Arizona republican., 1922-02-27

to the next annual conference of the
Western states.
submit herewith for the consid-
Grafton of every citizen in the state
of Arizona who is interested in the
uplift and Ainericanization of our
illiterates the resolutions as adopted
by our conference in san Francisco.
Very truly yours,
ARNOLDAS H. MCCLURE.
Yuma, Ariz., Feb. 18, 1922.
Report Of Resolutions Committee
At the conclusion of this session or
the illiteracy conference of the Vest
ern states. held under the auspices of
the illiteracy commission of the Ma
tional Education association, and
composed OF representative leaders
and administrators in education and
in civic, political and welfare organl-
cations from the states OF Arizona,
California, Idaho, Montana. Nevada,
New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washing
ton and Wyoming, your committee
on resolutions begs leave to submit
for your earnest consideration and
endorsement the following statement
of principles and proposals:
knowing as we do from we'll at
tested facts which have been scien-
tifically studied throughout the ma
tion over a period Of several years,
particularly since our participation in
the world war, the great menace that
illiteracy is to health, morals, reh-
gion, commercial and industrial prog
ress, and the very safety of the ma
ton itself both in peace and war. and
knowing as we do that it is wholly
unnecessary as is evidenced by its
approximate elimination by other
civilized nations, we declare il to be
nothing less than an inexcusable
handicap and a national disgrace,
under the blighting influences Of
which we are no longer willing to
live and work. We therefore pledge
ourselves to the prompt elimination,
the entire wiping out, Of every evil
dence OF illiteracy on the part of
every person within our nation whose
mental capacity renders him edu-
cable in the essentials of literacy.
In keeping with the above object
i've and definite determination. we
earnestly recommend and urge:
That the responsibility for the IL
literacy of the people shall be recog-
nized definitely by those responsible
governmentally and educationally as
a problem to be borne Jointly from
financial standpoints by local COM
munities. state wide effort. and ma
tional support, and that ways must
be found to distribute the burden
equitably. Because the baneful in
fluences OF illiteracy are felt beyond
any local community where it exists,
extending its insidious and danag-
~ = x,~~l- In etc
and nation, it should not be a mere
local community responsibility. Often
the largest problem in combating il
literacy exists, due to the presence of
large numbers of recent immigrants
in those communities possessing the
least possibility Of raising adequate
public funds to set UP ways and
means successfully to eliminate it.
This problem therefore should be
generously supported from state
funds and likewise from national
funds. In furtherance of this end
we, therefore, urge the immediate
enactment into law by the congress
Of the United States provisions
whereby funds from the national
government shall be provided to COM
bat this insidious weakness so wide
spread throughout our nation to the
ieAl6IlL UIOflueQ IOI al Lie .JOW14UA
Sterling bill now pending before ytht
congress of The United States. Like
wise we pledge ourselves to use our
influence Immediately and deter
minedly in the states and commune
ties represented here to secure such
legislation and action as is necessary
promptly to get up ways and means
needful TO accomplish speedily the
detectives set forth above
AS further practical means TO the
achievement of the above ends, we
urge the enactment of legislation on
the part of the United States gov
ernment which shall provide definite
and thoroughly adequate education
for the Indian population in the Uni
ted States and which shall limit inn
migration to those persons only who
are evidently literate and who are
likewise mentally capable Of contin-
ued educational growth.
We urge, also, the determination in
joint conference on the part Of all
agencies concerned in every com
munity of the ways and means which
shall be employed whereby they may
supplement each others efforts, and
the working on the part of these
agencies in close CO. operation with
the JUICES in our courts who have to
do with the comforting of citizenship
upon foreign immigrants to the end
that the judge may be willing to set
up as one of the requirements for
citizenship papers the employment
by each candidate for citizenship in
thoroughgoing and satisfactory ways
of established agencies for insuring
both attainment in mere literacy and
in American ideals.
We urge. also, the unrestricted use
of the public schools plant through
out any portion of the "a hours of
each of the six working days OF the
week on the part of all responsible
agencies in furtherance of the ac-
complishment of the above ends. and
in keeping Herewith we urge the
provision of all types of work and
of the use of all possible approaches
which have proven effective in reach