Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-19
AMER|CAN|zAT|0N
KEYNOTE SOUNDED
At D. A. R. OPENING
Mrs. Guernsey Addresses Ini-
tiaI Session of Largest Con-
greSS Ever Convened,

Before the largest continental con-
gress Of the Daughters Of the Ameri-
can Revolution ever assembled, Mrs.
George Thacher Guernsey. retiring
president general Of the society, to-
day called on the descendants Of the
carly American patriots to redouble
their efforts in AmericanizinE the
foreign population OF the country.
particularly the foreign women. and
arraigned in virile terms all those
who accept the advantages Of this
country without practicing its ideals.
The address Of the president general
was the principal feature of the
morning program. and this afternoon
her annual report opened the second
session OF tho congress-. 1t was fol-
lowed by the reports Of the other ma
ttona officers.
Opening II Impressive.
Lacking somewhat In the political
interest that has marked other meet
inss where president general OF
the society was to be elected, the
gathering today showed no abatement
OF enthusiasm, and the auditorium In
Memorial Continental Hall presented
2 most colorful picture when Mrs
Guernsey entered to open the con-
gress. preceded by 140 young woman
ply dressed in blue and white. The
stage was banked with roses and
palms, the stage seats being occupied
by the national officers and the twen-
ty-one vice presidents general, their
black gowns contrasting with their
medals and insignia of Office.
Mrs. George Maynard Minor of Con-
nAcfiNvYf whnaa pA{6arv fop fha
president generalship is unopposed
occupied a seat near the stage in the
section reserved for former national
|ofhcers of the society, she having serv-
ed two terms as vice president gen.
eral.
tions this year centers in the selection
OF seven vice presidents general from
list Of thirteen avowed candidates
Nominations for all national Offices
will be made Wednesday evening. and
the balloting will take place Thurs.
day: Mrs. Minor has expressed nc
choice for the ONCE Of vice president
general and has announced she will
serve with the officers chosen by the
congress.
Secretary Colby to Speak.
Secretary Of State Bainbridge Cobb,
will address the congress at its ses.
sion In the big hall this evening, fol.
lowing Representative Porter H. DALE
Of Vermont The invocation and bene.
Mcdowell. Musical numbers will in
clude an overture by the Marine Bant
and tenor solos by Martin Richardson
Assembly" sounded by Arthur S
Witcomb Of the Marine Band. short.
" sftsr. 70 o.elsck this morning. We
pss.s as ga the the sors.s:s so.sss Ss Sl.ys, ss
Onward. Christian soIdiers the ma
| tional ofncera filed in and took, thefl
eeats on the platform. Mrs. auefnee,
Immediately took the gAvel and de.
ciared the congress in session.
The meeting Of Mary with the riser
Savior. al told In the gospel Of st
John. was read by Miss Elizabeth r
Pierce. after which she asked 4 di.
vine blessing on the proceedings OF
| the congress. She was followed b,
William Tyler Page. clerk of the
House Of Representatives., who re-
cited the Americans Creed of which
he is the author. first alone and theu
In unison with the delegates.
Mrs. ssahferd Wins Applause.
Recitation OF an apostrobhe to the
flag by Mrs. Maria L. Sanford, pro
fessor emeritus of the University OF
Minnesota, was one OF the most dra-
matte events on the program, the
aged woman, a veteran member OF
the society, winning SO much ap-
plause that the president general wal
der. America" was then sung by the
entire assembly. and Mrs. Guernsey
began reading her address.
Greetings from Poland. and a briet
recital of the fight that restored
country is making to preserve the in-
the congress by Princess Lubomirski
The report OF the committee on cre-
dentials was made by Mrs Robert J.
Johnston and that Of the committee
on program by Mrs. Charles A. Aull
Presentation by tho New York chap
Donald Mclean. former president gen.
eral Of the society. closed the morn
ing session Of the congress.
More Dimcult Than Imsxinea.
In beginning her annual address,
Mrs Guernsey said that 1t is not SO
simple as sometimes thought to
transform foreigner into an Amer
lean. and to Americanize him is some.
thing more than to teach him Eng
lish.
Many foreigners speak English be-
fore coming here," the president gen.
eral continued. "A man from the
British Isles may speak the purest
London cockney and never In all the
years of his residence here come to
Glory than the union jack. We have
thousands Of Irishmen here who speak
our language with a degree Of in
telligibleness, whose hearts are so
full Of love for 'ould Ireland and
hatred for old England that there is
no room left for any sort OF senti-
ment for America other than a pur-
pose to exploit her in the interest of
that part Of the Green Isle which
gave him birth.
'The Same Old Nuty,
ITO transform an alien into an
American citizen is something more
complicated than giving the man a
new suit OF clothes. or the woman a
hat instead of her flaming kerchief
man wore an American hat on a Rus
sian head for twenty years, and the
other day sailed back home against
her will, still wearing an American
hat over her unaltered foreign head
A new shell, but the same old nut!
foreigner Jews who forsake their
synagogues and the foreign Roman
Catholics who repudiate the church.
The destructive forces at work in
America today are not found among
those foreigners who prove loyal to
and Catholics turned infidel consti-
tute the menace to all that is best
in our social. Industrial and civic
life.
"The abandonment Of ones old faith
il no guarantee that the foreigner IL
thereby to become at once an Ameri-
can.
Must Preserve Race Assets.
I've will make a serious mistake IL
ve assume that the Americanixation
process, whether it involves the men or
tho women, undertakes to destroy those
vast treasures Of racial assets which,
under careful nurture and direction,
would become invaluable assets in the