There is small tendency on the part of immigrants in the community to acquire citizenship. The following table, exhibiting data from 704 mine employees in the community who have been in the United States five years or over, and who were 21 years of age or over at the time of coming, throws light upon the situation. Out of the total, 567 have neither first nor second papers, 75 are fully naturalized, and 62 have received first papers only. Of those who have acquired full citizenship, 18 are Slovaks, 10 Magyars, 9 Germans, 8 North Italians, 7 English, and 6 Poles. Of those having only first papers, 19 are Slovaks, 16 Magyars, 13 Poles, and 5 South Italians. The showing for all races reporting data follows:

TABLE 281.-Present political condition of foreign-born male employees who have been in the United States 5 years or over and who were 21 years of age or over at time of coming, by race and length of residence.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States.]

TABLE 282.-Present political condition of foreign-born male employees who have been in the United States 5 years or over and who were 21 years of age or over at time of coming, by race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States.]

If the data be further subdivided by periods not shown by the table, it is found that out of a total of 508 who have been in the United States from five to nine years, 470 are aliens, 30 have secured first papers only, and 8 have second papers. Distinguishing between this group and those who have been in the country for a longer period, it is shown that of a total of 196 who have had a residence of ten years or over in the United States, 97 are aliens, 32 have first papers only, and 67 have second papers.

cans.

An important influence working upon the immigrants of the community relative to citizenship is the desire to imitate AmeriThe immigrants see the native Americans greatly interested in politics, and realize that to be able to enjoy like activities they must become citizens. The consensus of opinion among the leading men of the community is that of the races of southern Europe, the Slovaks have the highest standing as citizens. Next to the Slovaks come the Poles, then the Magyars and more capable North Italians, while the South Italians are said to constitute the most undesirable political element in the community. Interest in civic affairs is shown by nearly all races in the community, but in varying degrees of intensity. The Slovaks manifest especial interest in all civic affairs; and they have gone so far as to organize two political clubs, the memberships of which are composed wholly of Slovaks. These take active part in local politics. The two Slovak clubs are under the domination of their respective leaders. The memberships of the two clubs are about the same numerically, and combined they amount to about 150 men. Of this total, possibly 100 are qualified to vote, although only 69 Slovak votes were cast in the whole community at a recent general election. The initiation fee is 50 cents and the monthly dues are 25 cents in each organization.

Tables 283 and 284 contrast the native American and naturalized foreign vote cast at a recent election. The first gives figures for the whole community, while the second presents figures for the urban

center alone. Of a total vote of 835, 602 votes were cast in the urban center and 233 in the subcommunities and mine locations. The average length of residence in the United States of each man included in the combined foreign vote shown in the two tables was twenty-two years. The English voters averaged more than twentyfive years' residence in the United States. This was the highest figure, and the one Syrian voter entered had resided in the country ten years.

TABLE 283.-Vote at a recent election in Community A, by race.

TABLE 284.-Vote in the urban center of Community A at a recent election, by race.

221

835

Number of votes cast.

The table showing immigrant churches in the locality and their membership follows:

TABLE 285.-Immigrant churches in the urban center of Community A.

A parochial school with an attendance of 125 is maintained. Slovaks, Poles, Magyars, Lithuanians. Germans, Americans, North and South Italians are found on the enrolment.

Very little special work has been attempted among the immigrants of the community by the local churches. In fact, the only attempt that has been made to do special work among them was made in a recent year by a church of the urban center under the direction of a committee of one of the large home missionary societies of Pennsylvania. Very slight results were accomplished by the undertaking, and the work died from lack of interest and funds. Another American church located in the town is planning to do welfare work among the immigrants in the community, but is greatly hampered by lack of funds. One-half of the donations for missionary work in this church will in the near future be devoted to special work among the immigrant residents of the locality, the other half to be used as heretofore in foreign missionary work. Beyond this nothing has been attempted by the native or foreign churches among the immigrant population along the lines of special welfare work. The church association between the native Americans and the southern and eastern European immigrants is limited. The general attitude of the native churches toward the immigrants is one of indifference and there is a strong inclination in the community to shun association with the immigrant in church activities. In cases where any missionary efforts are made by native churches of Protestant denomination, services for the immigrants are usually held in barns, stores, or other unattractive places, thereby lessening the interest in them. The races from the southern European countries, which compose a large portion of the population of Community A, have been reared where there is no social caste in religious organization, and have worshiped in buildings which are unsurpassed in beauty and grandeur the world over. When these people are offered services held in stores and similar buildings, their interest in the services naturally is less and they become indifferent. In addition to the regular churches, organization for religious work in the community is furnished by a branch of the Y. M. C. A., located in the urban center, the membership of which is made up chiefly of native Americans, but to which a few Slovaks, Magyars, and North and South Italians belong.

AMERICANIZATION.

Omitting the English, Germans, Irish, Norwegians, Scotch, Swedes, and Welsh, who are well Americanized, the Slovaks exhibit the most marked tendency toward Americanization. They are quick to adopt American business methods, they are interested in American politics, they observe the laws, and their record for orderliness is good. North and South Italians are also showing interest in American institutions. The Magyars and Poles show some disposition toward Americanization, but it is not as general as among the Slovaks and the more efficient of the North and South Italians. The races exhibiting the least inclination toward Americanization are the South Italian, the Russian, Roumanian, Lithuanian, and Croatian. Among the factors favoring Americanization, the following may be presented in summary form:

(1) The small size of the town and its isolated location, causing an interdependence among the various races and exerting a tendency toward breaking down the barriers of racial antipathy. This is

true of all the mine colonies and of the second generation among all races.

(2) The character of the inhabitants of the town. There is no class distinction. While little attempt is made to Americanize foreigners, no obstacles are placed in their way, and if a foreigner shows that he is a good citizen he is accepted on terms of equality. (3) Absence of justiciary "graft" in the courts, and general fairness of the laws toward immigrants, thus engendering a respect for American laws and a desire to secure in full the benefits to be derived from them.

(4) Enforced school attendance.

(5) Opportunity to purchase homes from the mining company on easy payments, thus creating a settled condition among purchasers and an interest in civic affairs.

(6) Influence of immigrant clergy in encouraging the purchase of homes and the permanency of residence.

(7) General tendency of the second generation of all races to adopt American habits and standards of living.

The causes opposing Americanization briefly stated are as follows: (1) Isolation from native Americans of a large number of immigrants living in the detached mining localities.

(2) Indifference of the average American toward the foreigners. (3) Illiteracy of the average foreigner of recent immigration. (4) The constant shifting of the population.

(5) Influence of the churches in maintaining racial and denominational distinction.

(6) The preponderatingly foreign character of the population.