The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-11

mains a Pole and clings to the
familiar ways all her life.
She does adopt the American
, clothes. The gay national dress
would be too conspicuous. perhaps.
But even If she wished to wear it,
! the shops of the district are full
only of the latest style. So far a
marketing costume, the Polish
woman contents herself with a plain
shirtwaist and skirt, and generally
a shawl.
She does adopt the American
clothes The gay national dress
| would be too conspicuous.
perhaps. But even if she wished to
wear it, the shops of the district
are full only of the latest style. So
for marketing costume. the Polish
woman contents herself with
plain shirtwaist and skirt, and gen
orally a shawl.
Not all the Poles in Buffalo are
OF the working class. There are
many wealthy families and success
full business and professional men.
Three Types Of Poles.
The different Polish types that
Guilty as they gradually absorb
American characteristics are less
adequate in Poland. That is one
difficulty in the Polish situation
now. There are three types Of
Poles developed by the three ma
tons that have ruled the people for
$50 years.
The German Pole has been edu-
Gated along practical lines In des-
perate attempt to make a substan-
tial German citizen of him. Some
35 years ago, laws were made in
Prussian Poland to prohibit moth
ers teaching the Polish language to
their children. Poles could not buy
property nor build homes. A Ger
man who married a Polish woman
was penalized by not being allowed
to buy land, since it was believed
that a Polish wife could quickly
turn a German husband to her own
way of thinking. These restrictions
against their liberty caused many
German Poles to move to this coun-
try.
Strongly as they resisted any
change in the national traits, the
Poles were nodded by the German
rule. They are today perhaps the
most efficient people of their race.
Poles in Austria had a different
experience. The government there
gave them greater personal liberty
and the right to vote. This group
brings to the melting pot in Poland
a knowledge of politics and govern
ment which the republic urgently
needs.
The Russian Pole, the third type,
has the hardest lot of all, and Pol
ish feeling is still strong against
Russia as result. The national
dress, language, literature, were
frowned upon by the Russian gov
eminent. Many of the Russian
Poles went into business where
they were least bothered by the gov
eminent. Half of the products man
in Russia were made in
Russian Poland.
These three groups should be
working together, each bringing its
special knowledge to the problems
of Poland. Unfortunately, they
are having trouble in understanding
one another. And as one Pole ex-
claimed IF ever they needed cohe-
sion, it is now.''
& The Pole in this country studies
affairs in his home country, and
likes to go back for a visit some
times. But he is becoming more
and more Americanized. The large
numbers of Poles who have been
trying to go back recently have no
intent Of staying when they get to
Poland. They are mostly men who
want to go to find their families
who were to have followed them TO
this country long ago 1t is not al
ways easy for them to locate these
relatives after six years of war and
confusion. And when they do locate
them. the immigration laws add TO
the difficulties. 1t is said that after
the monthly quota is filed, hun
dreds of Poles are left still waiting
their chances to come to America.