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
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RASMUSSEN & CO.
Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Glass, Sash, Doors
High Grade Lubricating Oils
Brushes, Etc.
Northeast Corner Second and Taylor Streets
Portland, Oregon
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Manufactured in Portland
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Mt. Hood Shirts
University Overcoats
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