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Show FORGES MDinNG TO . EMANCIPATE MS Citizens Exhibit Spirit of Helpfulness to Foreigners at Meeting. FIFTEEN GET PAPERS Advantag-es and Responsibilities Responsi-bilities of Cititzenship Are Set Forth. Yesterday's observance In .Salt Lake of the birthday anniversary of the great emancipator was marked by the official launching of a movement for which the picture of Lincoln, the youth, reading by the light of a blazing backlog Is a fitting center. The spirit of the mafs meeting conducted conduct-ed last night at the Auditorium under the auspices of the Americanization League of Utah, in support of the night schools for foreigners, was a spirit of helpfulness toward emancipation from any and ail traditions that men are born otherwise than "free and equal." Fifteen newly constituted citizens of foreign birth were given their final papers pa-pers of naturalization by Judge Harold M. Stephens of the Third district court. Assurance that they had been honored more- highly thaji might be possible In a l'i nd of autocratic ideals was given the Americanized sons of foreign lands by Governor Simon Bamberger and former Governor "William Spry, both of foreign birth. Responsibility Explained. In presenting the certificates of citizenship. citizen-ship. Judge Stephens expressed In ids final fi-nal words that the citizenship attained would mean to each both personal opportunity oppor-tunity and civic reypunsibility. The programme of the evening was devoid de-void of tiresome features. Cosmopolitan in eh a racier, it evidenced t iie universal appeal of the Ameriean ideal of liberty mid equality, once it is understood. The affording of opportunity to foreigners of understanding it and the principles of government upon which the hope of Its perpetuation is founded was the point of need urged by each speaker and reflected as the. actual ing purpose of the move in fcuppori of the night schools in the city ;md the state, -as well as throughout the ii.it ion. Hoth Governor Bamberger and former Governor Sprv pointed out that tile loyal-t loyal-t v f an A me rivan consisted in fidelity t- the Ideals of li berty, in the name of which t lie Union was founded. Governor Ha m berg er re mark eel that nearly half a Lentury had elapsed since he was in the position of the men who were being admitted ad-mitted to citizenship. He told of his hi rival in this country at the age of 14 veai, unable to speak a word of English. Eng-lish. Speeches Are Encouraging. "I do not speak English easily now," sid i hp governor. "I speak it as the negro played his banjo, not by note nor by ear, but hy main strength, but I venture ven-ture you will all understand me when I say to you, he Americans first." Former Governor Spry remarked that :he had lit tie respect for the man who lias not a fond memory of Ids native land, rirew the distinction howpver that the quality of Ameriean allegiance is higher high-er than that to native land. More than halt' a thousand persons congregated con-gregated in t he A uditorium for the occasion. oc-casion. Every deta il of t he program hip was carried through with a smoothness that added to the success of the occasion. O. R. Pibblee, president of the league, and H. N. Young, secret a ry, were in ac-tia ac-tia charge, with the assistance of inem-hers inem-hers of the Elks lode as ushers. Mayor W. Mont Fern.' acted as chair-ma chair-ma n of the meeting and greeted those present in a few trenchant sentences, reflecting re-flecting the spirit of the occasion. "We are facing momentous possibilities that . demand of each American citizen a process of self-searchlner," said Mayor Ferry. "No belter occasion for such stock-taking of one's citizenship could be chosen than the, anniversary bf the birth of the man whose soul was committed com-mitted to battle for t he perpetuation of all that American citizenship means." Programme Is Colorful. The colorful part of the programme was furnished by the foreign-horn residents of the city, descendants of foreign -born citizens, reflecting the life of the varied lands of nativity. An exhibition in drill work and athletic performance was presented pre-sented by members of the German "Turnverein." An Italian orchestra played two numbers, giving the second rendition In response to an encore. A Norwegian chorus of a score of men and women furnished a touch of the music of the northland of the old world, and a Swedish folk dance by four young couples proved a delightful bit of entertainment. enter-tainment. The dancing was of an ex cellence such as not often seen, even among professionals, and the young people peo-ple were called back to the platform after they had marched from its once, the applause ap-plause of the audience continuing tin-abated tin-abated until it was evident that the dancers would comply with the demand for more. Music Is a Feature. The principal music, of the evening was afforded by the Salt Lake high school cadet band, which, in addition to other renditions, led the audience in the singing of "America" at the beginning and "The Star Spangled Banner" at the close or 1 he meeting. A vocal solo by Miss Kyrlakopulos and the singing of "A Flag 'Without a Stain" by Mrs. Roy Fletcher were each productive of applause, ap-plause, in which none of the concourse failed to participate. Paul Armstrong, United States naturali zation examiner, expia mea ine purpose of the night schools the qualification of foreigners for citizenship. He startled Ids hearers by informing them that the night school movement was begun no longer ago than 1915 and that it constitutes con-stitutes the first organized effort to afford af-ford the foreian born an opportunity to qualify for citizenship. He congratulated Utah Upon the support of the movement that the success of the mass meeting evidenced. Incidentally. 'Mr. Armstrong mentioned that the nleht school, as held in Salt Iike. is conducted on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, beginning be-ginning at 7:15 o'clock. Organizations Included. O R. Dlbblee. president of the league, gave the names of the organizations that are up to the present time represented in its organization. They are Salt Lake City, the Federation of Women's club, the "Daughters of the American Revolution, Revolu-tion, the Sons of the American Revolution Revolu-tion the Daughters of the Revolution, the Bonneville club, the Rotary club, the Commercial club, the American Federation of Labor, the Eagles' club and the Elks' club. It was pointed out that while there are at present some fifty members of the night school there are in the city about "CO foreigners who should be enrolled. It is the puroose of the league to swell the attendance to this figure, If possible, tne city school authorities and others having the teaching- work in charge having expressed ex-pressed a willingness to attend to the matter of instruction, which is without tuition. |