The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1920-01-09
LOYALTY DIRECTOR
CALLED uN-AMERlcAN
Minneapolis Instructor Accused by
.sgAmerican" Committee

.ntfiFan' Committee
Minneapolis, Minneapolis
is about to be treated to the novelty Of
| having the director or citizenship in
the public schools investigated for
alleged d:sloyalty.
The so-called Americans commits
tee of Minneapolis, financed by the
sameSnterests that are attacking the
Nonpe rtisan league, is behind he in
vestisation of William r. Ball, the
director of citizenship.
The Minneapolis post of the Ameri-
can Legion is Investigating Mr.. Ball.
Mr.. Ball works in cooperation with
the federal government in giving
aliens, seeking naturalization, neces-
sary education in our form of govern
ment, the Constitution and American
institutions
Probe Ordered
j. w. Olsen of the eAmerican''
committee. former state superinten-
dent OF pubic instruction filed the
latesssscomplaint against Mr. Balls
teaching, and as result the Minnie
apol5s board of education ordered
thorough investigation, Previously
the Ksara of education had investi-
gateelssagl. Balls work and commend.
ed it.s-
In lis complaint to the board of ed
ucatioi1 Olsen says:
M Ball invites these prospective
to become Americans in the
Following language, quoting one Doc
tor Adler: (See page 9, lesson IL
My brother from foreign land, YOU
have fallen into grievous error. You
have imagined that you were coming
here to; enjoy liberty, but as yet there
is only he dawn of it, On page IL.
lesson 1, Mr.. Ball says: Mans whole
life is moulded by his economic en-
Wronment, and this is made by law
is not this manifestly imam rtcan
doctrine? If man is solely the prod
uct of his economic environment. how
is he Influenced by the home, the
scheeer the church?''
The absurdity of the charges
against Mr.: Ball are clearly shown in
a complete quotation from Doctor Fe-
INK Adler of New York, noted author
ana authority on civic welfare:
my brother from foreign land.
you have fallen into a greyicus error
You have imagined that you were
coming here in order to enjoy liberty.
BUT as yet there is only the dawn of
Mt. You are called hither to assist in
the pursuit of liberty which is a di-
vine, elusive thing not to be truly
achieved perhaps for centuries to
come You came here to live in the
house of democracy. But it is your
greater privilege to be one of the
builders. The house of democracy is
still in the process of erection. We. I
Who were here before you, welcome /
you as co-builder This is Americana
zation! Not the language merely, not
the customs merely, not little super
hclal acquaintance with our history,
but the responsibility placed upon
you, the newcomer, to be one of the
builders of the democracy of the fu-
ture. This is naturalization, Ameri-
canism, baptism into the franchise of
democracy"
Criticism Ridiculous
The criticism of Mr.. Balls state
ment, to the effect that man is crea-
ture OF economic environment, is ri B
diculous. EVERYBODY but Olsen knows
this is so. There are exceptions, of
course Exceptional men and women
have been able to rise from the Sums. 4
Economic environment is the result of
aw, which controls the distribution of j
wealth, allows employers to hire chill
1ren any pay them pittance, permits /
exploitation OF human beings and nat
lral resources, prohibits the stealing |
u SUCK OIicandy, but sanctions the
ooting of railroad.
In his criticism of Mr.. Balls Amer I
work, Olsen also denoun- 1
:es the educator for telling the pros i
pective citizens that slavery once ex-
sted in the United States, and for {
quoting Abraham Lincoln's statement I
n opposition to the war with Mexico 6
N 1S45.
Replying to his critics, Mr.. Ball Z
'ays: ,
"My effort has been to interpret ,
America in the highest terms OF both
spirit and intellect. To me America
stands for freedom and opportunity.
Foreigners Critical
The foreigners with whom dealt
ire sometimes we'll read in general
way, somHmes critical Of our insti-
.utdons. We ind no difficulty in dis,
:ussing any Of these criticisms in the