The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1921-01-19


we are trying to spread the message
that America is not the land OF OPP
portunity only but of reciprocal obli-
CATION as well. But let us see what it
means. You'll, find it quite simple, I
am sure. We feel that America is not
only q. country to which, everybody
must come to get all he can out Of it,
to be, as it were, always a receiver
to be always taking what America
gives and then, to return To his native
country with what he, has boarded in
America, or to live here, Snug, with
out thought or a care as to whether
America is progressing or is becoming
an easy prey to traitors within or foes
without.
/ We feel and we want YOU and every
one else to think of AMERICA as IL
country where each of us is bound to
do his share to give back to America
whatever we can SO as to show that
he appreciates what America has meant
to him and to make it a better. land
for those who, as we did, shall seek
it as haven of rest when weary and
heavy laden.
How are you to do your part? What
is it you can give back to America ?
wonder how many delegates to this
convention are not yet American citi-
zens? l do not like to ask you. but
l do hope that if any of you are not
yet citizens that before you leave. this
convention hall you will have made a
pledge to yourselves that as soon as
you get back to your farm, as soon as
you have returned to your home towns.
that you will at once take steps to-
ward naturalization. If you have not
your first papers, make your appli-
cation without the loss Of an unneces-
sary moment. If you already have
your first papers and have had them
two years you can apply at once for
tyour final citizenship papers, provid-
ing, of course, that you have been III
the United States for five years.
1t certainly seems fundamental,
does it not, to say that America has
the right TO expect you to become II
citizen, partner in the shaping of
its destiny. And when you have been
naturalized your citizenship is not one
whit less potent than that possessed
by the scions of the earliest settlers on
Americas shores. The rights of all
citizens are the same-their obligations
are the same.
Your citizenship will confer upon
you the right to vote, to hold office,
to the protection by our laws Of your
self and your family in whatever part
of the world they may be.
1t seems SO simple and we are now
so used to it that fear you scarcely
realize what remarkable thing that
is-for any citizen in the United States
to have a voice to deciding who shall
make the laws under which he is TO
live, what those laws will be, how
long those laws shall be in effect ana
how long those who govern him shall
be in power.
You have come from foreign lands.
do not believe you need to be re-
minded of the difference in conditions
here and abrOad-differences in op-
portunity for individual play, the OPP
portimity to each person in America
to work out his own salvation after
his own fashion and after his own
ideas. Abroad. if man is IL car
MAINTAIN IN. IN hl, ell smith mr. q, col,hlat
his sou WILL in all likelihood, be II
carpenter or blacksmith or cob
bier. And this is not true alone of
Russia, Poland and Germany, but /
had occasion recently to speak to u
client of mine. a Belgian, who. before
he came to America few years ago
had been banker i'll Antwerp. We
got talking about the liinitless oppor
tllnities for anyone to rise if there is
anything in him which causes him to
get under way. And he said: WHY.
in Belgium, If man Is Il labOrer his
son will be n labOrer, and that sons
son and grandson. If it happens that
u person is clerk in mercantile
establishment the possibility of his
ever becoming head of the concern is
almost beyond the reach of imagina-
ton. And, what is more to the point.
in Europe, man in II groove not
only remains there, but if he fails,
those In the grade in which he had
been Will keep him down. In America,
the man who is down always has an
outstretched hand to raise him up
again"
You must fit yourself for the full
filmcnt of your duties rs Americans
You must learn the. story of Amer