December 1926
Page Three
THE UNITED AMERICAN
Self-Made Laws
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THE AMERICAN legislator
who gave to every proposal
for an enactment the most
thoroughgoing analysis and ap
plied every conceivable argument
against all doubtful terms in a
proposed bill, is not so far back
in our history that we have lost
track of him, but if our observa
tions are made from the high
peak of modern legislative rush,
the venerable progenitor be
comes almost mythical, at least
we are safe in calling him or his
methods so antedeluvian that
American legislative antecedents,
figuratively speaking, might
reasonably begin where Noah
began when he stepped ashore
on the mountain of Ararat.
The receiving station for bills
of the modern state legislature
is now commonly referred to as
a “hopper” and conjured into a
a gluttenous beast with a most
insatiable craving for bills. No
matter how crude the bills are,
the hopper hops and turns out
the finished product—laws and
more laws—while the average
legislative member registers ap-
proval without knowledge of
what the bills actually contain.
Oregon with its three-quarter
of a million people is said to be
one of the most law-harnessed
states in the Union, and its
people are becoming weary un-
der the burden of all our laws.
Government in Oregon has
consequently in many respects,
become unwieldy and uncertain.
The executive authorities are in-
variably called upon to determine
how far each law shall apply
within their respective jurisdic-
tions. And the indisputable
facts are that they do. The
courts also disagree when these
uncertain laws are brought to
them for interpretation. Legis-
lation is a serious business. It
is a dangerous pastime to in
dulge in. When executive of
ficers are forced to disregard the
mandate of the law, in the in
terest of the common good, the
barometer of common respect
for law has dropped below zero.
That lawlessness begins where
careless legislation ends is some
thing that ought to produce a
sobering thought in the minds of
those who are feeding the legis
lative hoppers in. America in ’27.
AMERICAN
A Magazine of Good Citizenship
Issued Monthly in the Interest of
Americanization and Adult Education
H. J. LANGOE, Editor
Associate Editors:
Robert G. Deming, State Director of Americanization, State of Connecticut
(President Department Adult Education, National Education Ass’n. U. S.)
William Chandler Smith, Chief State Bureau Immigrant Education, New York
(Chairman Editorial Board “Interstate Bulletin”)
Charles M. Herlihy, State Superviser Adult Alien Education, Massachusetts
R. E. Dugdale, Director Extension Dept., Board of Education, Toledo, Ohio
Geo. A. Green, Director Citizens’ Bureau, Immigrant Aid, Cleveland, Ohio
A. C. Strange, of Ashland State Normal School.
Publishers: The Northman Publishing Company (Inc.)
Officers: H. J. Langoe, President; B. G. Skulason, Sec-Treasurer
Offices and Publishing House
Labbe Building, 22”Washington Street, Portland, Oregon
Phone Broadway 6600
Vol. 5
Volume
22
Dec., 1926
Number 3
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL SUBJECTS—
To Live American Citizenship Is to Live Spiritually; Advent
ists Among Active Americanization Agencies in Our Country;
The Chinese Tongs; A Charter that Is Not Fool-proof; Less
New Laws and More Repeal of Bad Laws Will Strenthen Our
Democracy; When Logic Backs Up the Argument etc.
AT THE CROSSROADS WHERE AMERICA CALLS FOR
RENEWAL OF CIVIC FAITH ...............................................
SELF-MADE LAWS ...........
AMERICANIZING CONFESSIONS OF FAITH IN CITIZENSHIP
ANTI-ALIEN LAWS DETRIMENTAL TO STATE...........................
By H. J. Langoe
THE MAKING OF AMERICAN CITIZENS................................
By A. C. Strange, Ashland State Normal
ADMITS THE IMMIGRATION LAW CONTAINS INHUMAN
PROVISIONS ......................................................................
By H. J. Langoe
NATIONALITY GROUPS IN POLITICS .............................................
(An Editorial)
WISHES FOR'THE NEW YEAR..........................................
10-13
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3
4
5-7
8
9,16
14-16
17
A QUESTION AND ANSWER PAGE FOR FOREIGN BORN
18
BITS OF HUMOR..................................
19
Subscriptions, twelve issues, TwoDollars yearly; single copies, twenty
pents. Remit by United States Mone y Order, Express Money Order or
Check. In Canada and other foreign countries, belonging to the Postal
Union, fifty cents additional should be added.
Back numbers, not over three months old, twenty-five cents; more
than three months, One Dollar each.
Instructions for change of address should be sent two weeks in ad
vance of mailing. Always give old address, as Well as the new, and al
ways write plainly.
The Editor will be glad to consider contributions; but a stamped and
addressed envelope must be inclosed, if the return of unavailable manu
scripts is desired.
Entered as Second Class Mail Matter in the Post Office at Portland,
Oregon, under the Act of Congress of March Third, 1879.
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