The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1921-05-05
MANY MINUTE
WOMEN AT
MEETING HERE
,.,tou County Women who
worked During War Have
Not Lost Enthusiasm
Rs ELLIS IS THE SPEAKER
49,. Councillor Says Women can do
effective Work in American
ization Movement

vh.t the women of Benton county
M did such effective work in behalf
dae Liberty loans, and other drives
,,,ro the war have lost none of their
.,thusiasm, nor grown Indifferent to
,ssjr organization was attested here
Wednesday, afternoon when seventy |
members Of the Benton County Min
!. Women's association attended the
annual meeting of that organization.
Tv,nty-five Of those in attendance
come from Prosser, Benton City and
Kiona. s..
During the war the state Of Wash
iueton had the distinction Of being
the best organized state in the union
insofar as women's war work was
concerned. No other state had
vomen's organization comparable to
Washington's Minute Women the ac-
tive membership of which extended to
every voting precinct in the state.
Today the Minute Women have the
distinction Of being one of the few war
organizations which has retained it's
identity, held its membership, and
reconstructed it's program to meet
conditions which changed with the ces-
sation Of hostitities. Among the
counties Of the state Benton was sec
ond to organize on a peace time basis.
At yesterdays meeting Mrs. Over
ton G. Ellis, of Tacoma, State Coun-
Glor stressed the necessity for con-
6nued efforts in the Americanization
movement. She called attention to the
fact that in this state 48 per cent of
the population is either foreign-born
or of foreign-born parents; and that
IN no county is the percentage of for
dgn-born less than 25 per cent. In
other words, nearly one-half of the
homes in the state are without Ameri-
can traditions. Admitting that the
need for definite programs Of Ameri-
eanization is greater in the centers of
population, the speaker emphasized the
TACT that there is work to be done in
every county in the state. Not that
the citizens of foreign birth are in any
sense disloyal but in many instances
ney have little or no opportunity to
learn the true significance Of Ameri-
cas- free institutions. .M..
In this connection Mrs. Ellis called
attention to the fact that under the
naturalization laws women of for
agn birth automatically become citi-
'ens along with their husbands with
sut either study or examination. Of
en- these women have little or no
nowledge of the English language
nor OF the fundamentals Of American
soVernment. She pointed out that
nese mothers exert greater influ-
ence over the lives Of the children
snan do the father and not infrequent.
y the family clings to foreign tradi.
uons and customs because the mother
aas been denied an opportunity tt
oecome Americanized. The American
women, Mrs. Ellis said, can do a great
york by seeking out these women ant
cuNivating their friendship.
Inc speaker said the foreigners in
9oduction into American citizenship
Is anything but inspiring. His exam
nation before the judge and the per
iunctory handling him his papers ar
NOT experiences that tend to teacl
patriotism or to impress the applican
with the Importance or value of hi
new citizenship. Through the effort
VI the Minute Women in the large
sisles of the state the granting of cit
,lenshlp papers is made the occasion
LUZ public ceremonial at which tn
nc" citizens are made to feel tina
american citizenship has deepe
'neanlng than the legal right to vot
ano 70 own property. She urged tha
- every county in the state commit
.ees OF Minute Women be organize
tor the purpose of seeing to it ths
sue naturalized foreigned be fittingl
"e'eomed into citizenship by the pei
PIE OF their communities.
mrs. Ellis address was given durin
u. n.e session of a busy day for the Mil
N'e women. At the regular busine:
meeting which was called at II a. r