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About The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip. (Portland, Or.) 1923-1927 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1925)
Page Sixteen NOVEMBER 1925 | THE UNITED AMERICAN conducted along the northern and southern borders of the United States, this examination has been of such a nature as to effect little limitation upon our neighbors upon the North American continent, to whom the immigration law does not apply. Foreign born citizens already under employment in the vicinity of Los Angeles are objecting rather strongly to their own countrymen being admitted in such numbers that they tend to lower wages. The person already under employment here is seriously concerned when his countrymen, newly arrived, and without a knowledge of English, underbids him in his job, especially if that work be mannual labor. Both governmental regulation and sentiment among the foreign born are tending to discourage immigration. Many months ago, conditions existed in certain parts of Los Angeles which made it necessary for the health authorities to remove many buildings. In a number of cases entire blocks, thickly occupied by families crowded together under bad arrangements of sanitation, were eliminated. While this action caused temporary inconvenience to many such groups of people, yet it produced improved health conditions and forced the denizens of such districts to seek residence in other parts of the city. Sometimes they moved into another foreign district and repeated the crowding that had been practiced in the block which they abandoned. In many cases, however, the family moved to open areas on the rim of the city, made a payment on a cheap lot, constructed a small home, and began the purchase of an established place of habitation. The thing which promised to result only in hardship ended in pushing such families upward and onward to better circumstances of life. Americanization centers became more widely scattered and were established in better locations. The action of the city in cleaning up the crowded districts produced a helpful result in the American ization work. Many blocks in the city, which hitherto have been occupied by families of foreign born people have been converted into industrial sites. The industrialization of the downtown districts especially has scattered the foreign born into many different neighborhoods in the city, and has produced a result like unto that caused by the policy of renovation. The children of the second and third generations have become to a considerable extent Americanized. They have been reached in the American public school, which has placed upon them the imprint of American citizenship. As they have grown from year to year, they have developed away from the form of life with • which they have been acquainted in early childhood, and have conceived a desire to live as Americans. As they have come to young manhood and womanhood, and have reached the point in life where they have wished to establish their own homes, they have started them in many parts of the city. They have preferred to find a home some place in the city among representative citizens and average Americans rather than to remain distinct and separate among the people of the nationality of their parents. Many years ago, Dr. Booker T. Washington,' then leader of his own people, preached, practiced, and exemplified at Tuskegee Institute the form of educa- tion which he felt would prove most satisfactory in solving the problems to which his race was heir. Among other things, he thought that the man or woman who could produce a product, or who could do the work, would be the one in demand by society. At that time, the white race scarcely recognized that principle. It seemed to be the idea that all young people who availed themselves of opportunities for higher education should pursue practically the same kind of training. In recent years, ideals and conditions have changed, and have tended to emphasize the principles taught by the former head of the Tuskegee Institute. The foreign born people are feeling this influence and impulse. In Los Angeles they realize that the best training for an individual is that which fits him to be most useful to the community. They are reaching out in numerous new ways and are entering upon vocations hitherto unattempted. In other words, the influence of vocational work, and the training of people for other than what are known as “white-collar jobs,” are bringing a change in the life conditions of the foreign born. They are through this influence con necting more closely with American life, and are tend ing away from the segregation which has. charac terized the foreign born in most American cities in the past. A very striking illustration of the influence of American life upon the immigrant was afforded by the recent Mexican Independence Day. The celebra tions that were held in the night schools and in the Americanization work, conducted by the Mexicans, presented an entirely different situation from that which existed only four or five years ago. Programs were given in both English and Spanish. Auditori ums were filled with neatly, tastily dressed Mexican people. Practically every person in the audiences came wearing what was in former days called a “Sunday suit.” That is, each one in addition to the garment worn during the day possessed at least one ¿iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiíiiiiiiiiiiiiñiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiíiiiiiiíiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiíiiiniiiiiiiiiinnig I I | RASMUSSEN & CO. Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Glass, Sash, Doors High Grade Lubricating Oils Brushes, Etc. 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