The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-13
Tells Americans
To Have Patience
With Immigrants

VERBALLY AarC " tC4Ia ea~AAA N1A4~@
icanisrn," said Rabbi J. L. Baron OF
Temple Emanuel. Davenport, in his
scholarly address before the mem
bers of the civic department OF the
Women's club yesterday afternoon
His subject was The Human AS
pect of immigration" American
ixation cannot be imposed-it Is
proud privilege, title in my esu-
nation, and must come from within
the heart Not by force, nor by
power, but by my spirit.
I'VE need all the agencies, OF
course, in dealing with the immi-
grafton problem and the amalgama-
ton of these foreign-born people
into Americans. But they do not
mean a thing, unless within our
selves there is the spirit. We speak
OF the aliens as radicals-bolshe-
yists-but forget that we provide
the American environment. Amer
leans put under the same condi-
tons as the foreigners have been
would react in the same way.
There are really only a few excep-
tons that show up. II we cannot
control the problem of immigration
as has to do with the background,
the selection and distribution, we
can as individuals attend to the
Americanization phase. When we
have from our own hearts eradi-
Gated the adjectives which are used
in connection with the aliens we
can be truthful Americans and
make Americans Of others by our
example. The important lesson is
that we are building a brotherhood,
and we cannot expect the alien to
Join with US unless we recognize
him. When you in your daily con-
tact show him you are willing to
recognize, then results can be at
tanned.
Sometimes in very recently ar
rived alien you can find more true
Americanism than in our own peo-
pie, who have become so used to
the luxury and advantages of this
country they are hardened to their
privileges"
Rabbi Baron divided his topic
into four divisions background, Sc
lection, distribution and American
ization. He related how il is not
natural for a person to leave his
own land and venture to a new
country-in doing SO he registers
a revolt against certain existing
conditions. Every immigrant is a
tragedy" said the rabbi. If he
presents a problem, let's have pa
thence with him. | saw in Europe
the conditions which prompt imni-
gration-the bigoted, blind, narrow
world over there. People fee for
their very lives. The background
not alone effects the immigrant.
Travel is a serious problem. He
has to go through more torture
than in the land where he lives
often. The refugee camps compare
with the inquisition camps of many
years ago-the tests are most Sc
we're. The immigrant is. usually
the strongest and most ambitious
man-it requires an adventurer to
go forward and seek a new life
The speaker spoke of literacy tests
as tests which are scarcely ade-
quate in determining whether the
foreigner is worthy to become an
American citizen. He states that
he did not think foreigners lower
the standard of living and culture
America is land in the making
never to be finished ideal. There
will always be room for improve
ment. Immigrants will not spoil or
deter culture, but will add to it.
They have something to give-they
have culture in their own language
which is very potential in its pos
\ sibilities. We must not forget that.
N the immigrant has helped make
Y America. Every immigrant is
symbol of the glory of America.
America does not produce such peo-
ple-they are examples of what
man has made of man when they
come here. They would be willing
TO go anywhere and not crowd in
the already ver-populated sections.
Supervised distribution is one of
the means of solving the problem
as l see it,"
Preceding the address Mrs. Fred
Mann. accompanied by Miss Cath
crime Heimbeck, sang two numbers.
1.-THE Springtime of the Year"
tMartensl and The Little Green
Leaves" (Sprossl.
At the business session the de-
partment decided to take I'D the
city beautiful work again next sea-
son. This work was formerly A |
feature of the departments activi- !
ties, but during the war was given
up for more urgent needs. Mrs Z. |
c. Berry reported on the Girl |
Scout work, which was started by /
the department and Mrs. c. J. |
Searle and Mrs. E. L. Philbrook on |
the home bureau work. A demon !
stration on steam cooking will be
given May "a.