FOREIGN LANGUAGE PRESS IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 5 September 1919, Page 7

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PRESS IN AMERICA

QUESTION OP_CONTROL. The foreign language Press is: tho United States may s'hor.tly find itself, confrouted with a, fight, as thoro is con-sidei-ablo sontiinent that it is contrary to'. the best interests of true Americanism , to havo any but the English language : , spoken and printed in tho United States. As pointed out in tho report of thoOverman sub-eomniittco of the Judiciary Committee, after its investigation into the German and Bolshevist propaganda, tho foreign language Tress "as now condueled has tho effect and in many in. stances' is inspired with the purpose of discouraging tho assimilation Of the foreign elemonts with tho American pooplo." Tho committee, however, pointed out that tho aid of tho foroign language .Press is needed in the hoaltby development of tho population -itito a homogeneous whole, and the much-to-bc-dc-6ired' Amei'icanisatioh would be "impeded by either depriving tho alien of tho educational valuo of. a newspaper in. - tho only language ho can road or by - withholding from him proper aid • and , facility for learning tho English language, and failing to encourage him .to.: acquire tho educational advantages incident to tho mastering of tho language of his adopted country." It is not thought that support will bo given to any proposition which calls for the complete suppression of tho foreign language Tress, not only uccauso such,action would bo contrary to tho freedom guaranteed by American-policies and tra- • ditions, but becauso a great deal of good has also' lieeii accomplished by these papers in tho advertising of Liberty bonds', tho. furtherance of tho various. Government campaigns and uplift moyo- ', mollis and tho important part which their papers can continue to play in"; tho .Americanisatioii plans. ; s ui