The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-05-01
Firing the Melting Pot
by Elvira Jones.

,... fotiowing is the winning ora
,hs state oratorical CONES,
w a. tho University OF Iulsa Hpl
.''u delivered by Miss Elvira JohIs'
l.,',hier OF Mr.. and Mrs. ,,ias
1aues 1920 South Detroit Ns %
5oncs vas awarded first place IN ,nu
i,r,I contest when she deiea'e" nil,
TIeak. Philip irwin anu ,viisgg
thompson, giving her tne ~ ~ tho
.n'resenting the university III tie
4 ul ',oniest. In that contest shc
= 20. first place over the representa-
W. ~, oklahoma university a.
,'.,,,,1 and the Baptist university
at shawnee
MI. ereatest gift that God has
o.,o, man Is tho birthright oil iree-
a., Man chooses his own acuons'
.t..,ts his own thoughts, ives ms
, ufe As long as he does nol
O".,arh upon the liberties OF ms
'n'.,. man he is free. There is no
49,. v,here he cannot go II ne
PSrosos f.r the gates OF the Worid
-. been thrown open. No couh, /,
% ,v,ends a warmer welcome anu
gIadder hand to all peoples tnah
- nur own United states. we
acc known as the land or oppor
,ar.tv," the land Of plenty ana
,f,ge thousands. even millions OF
fnraign peoples have peacetuily IN
a ,,1ed our shores we nave pecu
Nttrmed the Melting Pot Oh tne
world. Tho fact that there are nioie
lows In one American Guy tha,
,,nro arc Danes in Denmark ana
e, tbere are more Italians in that
.,re city than there are ltallans III
Rome becomes more thah Ihere
p,.s.ing interest to us.
When we speak OF immigrants wo
4, not think of those Immigrants
,,bo have truly become American
,,.d hut those who either act indil-
f,rent or contrary 10 the interests
and ideals Of our country. Those
who uphold the sacred patriotism OF
America are extended warm hano
of motherhood. Those who by the
grange hand of fate have been
,ossed into this vast melting pot but
have not been melted sufficiently
mat they can be melted into a high
Y tvpe OF citizen, present US
with most tremendous prop
lem, Shall we let the FIRE
of patriotism go out unuer
tho pot or shall we build one so hiBh
that all who may fall into its vast
ness may be transformed into
working part of our organization
. The Group Instinct.
When one leaves his own native
! country there must be stronger
Sorres calling him away than the
ones which would hold him back
From investigation we find that the
immigrant comes to US either to sat
is(y his love Of adventure, to es-
cape the laws OF his country, TO aio
himself economically or financially
or 10 answer the calling OF friends
and loved ones who have already
penetrated the shores OF our coun'
try. Consequently, when he arrives
he naturally goes to the settlements
Of his own race. Here he is utterly
disappointed in his expectation o.
America and her people. He finds
strange, unexpected and inconsistent
conditions. In reality he has come
in contact with neither America MOI
Americans but those whom the melt
ing pot has merely heated but no
melted into American manhood.
The settlements OF these people
are the breeding places of seditiou'
propaganda, social unrest and eco
nOtllC evil. 10 IedCn lHtst ptOpi'
We must pierce into the hearts o.
these settlements and establish
American ideals and American pa
! tr!otism.
- We realize that no man is able tt
pNleave his own country and enter on
l@wlth different environment, differ
y ent dress, different customs, differ
ent work, different language ant
different ideals and becom'
changed in a day. The change mus
be gradual ana due 10 some exter
nal stimuli, owing TO the fact tina
the immigrant continues to liv'
among his own people and has yer!
little contact with Americans.
The home countries OF these .peo
pie are aiding them to exist in ou
country, but merely TO exist. Their
are national societies Of nearl!
every foreign land in America, tn
Italians, Jews, Danes and Poles hav
ing the largest. Upon arrival the i'm
migrant comes to these societies an,
they provide him with labor and in
iorm him concerning the Location
OF the settlement OF his race. Thes
foreign organizations also keep tn
immigrant posted about his home
and and ideas and criticisms o
America. They aid him in ever!
rAty possible without making him a.