Speech #660050323

Without objection. it is so ordered. The resolutions referred to are as follows: Whereas there is now pending before tile Congress of the United States.a bill known as the SlithTowner bill creating a Department of Education with a secretary in the Presidents Cabinet and authorizing an appropriation of $100.000.000 to encourage the States in the furtherance of education . and Whereas the passing of said bill will promote the education of native illiterates. of persons unable to understand and use the English language. and of other resident persons of foreign birth. will provide for cooperation with the States in the education of such persons in the English language. the fundamental princillles of government and citizenship. tile elements of knowledge pertaining to selfsupport and- home laking. and in such other work as will assist in preparing such illiterates and foreignborn persons for successful living and intelligent Amlrican citizenship . and Whereas the grave nenace of illiteracy and of the nonassimilatlon of the foreign born was made strikingly manifest during the war. and Whereas no problem of reconstruction more intimately concerns the development of a sound citizenship and a complete Americanism amongst the peoples dwelling in our midst. and Whereas we believe that a great advance in solving the problem of illiteracy and building for a more complete Americanism will be accomplished through the wider use of the common language. English. as provided for in the proposed law: Therefore be it Resoled. That the League of Foreign Born Citizens. numbering many thousands of peoples of different nationalities united in love and loyalty to America and to its institutions. does hereby indorse and urge the passage of the SmithTowner bill . and be it further Recsolved. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the members of the committees of the United States Senate and House of epresentltive.s and to the Senators and Representatives from the State of New York : and be it further Rosoled. That the chairman of the committee on legislation. or sonic other laember to be designated by the president. be present in Washington at any date or dates that may be fixed for public hearing on said bill.