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About The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip. (Portland, Or.) 1923-1927 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1922)
14 THE WESTERN AMERICAN EDITORIAL THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE A VEHICLE TO CITIZENSHIP AND SUCCESS 'T'HE ARGUMENTS in favor of the man who never learned to read or write the American language, who came to America from a foreign country years ago and acquired citizenship rights, in the “good old days” when American citizenship was thought to be a cheap thing, not considered of much value, may have some merit, but when these arguments are advanced in favor of younger people who have come to Amer ica during the last decade or two, the point is out of order and the one who advances it would hardly himself measure up to the standard required. The American language is not difficult to mas ter. Quite to the contrary. Two to three months of application will give a good working knowledge from which proficiency may be attained with little or no assistance. Reading the current literature of the country, in the language of the country, is absolutely necessary to secure an intelligent grasp of affairs. To argue otherwise is absurd. The free evening schools, with classes for non American speaking people of adult ages, are calling for the younger and older men and women of for eign birth. Capable teachers, paid at public ex pense, are instructing these classes with painstak ing thoroughness. For those who are unable to attend the evening classes, day classes, along similar lines, are open to meet their requirements. The alien resident should stop spending all the jdle hours over the foreign language papers and books, in the foreign language societies and lodges, or in pleasure seeking. So long as the foreign language is permitted to be the vehicle of expression, the American resident r ’ien will never be able to enter the sphere cf Amer ican thought. Expressions, now and then, may be heard from the older group of foreign born citizens to the effect that they wish that they, upon their arrival in this country, had been placed squarely up against the proposition of being forced to learn to read and write the American language. With their advanced years, they now feel too old to undertake the task, although some have begun going to school, in spite of their years, being convinced that it is the right thing to do. October, 1922 hood. The laws and regulations governing business, letter writing, politeness, the importance of neat ness of dress and person are things taught as well as the American language, federal, state and city government, and the practical utility of all the vari ous departments of American civic affairs. This is practical work in the making of Amer ican citizens and should be undertaken in a measure in every industry employing a foreign born element. It is important that the foreigner arrives at an early understanding of the governmental differences be tween the United States and the country from which he came, and that here he is expected to acquire the qualifications of self-government. A kindly, helpful and thoughtful interest taken in the aliens, no mat ter from what country they may come, instead of an attitude of antagonism, will go a long way toward making them desirable citizens, whereas the appo site attitude tends to force exclusion, ignorance of our liberal institutions and a spirit of viciousness and antagonism to law and authority, exemplified in what we have come to call “red” or I. W. W.-ism. NO ONE SHOULD CAST AN AMERICAN BALLOT WHO DOES NOT SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE 'T'HERE are in America several millions of un-nat- * uralized aliens, their number is being augmented greatly every year by a constant flow of immigration. These millions are gradually complying with the residence requirements of five years and are becom ing eligible for admission to citizenship. Under the old order of things in America, it was common to grant citizenship to anyone taking the trouble to ask for it, even if the applicant had to bring an interpreter to make his wishes understood. Due to these lax methods, American has a large contin gent of Aliens, holding American citizenship certi ficates, who are snugly «beyond any present approach to Americanization, yet, are unable to read and write the American language, and though entirely lacking the close familiarity with American institutions, nec essary to intelligence in citizenship, exercise the sacred prerogative of a. citizen, deciding American issues as citizen electors, whenever the American sanctuary, the American balloting booth, is thrown open to all sovereign American citizens. This condition should be remedied. In justice to those who are meeting the requirements now called for before citizenship is granted, who attend evening schools and citizenship classes, previous to their ex amination in open court, laws should be enacted call ing for a standard of literacy, reading and writing of the American language, without which no one should be permitted to register as a qualified Amer ican voter. Such a law would in no way otherwise effect the citizenship status of the holder of a certificate of citizenship. A man too indifferent to the interests AMERICANIZING THE INDUSTRIES of America and his own standard of equality in citi T ARGE industrial concerns in America have grad- zenship, to take the trouble of learning to read intel ually come to realize that their best protection ligently the American language, and to some extent against unrest and the red tinted radicalism lies in write it, can lay no valid claim to the sacred right of taking an interest in their employees of foreign casting an American ballot. birth. Such a law would automatically aid the process of They are trying to solve the problem in various Americanization, make the preparatory instructions ways, but the night school plan adopted by some, in citizenship and the subsequent examination of ap seems to give promise of definite results. plicants less difficult, by reason of the fact that the Among the subjects discussed in these industrial aliens would see the urgent necessity of previously night schools are various ways of earning a liveli- attending the free evening schools, or day classes,