Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Domestic News
January 7, 1919
The Daily Banner
Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland
What is this article about?
In Flint, Mich., a civic meeting adopts a program to naturalize 16,000 foreign-born residents, aiming to become the first all-American city. An elderly French-born resident speaks, urging Americans to warmly welcome and engage with immigrants to foster citizenship and cooperation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Native of France Urges Americans to Greet Foreigners Cordially And to Show Interest in Them.
When Flint, Mich., a few days ago decided to make the effort to bring its entire foreign-born population of 16.000 persons into American citizenship, so that it might be the first all-American city in the United States one of the most stimulating occurrences of the big civic meeting at which the program was adopted came in the speech of an elderly Flint resident of French nativity.
Rising to address the meeting, he said:
"I'm French. and I'm proud of it. I have just one criticism to make of this country.
"That is, that no one apparently ever took the trouble to interest himself in my becoming a citizen. The foreigner. you say, is shy. This is so. Therefore, don't leave him to himself. Make him realize that you welcome him: that you want him to stay here as an American. and that all Americans are his friends.
"There's nothing that appeals so much to a man in a strange land as a friendly word, whether it comes from a friend or a stranger. If employers and superintendents in business plants would think in the morning to bid their foreign-born workers a cheery good day, they would be surprised at the results that would follow in the way of co-operation and friendliness. And, by the way, that is something that need not be confined exclusively to the foreign born."
When Flint, Mich., a few days ago decided to make the effort to bring its entire foreign-born population of 16.000 persons into American citizenship, so that it might be the first all-American city in the United States one of the most stimulating occurrences of the big civic meeting at which the program was adopted came in the speech of an elderly Flint resident of French nativity.
Rising to address the meeting, he said:
"I'm French. and I'm proud of it. I have just one criticism to make of this country.
"That is, that no one apparently ever took the trouble to interest himself in my becoming a citizen. The foreigner. you say, is shy. This is so. Therefore, don't leave him to himself. Make him realize that you welcome him: that you want him to stay here as an American. and that all Americans are his friends.
"There's nothing that appeals so much to a man in a strange land as a friendly word, whether it comes from a friend or a stranger. If employers and superintendents in business plants would think in the morning to bid their foreign-born workers a cheery good day, they would be surprised at the results that would follow in the way of co-operation and friendliness. And, by the way, that is something that need not be confined exclusively to the foreign born."
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Social Event
What keywords are associated?
Flint Citizenship Drive
French Immigrant Speech
Americanization
Civic Meeting
Welcoming Foreigners
What entities or persons were involved?
Elderly Flint Resident Of French Nativity
Where did it happen?
Flint, Mich.
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Flint, Mich.
Event Date
A Few Days Ago
Key Persons
Elderly Flint Resident Of French Nativity
Event Details
Civic meeting adopts program to naturalize 16,000 foreign-born residents to make Flint the first all-American city; elderly French-born resident delivers speech urging cordial welcome and interest in foreigners to encourage citizenship and cooperation.