The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-12
PREPARING ALIENS
FOR CITIZENSHIP
SECRETARY OF LABOR DAVIS HAS
COME FORWARD WITH CON-
PREHENSlvE PLAN.
TO COMBAT RED PROPAGANDA
Has In Mind the Establishment of a
Broad Educational System-Need
for National Archives Building
Capital as Convention City.
By EDWARD B. CLARK

BY EDWARD B. CLARK
Washington.-lt has recently been
pointed out hat this country has let
the alien wcom roam about the
country to find u job and find u home,
and to become q citizen pretty much
without help or guidance. He came
over here in the steerage and he needs
steerage still. He is still a 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 a 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 1t is
only to protect them from the insidlous
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-not
In order to spy upon him, but only to
De sure of his safety, so that we can
reach him to teach him. Just as Amer
can citizens pay a poll tax for the
privilege of voting, Secretary Davis be-
!ieves 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-
Dartment of Labor, he estimates, with
funds sufficient for the upkeep of n
broad educational system, such as he
has in mind-to run our schools rs
schools Of citizenship for these older
children.
Seeks Bureau of Recreation.
One of the most effective ways Of
making citizenship attractive to all, t.
newcomer and to old-timer, broadens
out of his plan of registry and revenue
He is going to ask congress to give hin
authority to set up a bureau of recrea
ton for all America. He intends Thu
bureau to be dedicated to the PROPOSE
ton that recreation Is the big brothel
of education"
That bureau should be shaped, &C
Tprlfnu tn hic vision cnZuGH tn hrin.
wholesome and healthful amusemen
into the lives of Il people. AS sooI
as times improve he intends to pusl
practical plans toward hat end. Sucl
q bureau of recreation would natural,
belong under the wing of the Depart
ment of Labor, because the grea
ranks Of the American people are thu
been dull enough, and he knows al
this, because he, as an immigrant
worked as puddler in the iron and stee
mills.
Secretary Davis quotes his frient
John Golden of New York, the promi
nent theatrical producer:
"This bureau would grasp with 1t!
hlllulyy cINOul uSiuS ulIuS cNclt DOS
sible recreative movement of the av
erage people. Its powerful and wise OPP
erations cannot help but make for bet
ter citizenship and a happier people.
Need for Archives Building.
The long-admitted necessity for
national archives building, to hous,
the priceless historical records of thu
United States government, which nov
are scattered throughout the various
government departments, and storet
In both government-owned and rented
buildings, where there is a grave fir,
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 foI
more than a decade.
William Howard Taft, the presen'
chief justice, when he was Presidenf
sent to congress a message in 191.
%stressing 1.-THE necessity for the cree
ton of a building to contain the pub
lie archives" AS Chief Executive ht
impressed upon congress that "tht
unsatisfactory distribution of rec
ords, the lack of any proper index OF
guide to their contents, is well known
to those familiar to the needs OF
the government in this capital" Will
this message he transmitted to con
gress correspondence he had had will
Prof. j. Franklin jameson, director
of the department of historical re
search of the Carnegie institution Of
Washington, 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 tc
the attention of the President and con
gress.
Representative Simeon d. Fess OF
Ohio, chairman of the house com.
mittee on education, recognized as
one of the greatest students of his
tory and political science and gov
ernmental research in this country
six years ago delivered an extensive
address in the house, setting forth
the Importance of early action to safe
ORIGINALLY CHURCH PROPERTY