The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., March 01, 1923, Page 9, Image 9

March, 1923
THE WESTERN AMERICAN
9
sion to the imaginative brain of most foreigners. They have not
8. To support the Constitution of the United States and
yet learned the cold, hard, practical way we Americans do avail ourselves of its protection.
things. They have been used to pomp and ceremony and expect
9. To keep our public schools clean, pure and free from
it. Therefore, the greatest step of their lives should not be so politics, maintain the highest standard of efficiency and not
matter of fact. We propose that for April 27th of each year, be hampered with the influence of politics or matters sectarian.
and for as many other days as local conditions will permit, a Let the young be taught the slogan which we advocate—
real ceremony of initiation into American citizenship to be held “One Flag, One Country and One Language.”
in each community, along the general lines of the following:
10. To train our citizens for useful peace time vocations and
1. Have as large a class as possible to take the oath.
the pursuit of happiness at the same, time reminding them of
2. Have both male and female, with the children present.
the necessity for preparedness.
3. Have the place of the ceremony decorated with American
The V. F. W. thru this committee is pledged to do every­
colors only.
4. Make the ceremony as impressive and fitting to the occa­ thing within its power to eliminate the hyphen in organiza­
sion as local talent and conditions will permit. Have Veterans tions composed of residents or citizens of the United States.
To endeavor to bring about the speaking of the language of
present in uniform, and men of the Service, if possible.
5. Have at least one address by a competent official who our country at all times and in all places within the boundaries
will outline the real duties of American citizenship and the of the United States.
To use our utmost efforts thru legislation and other means
opportunities thereof; that the candidates are taking the great­
est step of their lives and that they are expected td be good to insist that the alien population of this country prepare to
citizens; that as long as they are they will be protected by the become citizens or prepare to leave the country until they
Country and the Flag; that they cannot be good citizens and change their minds, and furthermore, that all aliens who for
cling to the hyphen. Distribute copies of the Declaration of cause have been refused citizenship be at once deported.
Independence and the Constitution of the United States printed
Those who are scanning the Americanization pro­
in American and their old language that they may better grams of every source for the purpose of finding fault
understand it; impress upon them that they had better learn may register their objections and brand the program
the language of our country and customs as soon as possible.
6. At the beginning of the taking of the oath ceremony have as a coercive program and therefore wrong in prin­
the flags of their fatherlands displayed; immediately before ciple insofar as it does not sustain the “right” of any­
the oath is administered furl them with appropriate remarks, one to live indefinitely in America without citizenship
and then with the playing of the National Anthem unfurl the or knowledge of our language; but every true and
Stars and Stripes with the most impressive ceremony possible; loyal American citizen, while considerate of all others
exact a salute to the Colors; teach them true respect to the
Flag and hand them a copy of “Etiquette of the Stars and and their “rights” is fully in sympathy and accord
with the V. F. W. and their program to make America
Stripes” so that they will know.
7. Give them copies of America and the National Anthem better for all those who have a valid claim either by
and teach them how to render respect to both the song and birth or by having renounced their former allegiance
Flag.
8. Sometimes during the day or evening after the ceremony in favor of an honest, heartfelt allegiance to America.
give them a reception of welcome such as they will understand Those who want to share these rights should begin to
and feel that they are genuinely welcome as long as they are live up to the spirit of the American citizenship in
loyal and useful citizens. Instruct them where to come for which there is no compromise and no place for for­
advice and help, and treat them as comrades in citizenship.
eign concessions.
It is a commendable outline for appropriate observ­
ance of this important event in the life of a foreign
born, when he becomes naturalized and to all intent
i and purposes is becoming an American.
The recommendation that April 27th be'made a
[nationwide Americanization day, sponsored by the
IV. F. W. organization, serves another purpose, that
of commemorating the birth, the life and the name of
one of America’s greatest citizens, Ulysses S. Grant.
The reasons why the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the United States have taken up Americanization
work through a large national committee are set
forth in the following definite points:
I 1. To make America better for Americans and make Ameri­
cans better for America, and “Americans” mean the people of
the United States.
I 2. To commence with the school children and inculcate true
patriotism within them.
I 3. To teach and train the young to believe in the principles
[for which our ancestors fought and for which they made
Sacrifices.
I 4. To make an effort to revise school text books on Ameri­
can History to conform with our sincere belief in the worthy
traditions of our ancestors.
15. To make our citizenship desirable and eliminate the un-
jtesirable alien.
6. To protect and substantially maintain our American in-
flustries.
17. To protect American ideals and foster the principles laid
lown by the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
*
*
*
The Portland "“Over the Top” Post of V. F. W.,
with over one thousand active members, the boys
who only recently "were out there in no man’s land
in France fighting our cause, have made arrangements
to observe the V. F. W. Americanization day on the
evening of April 27th at the Lincoln High School
auditorium and are asking general participation
among foreign born and native born. Fred W. Angell
is the present commander of the Post. The program
will consist of an Americanization address by Clark P.
Bissett of the faculty of the Washington University,
several musical numbers and four or five short
speeches by naturalized citizens. The local commit­
tee in charge are John W. Jones, chairman; Dean H.
Dickinson, Aleck Karahales and Dr. James Walsh.
♦
♦
*
The Veterans of Foreign Wars are through repre­
sentation in the Portland Americanization Council
closely affiliated with the general Americanization
program in Portland and the Council will in turn co­
operate with the V. F. W. in their noble work to
exemplify the spirit of citizenship and to join With
the service men in extending the hand of fellowship.
At the close of a little leaflet issued by the V. F. W.,
which contains in brief some excellent patriotic
thoughts for the men who but recently fought for
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