The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., January 01, 1925, Page 22, Image 22

Page Twenty-two
JANUARY, 1925
THE UNITED AMERICAN
trade while the men and women who are without
influence are “hauled in” for the smallest infraction
of the law and given “the limit.”
Among the latter class the foreign-born are
largely represented. Their names are common on
the police-blotter as violators of the prohibition laws,
as “mooshine” distillers, bootleggers and illicit
vendors of intoxicants, as gamblers and as common
drunks. Those who compile such statistics will tell
you that the heaviest percentage of law violations are
among the foreign-born. There is no question that
that is true, if the number placed under arrest for
infractions of these laws are furnishing the basis
for these figures, but it would not be true if all the
violators, high and low, of whom the police and
administrative forces have thorough knowledge,
were placed under arrest and dealt with on a basis of
equality with those whose names already decorate
these registers of social and moral wrongs and civic
delinquency.
Tell the foreign-born that their “booze” parties
are wrong and that such indulgence is against the law,
and they will counter by telling you of the “booze”
parties that are common among their American neigh­
bors who are most influential and prominent people,
and the young women, participants in these parties-,
who are maids in the homes of the rich, and of the
socially and politically prominent, will tell you of the
“booze” parties and other kinds of “parties” which are
regularly held in the homes of those whom they
work for, and the names of those whom they mention
and the guests who have been present read like the
social register of the so-called “400.” The acts they are
related as having been seen to have indulged in while
in an intoxicated condition, leave little or nothing to be
imagined. And those of whom these foreign-born
people speak are with few exceptions native-born.
True, the excuse is not valid that because they see
these flagrant violations of the laws of America these
foreign born should feel that it is not incumbent upon
them to observe the law. But, it cannot be denied
that the circumstances offer ground for mitigatory
judgment.
THE LIONS’ SHARE IN AMERICANIZATION
FINE example in practical Americanization work
was set last summer by the Lions Club of
Minneapolis which sent a group of boys .of foreign-
born parentage into the summer camps of the state
to spend their vacation among American boys who
were paying their own way. In these camps
they were taught the simple rules of the American
game of playing square, living on the square and
promptly obeying orders. The nationalities repre­
sented were Armenian, Bohemian, Czechoslovak,
French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Jewish, Polish,
Roumanian, Russian and Swedish boys. That the
object for which the Club had arranged and financed
this plan was attained is reasonably certain, judging
by the letters from the boys received by the Club
and from which the following extractions are quoted:
“I have made friends with many boys and have learned
to be fair and square. I have also learned to obey orders
promptly and cheerfully. I thank the business men who paid
my, fee.”
“When I came back I was more healthy and strong, and
did not swear.”
“At camp I -have learned to play square in any games or
other sports. I thank the members of the Club who paid my
way.”
“I learned to play a game straight. I learned how to
play better. I have learned better sportsmanship. I have
learned to love everybody and be a friend of them.”
“I have learned to work and to mind my leader.”
“Lots of times I’d swipe an apple or two just for the fun
of it. When I came to camp I stole a piece of candy just for
fun. Later Dawley (a leader) talked -to me, and I’ll bet I
won’t take anything that don’t belong to me again.”
The ways of making good Americans may be
varied and many, but the Club in reference has good
reason to be proud of its contribution to the sum total
of constructive Americanization work — not of the
kind that begins and largely ends with dead-letter
“reports” and fine philosophical phrases submitted
over luncheon tables.
The boys who found a “new life” idea out in the
summer camps of Minnesota will by their lives repay
the sum spent by the Minneapolis Lions for the
purpose of helping these children from the homes
of the foreign-born to get a close-up view of clean
healthy and upright American life. The spirit of
America is a spirit of action. The Lions got on the
job. They saw to it that it was done; and Uncle Sam
will some day be cashing in on this splendid invest­
ment of a few citizens whose patriotic ideas and
willingness to serve brought such splendid results.
FRIENDSHIP
Anon.
Dear friend, — pray thee, if thou wouldst be proving
Thy strong regard for me,
Make me no vows. Lip serving is not living;
Let thy faith speak for thee.
Swear not to me that nothing can divide us,
So little such oaths mean,
But when distrust and envy creep beside us,
Let them not come between.
Say not to me the depths of thy devotion
Are deeper than the sea;
But watch, lest doubt or some unkind emotion
Embitter them for me.
Vow not to love me ever and forever,
Words are such idle things,
But when we differ in opinions, never
Hurt me by little stings.
I’m sick of words, they are so lightly spoken,
And spoken are but air.
I’d rather feel thy trust in me unbroken
Than list to words so fair.
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