The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-08
characterization

Chicago.-As result of American
ization work among employees of the
six public utility companies under the
direction of Samuel insult of this city,
1919 percent of the employees of these
companies are either American citizens
or have signified their intention of
becoming such by taking out natural
ization papers, according to the report
of the joint committee on American
ization of the companies which has
just completed a survey.
This record is regarded as unique
among the industries of the country
when it is considered that these public
service companies have a total of a.
PA employees and their operations ex-
tend over fifteen states and all classes
of workmen are employed. .a.-a-. ....,
This result was brought about by in
tensive Americanization effort cover
ing period of eighteen months among
the employees of the People Gas Light
and Coke company, the Commonwealth
Edison company, Chicago Elevated
Railroads, Chicago, North Shore and
Milwaukee Railroad, Middle West
Utilities company and the Public Ser
vice company of Northen Illinois.
The report just made to Mr.. insult
by the committee shows that on jan
uary /, 22,27O or 91,97 percent of the
employees of the six companies were
American citizens.
Those who were in possession of
their first papers and who will gain
the full rights of citizenship within
the next few months, numbered 1893
or 1882 per cent.
Only 81, or Fl 400 of 1 percent, were
not citizens or had not taken out first
papers. Some of those who had not
yet declared their intentions of becom-
ing citizens expected to do so within
few weeks.
The People'sGas Light and Coke COM
pany, of Chicago, which was the first
of the insult companies to take up the
matter of citizenship, received first
honors in Americanization work, every
one of its employees being either cit
izen or in possession of first natural
ization papers.
The other companies under Mr.. In
!
go, have citizenship record almost as
perfect. Only two employees of the
1 Chicago Elevated Railroads were not
full-fledged voters or were without
their papers on the first of the year,
and they were planning to take the
first step toward becoming citizens
in the near future.
The most difficult of the situations
encountered in this Americanization
program fell to the lot of the Chicago,
North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad.
Workmen employed by that company
were all aliens. Altogether, Is national
tiles were represented, with Croatians
and Italians predominating
The first step was orders form Brit
ton I. Budd, president of the company,
discounting the practice of keeping
labor in boarding camps maintained by
contractors, and the establishment of a
system of company camps constructed
and maintained to attract the better
class of men and keep them contented,
the company announced. The commits
sary was improved, baths were provid-
| ed, Close attention given to cleanliness
about the camp, and finally Y. M. c.
A. secretary was employed to look
after their recreation.
After a further study of the situa-
ton it was decided that a systematic
course of eduction should be establish
ed to assist these foreign born en-
ployes in becoming citizens. The first
survey showed over 80 percent of them
could not speak English; rs percent
could not read it, and 25 percent could
not read or write their own language.
The company engaged an experienced
instructor to direct the work and he
was assisted by men in the organiza-
ton. Schools were fitted up in build
ings beyionging to the company at var
ious locations along the line. Glasses
were held on specified evenings.
The first step was instruction in
English. Later English was supplement-
ed with simple courses of study in
grammer, arithmetic and government.
: After several months of this inten-
sive educational work certain day