Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1919 — “THEM’S OUR SENTIMENTS” [ARTICLE]

“THEM’S OUR SENTIMENTS”

English Language Is Good Enough to Teach In Public Schools. Indianapolis, February 14. —One thousand Rotarians, all business men in Indiana/ arose as one man and, with . a spontaneous outburst of cheers, approved a statement by Governor W. L. Harding of lowa, who said in his address before the Eleventh district conference of Rotary Clubs of Indiana that the Bnglish language should be the only language taught in the schools •f the United States. 1 “We are big enough and great 'enough and good enough to have a language all our own,” Governor Harding said, “and that should he the English language.” Like a giant wave the Rotarians jumped to their feet and began a round of cheers that lasted for Several minutes. 1 “Carry that message to your statehouse, boys!” the Governor •houted. And again a cheer went up, for the Indiana Rotarians knew that the legislature of Indiana was bickering over the question of teaching German in the Indiana schools. In discussing the controversy in the legislature over the passage of the anti-German bill, Mayor Charles H. Jewett es Indianapolis echoed The Democrat’s oft repeated opinion that ALL foreign languages

should be elimnated from our 'public schools. And The Democrat, for the same reasons given by Mayor Jewett, would 'prohibit by national law the publication of any newspapers in America except those printed in the English language. Then foreigners coming to our shores would make more haste to learn our language and would the quicker become really Americanteed. Mayor Jewett said: “Our elementary schools, public, privhte or parochial, should teach no other modern language than the English language. The high schools should, not he compelled to place In their curriculum any other language than the English language. "The foreigner who comes to this country with the sincere purpose of becoming an American citizen should be eager to evidence that intention by adopting the English language. Foreigners who want to be American citizens will find a hearty welcome in this country, but the welcome Implies their acceptance of the American language and a reverence for American institutions. The person who comes here and is unwilling to learn our language can never be an appreciative American citizen, and we are better oft ■without him than with him. The time has passed when our large cities will have little colonies with the traits and customs of European countries preserved by a foreign element. We do not want a nation composed of colonies known as ‘Little Austrias,’ ‘Little Serblas,’ ‘Little Germanys,’ ‘Little Russias,' etc. These people either ought to be Americans or be considered as foreign visitors. - , , “There should be no further hesitation about passing a saw that would make our Indiana schools thoroughly American. It seems that all should be united in seeing to it that such a law is passed without delay. The law should be concise and specific so that everybody can readily understand it.”