The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-24
OUR DUTY TO FOREIGN BORN

OUR DUTY TO FOREIGN BORN
 There are some who apparently believe that to halt immigration would solve the problem. They forget, or do not know, that this country, and that this immense number constitutes q problem in assimilation which our proposed immigration laws do not touch in the slightest degree. To be sure, not all of these fourteen millions are unable to speak English, nor are they all ignorant of nor out of sympathy with our ideals of govern ment. The fact remains that too many of them are unable to speak English and unac quainted with our ideals of government. In asmueh as they have chosen our country for their future residence. that is unfortunate, and something should be done about it.
 According ito the New York Times Of course, every effort should be made to see that they are taught English. ! A long step has been taken in that direction in this state by making literacy a condition of voting But, along with unceasing insistence upon acquiring the language in which our history and laws are written, it is also important that, as in the war the foreigh-language press was used for giving authorities information to those who could not read English or read it readily, it should now be availed of to disseminate information needful for member ship in the American community and for ul- timate citizenship" To any who might ob- ject that this savers of compulsion, reply may be made that the theory of compulsory edu- cation is hardly a novel one in the United States.
 The Times believes that one of the most influential agencies in the Americanization of the alien resident is the foreign-language press, which numbers nine millions among its and which probably reaches di. rectly or indirectly at least ninety per cent of the foreign born. The Foreign Press h. formation Service is already active in sup plying to the foreign press in this country useful material on all sorts of subjects re- lsting to the immigrants new life-matter
 
 whatever their shade of political or social opinion, cannot afford not to use it. A val uable by-prodact of this service is that the bureau gathers incidentally material from the foreign papers published in this country that is helpful in interpreting the immigrant to America
 Our duty to the foreign born Is equally or even more a duty to ourselves. The means for its accomplishment is not far to seek, and we may anticipate on the part of a majority of the newcomers a willingness to cooperate. Doubtless many of them realize. or can easily be made to realize, that their own advance ment counsels such cooperation: for under standing of our language and of our theory of government is as important a factor in their success as it would be easy to imagine. FurtherRpre, such understanding would set at ease much of our present misgiving as to our foreign e9loi;es. especially in cities. Ed ucstion also would prevent the delivery of what is known as the foreign vote" at cleo tions There should be no foreign vote in this country.
 The state of New York, which contains the metropolis made up of the greatest for eign population in our country, has made the ability to read and write the English Ian guage a voting. requirement. The state has been forced to this action by the demagoguery that has battsned on the foreigners igno- rance of what the ballot means. But the re- striction is benignant one if it stimulates the alien to learn our language. Our methods of government may not be perfect, but it is our government. and should not be forced to compete with unnecessary centers of even pacific rebellion.
 Our newspapers and other publications in foreign tongues are an agency through which much may be done to win and instruct the foreign born who do not understand or read English. Most of these publications were loyal to our government during the war. and their influence WAS helpful in cementing the entire population together. This service should show how beneficial they may become in bringing about c still further closeness of association in thought and national purpose. This cannot be dismissed as a mere theory for the condition thst cOnfronts us is very real and definite.