The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-03-26
TEACH ENGLISH, FIRST AIM.
Foreign Language Press Drawback,
6aptlsts Plan Big Share In
Movement,

Five per cent of the foreign Ian
guage press advocates the bullet rather
than the ballot for bringing about
changes that its following desire. Ftf-
teen per cent is Socialist and urges the
ballot as the sufficient method of
changing economic and political condi-
tions which Its readers oppose."-Fig.
ufes given out by the American Ass0.
citation of Foreign Language NewsPa-
pers.
There were 100000 adult aliens In
the United States in 1918, whose read.
Ing was chiefly foreign language news
papers Figures In a survey made as
part of the New World Movement Of
Northern Baptists.
Efforts to spread the understanding
OF our language and the ability to use
II, to define our social, political and In
dustrial Ideas and ideals, to urge the
acceptance of these Ideas and of the
United States as a home and to help
develop the willingness to sacrifice for
Americas ideals are being undertaken
today by government and other agen-
cies. In this big task the Northern
Baptist Convention plans to take an
increased part.
The need Of vigorous action along
these lines Is perhaps best shown In
the words of John Reed, Bolshevisr
writer and organizer, who In New York
on April Z, 1919, urged the Bolshevists /:
Never mind the old men nor the
middle age men. And don't pay atten-
tfon TO the American citizen. Get the
immigrant. Get them at the impress
sionahle ages OF sixteen to twenty-five.
| Get them all. Organize them and teach
| them as you organize
This outspoken advice has stirred
| Church and government to renewed acS
tivity. The former is Interested that
| this shall be carried out In keeping
with Christian principles. And the
New World Movement of Northern
| Baptists plans to train workers, both
lay and clerical, for work with certain
| races, as well as to train the rank and
| file of church members to better un-
4 derstanding of the foreign born" Aea
| Of the Baptist Church, the New World
Movement leaders urge, have Chris
| tian duty to assist In bettering hytns
! conditions of foreigners, to improv'
factory conditions and to prevent th'
Immigrant from being exploited. The,
! are also urged to help enlarge sseial
educational, civic and religious oppor
tunities of the newcomer. Women o
Baptist churches are urged TO cultivate
personal friendships with individual
foreign born women. Children are De
i ing taught to make friends OF the Gull
dren of foreign born families.
. Work among New Americans
specifically planned In the reports o.
the various state conventions OF tn'
Baptist Church. Eleven nationaiitie'
win be brought into contact with I'M
plans as outlined In the reports OF th'
] state conventions of Maine, hassaehu
i. setts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, NeS
York, New Jersey, wisconsin, ehio, Id
diana, Illinois, Minnesota, Coleraae
Idaho, Arizona, Washington, OreSei
and California. These nationallties In
elude French, Russians, Poles, Italians
Roumanians, Hungarians, Slopaks
4 Mexicans, Japanese, Chinese and Sean
: dinavians.
i Twelve city mission societies, haVih
j a standard form of organization an
operating in the larger cities. VIII .
broadened In scope and mere such "
cial, educational and religious center
established as the present New worn
Movement plans are put into erect