JUNE 1925
THE UNITED AMERICAN
made by the boys of the A. E. F. when they en
countered placards in the business houses, hotels and
restaurants of France setting forth:
ENGLISH SPOKEN
AMERICAN UNDERSTOOD
America’s language is her own as truly as is her
government. Why not let us all begin calling it
AMERICAN, instead of English.
Though the language has become so peculiarly
our own, and we are proud of it, it has developed much
by way of expression in its untrammeled growth that
bears a resemblance to long, uncombed tresses and
bushy beard—picturesque, some say, but at times de
cidedly suggestive of neglect and slovenliness —
Boston’s perhaps, should not be included in this
statement.
It is true, also, that our language has run so
strongly to slang and fanciful and capricious expres
sions that it is quite possible for the accomplished in
this respect to carry on conversation without the use
of any of the approximately three hundred thousand
words appearing in Mr.Webster’s handbook, except now
and then an article or conjunction. Ornamented with ex
pletives after the style of some states, not excluding
Oregon, it has, in the parlance of the street, the jib-
berish of an ourang outang “skinned to the finest
frazzle on the fag-end of fareyouwell.”
However, with the feeling that America’s language
is her own and should be kept reasonably well groomed
even in its every day labors, a current of public opinion
against slovenly language ought to make itself felt.
Billy Sunday when he is “giving the devil the run for
his money” has probably done more for the cause of
dignified language than any other man in America.
By urging that care be exercised in language it is
not meant that we should employ the lilly and helio
trope expressions, but plain, pleasant, distinct and
straight-forward American. We are, in fact, building
a language as well as a community, a state and a nation,
and it should be given that care and attention neces
sary to make it a language beautiful, that it may fit
tingly serve as an embellishment of the better citizen
ship of the future.
In our Americanization work, particularly among
foreign-born people, we shoud train ourselves to speak
of our language as AMERICAN.
AMERICANIZING THE INDUSTRIES
rT HE LARGER industrial concerns in America have
1 gradually begun to realize that their best protec
tion against unrest and the “red” and shaded types of
I radicalism lies in taking an interest in their employes, 4
particularly those of foreign birth who have had no
schooling in America.
They are trying to solve the problem in various
ways; but the night school plan adopted by some
seems to give promise of definite results.
This may be called patchwork and novel innovations,
but while we are struggling to arouse public opinion
in America in favor of a broad adult educational plan,
it will look far better when we are reviewed by a
[future generation than a lot of other activities of an
¡inconsequential nature for which we are accumstomed
[to bestir ourselves in business, in politics, and in sports.
Among the subjects discussed in these industrial
Page Seven
night schools are various ways of earning a livelihood.
The laws and regulations governing business, letter
writing, politeness, the importance of neatness 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 various departments of
American civic affairs.
This is practical work in the making of American
citizens and should be undertaken in a measure in every
industry employing foreign-born people.
It is of vast importance that the immigrant arrive
at an early understanding of the governmental differ
ences between the United States and the country from
which he came, and that here he be expected to acquire
the qualifications of self-government. Without ade
quate training this is not to be expected. A kindly,
helpful and thoughtful interest taken in the aliens, no
matter from what country they may come, instead of
an attitude of indifference and outright antagonism,
will go a long way toward making them desirable
citizens, whereas the opposite attitude tends to force
exclusion, group isolation with its attendant results—
ignorance of our liberal institutions, which in time
breeds viciousness and antagonism to law and authority,
exemplified in sundry isms, varying from socialism to
what we have come to call “Communism”—the political
weed from the Russian steppes, which is now being
transplanted in American soil.
A MODERN IDEA IN BUSINESS
A MONG current news items of lesser importance
appear this little story from the Metropolitan
City of New York. It isn’t much of story, perhaps,
but Herbert Corey thought it was and so he wrote it:
Years ago a kid quit hustling for dimes in Wallabout market
and opened a place of his own. When it had grown enough
that he had employees, instead of merely a hired hand, he
announced that thereafter he would give forty-five per cent
of his profits to them.
“You’re a fool,” said the old-timers in the market. “Don’t
do that. You’ll be ruined.”
Time went on and he owned a flock of piers and what-nots
and still he gave forty-five per cent of his profits to his
employees. And each year the old-timers came around to say:
“You’re a fool. Never give away money. You’ll be ruined.”
Now he’s the biggest man in Wallabout market. But it
isn’t likely the old-timers have changed their opinions.
By some stretch of imagination this “kid” had
evidently figured that it was good business to have
his helpers feel that they were working for their own
interest, beyond the point of the wages they were
getting. Perhaps he took the Golden Rule literally
and applied it in practice, believing it right, and figured
that right would prevail. Anyway, Corey says, he has
become the biggest man in Wallabout market. It
didn’t ruin him, however, as his competitors predicted.
Some people who are paying their employees poorly
and complain that they take no interest in the business,
might try the “kid’s” system for a while and see
how it works.
Japanese Buddhism is evidently becoming of
secondary importance to Japanese commercialism, judging by
the recent decision by the Tokio municipal authorities who
have ruled that the land in the central part of the city which
before the earthquake of 1923 was occupied by Buddha temples