La libera parola. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1918-1969, 1920-04-04
A PHILADELPHIA, PA.
ITALIAN SOCIETY OF THE
JEFFERSON COLLEGE


JEFFERSON COLLEGE
Dall'avvocato G. Theo. Maiorielo
ci vicnc recapitato, con preghiera di
qualifications, il seguente ordine del
giorno:
"To The Honorable Senator SHEDS,
of Tennessee, Washington, D. c.
SIR
You have been quoted by the
newspapers OF the Nation and in
particular by the New York Tribune
and the Philadelphia Bulletin as
having attributed to certain peo-
pie living on the shores OF the Adria-
tic the name of "Dagoes' This OBJ
scure and doubtful designation was
soon illuminated by the fact that
the Congressional Record OF your
ready wit and merry Jest soon sub
F stitutcd the proper adjective 'lta-
/ lians" in its stead.
Our sarcastic English poet Pope
used to say "Adhibenda est in jo-
cando modcratio" - Gentle dull
ness ever loves joker
1T may be that you do not care
for gross distinctions between words
and that YOU are inclined to speak
the word readiest for the tongue
or that you do not care for the best
usage. We leave YOU to decide how
keen your discrimination has been
Tor good English usage and merely
call your attention to the consensus
of opinion crystallizcd in that change
which has been affected in the Con-
| grcssional Record. Any good die
tionary, such as | hope you possess
would have told YOU the same with
ont Kicking up so much dust!
Unless the repres entativcs OF Tho
American Nation, including those
who represent the honored State O
Tennessee. do not believe these day
the glorious traditions of the Unite'
States, a Senator, such as you are
, is commonly supposed to have assi.
inflated a fairly large degree OF cul
ture and TO be old enough to hav
developed a heartfelt sympathy, TO
an honest and industrious peopl
} that has never ceased to look wit
, friendly eyes upon America, disco
- vcrcd by a "DaEo' pardon us, a
"nalidu'. and named after anothc
q "DaEo", pardon us, another 'ltalian
! To succr patronizingly at such
J people with the contemplate word G
- "Dagocs' shows neither culture nc
. sympathy. but the exact opposite
We arc forced to conclude, therefor
= that the intent with which the wor
% was used was not altogether we
D meaning if not quite malicious.
J, "Nor have we any doubt that yo
r. have by this time received protcs'
from fair minded interested Amer
- cans who read and think. and esp
i .ciallv from those many loyal Ann
a rican citizens OF Italian eNtractIc
II who still nourish a sentimental atte
il tion for the land of their dear fathe
D. and mothers Such is the privilcl
- OF the human heart that it is ha
el TO uproot that feeling OF attectio
:. The insult logically falls upon
al Americans who are most direct
r. affected by the known blind natl
c, nalistic preiudces fostercd in t
mob by such men as Senator Shiel
= of Tennessee.
ie your Honor should be hearth
!, ashamed OF this unpleasant businC
~ il only for the following reasons
- II. - Such public behavior in yo
a official capacity did you no good, i
gained no good private or pub
~, purpose, but rather has created
.el necessary resentment among TIN
q million inhabitants OF the Unit
!, States and among these same ei
= mics. perhaps, who will find IT h;
D. to forget. You certainly wasted y'
precious time and talents and pa
W ned the future for a mess OF potta
S. the exercise OF your untortun
wit.