The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-04-16
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@MMAMo LulSl, only QlInIy cOmpfeHeHueu,
but a felIow-workman passed the message along
in Italian. Good supper good music good time"
those three phrases danced through his mind
all the afternoon AT the close of the days work
he made his way to the restaurant designed by
engineers to serve a million meals year. Crowds
of men were surging through the doors and he
pushed his way i'll and to seat his black eyes
shining with expectation.
Yes; there was music to set Lugi'S blood ting
ling, and his feet tapping the floor, for the band
was sending out it's most spirited strains. And
as for the supper-nOt once since he had been on
American soil had Luigi so enjoyed a repast. He
glanced over at Casimir, his Polish neighbOr,
whose face was lighted with smiles.
Then keen-eyed, pleasant-faced man mounted
a platform, and whisper, followed by a hush.
ran about the assembly, for the speaker was Mr..
Emmons, vice president and general manager of
the company. He spoke with such goodwill that
Luigi caught the spirit of his message if not
the actual meaning. To his delight, Father Ney-
roz of Luigis own nationality, stepped forward
with an Interpretation of Mr.. Emmons' words In
Italian, and a Polish priest also interpreted like
WISE Luigi and Casimir listened eagerly and
joined in the applause and cheers.
"We have invited you here tonight" explained
Mr. EmmOns "to tell you about a new American
ization plan We represent many nationaIities
and hope that all of you who have not made this
country the land of your adoption, are thinking
of doing So The company is glad to have you
as its guests at this AmericanzatiOn supper, and
hopes that many of you will be interested in the
work to be undertaken, which will not only teach
YOU something of language, but also teach
YOU our American standards of thought and life
We have much to learn from the nations you rep
resent You are we'll able to teach US many
things.
ave wish, however, to teach you the language
in which all our shop work is done. Several
reasons make it important that you should talk
English. You will be safer in your work and less
liable to accident if you understand all safety
Instructions You will progress faster in your
DEVELOPMENT if you understand better all that is
said from day to day You will enjoy more OF
the shop life if you can share what other men
are talking about
IF this country is now your nome and the home
Of vour children you should know its language,
.shonld possess its citizenship, should obey its
laws. and follow the spirit of its institutions.
az want Won to feel that the company for which
Won work and the executive officers are interested
in baInino Won become Americans of the best kind,
NOT forgetting the lands in which you were born
and tleir languages, but remembering that Amer
ico is now your home and the home of your chill
dren. Your sons fought in the American armies.
MANY of them died for their country. We honor
them for the sacrifice. You may honor them also
nv sharing the citizenship they fought and died
for
~ greet you as Americans OF the 1uture' II NOT
of the nresent, and appreciate your interest in
the meeting"
Tho interpreters then told how Amerlcanza-
t,on secretary had been engaged by the company,
IN devote all his time to the foreign-born workers.
FIRST there was to be instruction in English.
The shop was to be the classroom Regular
classes we're to be organized with sessions each
week The classes were to be graded so that the
beginners might study together, and those more