainted outside of tn
JOB? Do the mine owners or tn
churches provide any meeting places
such as community houses or paris
: halls? What kind of deal have th
. foreign-ho in your town had sim
thcy have been in America? How d
: they feel about America? What ca
: be done to give them a square dee
if they have not received one? y
the working and living conditions dis
criminate against the foreigner ar
make him receptive to preachers G
: violence? Housing and neighborhoo
conditions should be studied befof
answering this question. In what wa
4 do you think the American Legion ca
: best promote Americanism work {
Imong the foreign-born.