The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-04-13
PREPARING ALIENS
FOR CITIZENSHIP
OF LABOR DAVIS HAS
COME FORWARD WITH COM.
PREHENSiVE PLAN.
TO COMBAT RED PROPAGANDA

~ EUWl0Rl nEU TnUT RQAWUA
Has in Mind the Establishment of a
Broad Educational System-Need
for National Archives Building
Capital as Convention City.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK
Westinghouse has recently been
pointed out that this country has let
the alien newcomer roam about the
country to find a job and find home,
and to become a citizen pretty much
without help or guidance. He came
over here in the steerage and he needs
steerage still. He Is still child in
our ways, with no knowledge of the
immense new privileges he enjoys.
Secretary of Labor Davis wants Uncle
Sam to keep track of that man-not
to regulate him, but to help him, to
teach and encourage him. He wants
Uncle Sam not In the attitude Of II
policeman but of friend, a true uncle.
He wants to see every school in the
country devote its after hours to the
schooling of these prospective and
receptive new citizens. We need to
know how they are forging on as wage
earners and as members of our free
society, he argues. We need to know
the whereabouts of these people If it Is
only to protect them from the insidious
poison of red propaganda, which from
personal knowledge he feels to be an
ever-present danger. We need all the
educational machinery we can organize
to battle this evil influence, Secretary
Davis says.
He would have every immigrant reg
lister, wherever he is, every year-pot
in order to spy upon him, but only to
be sure Of his safety, so that we can
reach him to teach him. Just as Amer
lean citizens pay a poll tax for the
privilege Of voting, Secretary Davis be.
Iieves the new alien should pay a nom.
NAL fee for his certificate of registry.
A very small fee from several million
aliens would amply provide the De.
partment Of Labor, he estimates, with
funds sufficient for the upkeep of "A
broad educational system, such as h.
has In mind-to run our schools as
schools Of citizenship for these older
children.
Seeks Bureau Of Recreation.
One Of the most effective ways Of
making citizenship attractive to all, to
newcomer and to old-timer, broadens
out of his plan of registry and revenue.
He is going to ask congress to give him
authority to set up a bureau of recrea.
ton for all America. he intends this
bureau to be dedicated to the PROPOSE
ton that recreation Is the big brother
Of education"
That bureau should be shaped, &C.
cording to his vision, so as to bring
wholesome and healthful amusement
into the lives Of our people. As soon
as times improve he intends to push
practical plans toward that end. Such
a bureau of recreation would naturally
belong under the wing of the Depart.
ment Of Labor, because the great
ranks of the American people are the
workers, he says. Their lives have
been dull enough, and he knows all
this, because he, as an immigrant,
worked as puddler in the iron and steel
mills.
Secretary Davis quotes his friend
John Golden Of New York, the promi-
nent theatrical producer:
"This bureau would grasp with its
kindly, encouraging arms every pos.
sible recreatlve movement of the av.
erage people. Its powerful and wise op-
erations cannot help but make for bet.
ter citizenship and a happier people"
Need for Archives Building.
The long-admitted necessity for a
national archives building, to house
the priceless historical records of the
United States government, which now
are scattered throughout the various
government departments, and stored
in both government-owned and rented
buildings, where there is a grave fire
hazard, is again urged upon congress,
with the prospect that the present con.
gress will finally act upon this impor.
tant matter, which has been recon.
mended by the highest government |
officials Of both political parties for
more than decade.
William Howard Taft, the present
chief justice, when he was President
sent to congress message in 1912
stressing "the necessity for the erec-
ton Of building to contain the pub
lie archives" As Chief Executive he
impressed upon congress that the
unsatisfactory distribution Of rec.
ords, the lack of any proper index or
guide to their contents, is well known
to those familiar to the needs of |
the government In this capital" With
this message he transmitted to con-
gress correspondence he had had with
Prof. j. Franklin Jameson, director
of the department Of historical re.
search of the Carnegie institution of !
in which Professor Jane
son urged action, as a member of
committee appointed by the execu-
tive council of the American Histori-
cal association, to bring the matter to
the attention of the President and con.
gress.
Representative Simeon D. Fess of
Ohio, chairman of the house com.
mlttee on education, recognized as