The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-01
A PROBLEM FOR STUDY

In all this talk about immigration, the
desirability Of converting the port of Mobile
into a port of entry for immigrants, and
the assimilation of the alien, the people of
Alabama are inclined somewhat to regard the
problem as a remote one as far as this state
is concerned. That Us hardly the case for
Birmingham. Silently but constantly in this
city there is going on the process of natural
izaton. Continually a stream of those who
pour into the port of New York is flowing
into this district. Birmingham is intimately
and vitality concerned in this whole question
of immigration. Birmingham shares with
other industrial centers the problem Of assini-
lating these newcomers into our citizenship.
As experience has shown, there are certain
nationaIities and races that remain clannish-
in their soiourn here. In the cities especially
they maintain their own customs, their own
views and their own way of living, intact.
They are among us but not of US. I'm
doubtedly this elannishness is the natural
result of language barriers. The newcomers
have little opportunity to learn any English
except what they are obliged to pick up here
and there in their necessary intercourse with
Americans. They talk, think, move and have
their being in a language of their own.
Their words, long attuned to conditions alien
to our own, even when applied to our affairs,
convey a meaning to the foreigners that is
more or less different from the meaning we
place upon the same affairs. Language is
real and an almost insuperable barrier be-
tween Americans and aliens who dwell
among US.
This is a problem then that we have not
solved. 1t is a problem that grows more
pressing as the flood of immigration con-
tinues to our shores. In spite of our laws
reducing the numbers who may come here in
a given year, we continue to be in a measure
a dumping ground for raw human material,
some of 1t good, some of it bad, and we have
no means of determining its quality before
receiving it. We have developed no plan
for converting these newcomers into citizens
genuinely in sympathy with our laws and
institutions. How can they be, when they
do not understand them? When they even
hold distorted ideas aboute us and our gov
eminent?
It is believed BY many that we should halt
immigration altogether until we have worked
out a program dealing with our prospective
citizens in such a manner as would be mu-
tuaIly beneficial, immigration is not politi-
cal question It; is not question to be set
tied according to the views of industrial
leaders seeking cheap labor. Immigration is
an chronological and humanitarian question
II n a scientific question, and it's proper con-
sideration requires a more intelligent, SYM
pathetic and understanding treatment than
It has ever received. There are individuals
who have given it such study. There are
those who have collated valuable information
about it, and who really are in position to
propose an intelligent policy for this govern
r,eut to follow. Their opinion should be
sought and given due weight in the decision.
It is believed that there is an effective
manner in which the newcomers may be ed
ucated and instructed along certain Definite
and helpful lines. Those who rebel against
sucb training in citizenship may very well be
permitted to return to their own lands we
do not need them as much as they need u.s.
Those who are well disposed towards pro-
gram of enlightenment and the acquiring OF
proficiency in our tongue will find it profit
able to lend themselves to it. First, however,
there is the task of inducing congress to
perceive that here is field in which politics
would throttle patriotism and the national
welfare. Tie subject must be understood
before it may be properly and adequately
covered by legislation.
MAY DAY FOR CHILDREN