January, 1923
3
THE WESTERN AMERICAN
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At the Post of Duty!
'FHE MAN who can not read
and write the language of
the land of which he is a citizen,
I except where physical disability
| constitutes a bar, whether he
i holds such citizenship by right
of birth or by right of naturali-
| zation, is not properly qualified
to exercise the franchise of a
| sovereign citizen in a republic.
Hundreds of thousands of for-
f eign born who obtained citizen-
! ship in the “good old days”
when citizenship was considered
a cheap thing are unable to read
I and write the language of the
land of which they are citizens
and a great many of them are
even unable to make themselves
! understood in the tongue that
Americans speak.
The only intelligence on Amer-
| ican subjects they are able to
I obtain is that which they read,
I among the news of the old coun-
i try and of their nationals in this
I country, in the foreign language
1 publications in their own tongue.
Individually these people may
| be alright, collectively they con-
| stitute a menace to the Ameri-
I can ballot until they proceed to
I gain the intelligence with which
! they may be able to defend their
I post of citizenship as Americans
| among Americans in America.
A joint resolution calling for
II a constitutional amendment to
11 make possible the enactment of
II a literacy test law calling for a
l| reasonable knowledge of Amer-
Il ica’s language in reading and
| i writing to be applied to Ameri-
| f can citizens in Oregon before
11 they may be permitted to regis-
l| ter and vote, passed the Oregon
|| State Senate unanimously the
11 other day. The House, no doubt,
11 will concur and as the Governor
II is favorable to raising our stand-
| i ard of citizenship in Oregon the
11 matter will, before the session
l| ends, stand ratified, subject to
11 approval of the citizens of Ore-
11 gon at the next general election.
Let the majority of our citi­
ll zens express their approval at
11 the next general state election.
AM EjlCAN
A Magazine of Good Citizenship
Published Monthly By
The Northman Publishing Company
(Incorporated)
Officers
H. J. Langoe.......................................................................................... President
B. G. Skulason..........................
Sec-Treasurer
Board of Directors
G. B. Hegardt
B. G. Skulason
H. J. Langoe
Phone Broadway 6600
Offices and Publishing House
Labbe Building, 227% Washington Street, Portland, Oregon
H. J. LANGOE, Editor
Vol. 1
“)U819
January, 1923
Number 4
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL SUBJECTS—
A United States Justice from the Ranks of the Common
People; Electrifying the American Rural Districts; On the
Cultural Life of Modern America; Time Zones in America... 12 to 13
AT THE POST OF DUTY.............................................................................. 3
POEMS AND SONGS OF AMERICA..........................
4
SAFEGUARDING OUR NATURALIZATION LAWS................................. 5
AMERICANIZATION MOVEMENT, THE GREAT NATIONAL
UNITY AGENCY ........................................
THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION........................
9
11
THE PORTLAND COMMUNITY SERVICE—ITS PURPOSES AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS........................................................................... 14
By John C. Henderson, Executive Secretary.
A CHARGE TO THE AMERICAN YOUTH...............
By Dr. Edward O. Sisson.
15
FOREIGN BORN BUILDERS OF AMERICA.....................
19
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cents. Remit by United States Money Order, Express Money Order or
Check. In Canada and other foreign countries, belonging to the Postal
Union, fifty cents additional should be added.
Back numbers, not over three months old, twenty-five cents; more
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Entered as Second Class Mail Matter in the Post Office at Portland,
Oregon under the Act of Congress of March Third, 1879.
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