The following table shows, by locality and by race, the percentage of foreign-born male employees who could speak English:

TABLE 77.-Per cent of foreign-born male employees who speak English, by locality and

by race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more males reporting in each of two or more localities. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.]

a Not computed, owing to small number involved.

The above table shows that 60.2 per cent of the foreign-born male employees in Alabama, 57.3 per cent of those in Michigan, and 70.5 per cent of those in Minnesota can speak English. The Croatian, Finnish, North and South Italian, Polish, and Slovenian employees in Minnesota show a higher percentage who can speak English than is shown by the same races in Michigan. The Slovak employees in Michigan show a somewhat larger proportion who can speak English than employees of this race in Minnesota, while the South Italians in Alabama show a higher per cent who can speak English than is exhibited by employees of this race in either of the other two localities.

The following table shows, by age at time of coming to the United States and race of individual, the percentage of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over in the households studied who could speak English:

TABLE 78.—Per cent of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by age at time of coming to the United States and race of individual.

(STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.)

[This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.]

Information was obtained in this industry for 475 foreign-born persons. Of those who were under 14 years of age at time of coming to the United States, 83.1 per cent now speak English, as compared with 54.6 per cent who were 14 years of age or over at time of arrival. Of those who were under 14, it will be noted that the entire number of Swedes now speak English, as compared with 37.5 per cent of the Croatians, this last named reporting a proportion very much smaller than that of any other race. Of those who were 14 years of age or over at time of coming to the United States, the Swedes again show the largest proportion, or 90.5 per cent, while the South Italians show the smallest proportion, or 18.4 per cent. As between the other races, the Slovaks and Finns each show a proportion above and the Slovenians and Croatians each a proportion below that shown by the total for all foreign-born persons.

The following table shows, by years in the United States and race of individual, the percentage of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over, in the households studied, who could speak English.

TABLE 79.-Per cent of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by years in the United States and race of individual.

(STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all nonEnglish-speaking races.]

That the ability to speak English is materially increased by the length of residence in the United States, is apparent from the above table, the difference being more marked among some races than others. Considering the representatives of all races, it will be noted that 29.8 per cent of those who have been in the United States under five years speak English, as compared with 65.1 per cent of those who have been in the United States from five to nine years and 86.7 per cent of those who have been in the United States ten years or over. Among those who have been in the United States under five years, the proportion of each race with ability to speak English varies little from that shown in the total, while of those who have been in the United States from five to nine years, the Swedes, Slovaks and Croatians, each show a proportion considerably above, the Finns and Slovenians a proportion slightly below, and the South Italians a proportion much below that shown by the total for all foreign-born persons. Among those who have been in the United States ten years or over, the South Italians, 50 per cent of whom speak English, show

the smallest proportion, while the Swedes, with 95.1 per cent, show the largest. Closely following the Swedes are the Slovaks, who show a proportion with ability to speak English considerably in excess of the Croatians, Slovenians, or Finns.

The two tables next submitted exhibit the relative extent to which members of non-English-speaking races were able to speak English according to their ages when they arrived in the United States and by years in the United States. The first table which follows shows, by age at time of coming to the United States and race, the percentage of foreign-born male employees who could speak English.

TABLE 80.-Per cent of foreign-born male employees who speak English, by age at time of coming to the United States and race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 100 or more males reporting. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.]

Of 4,033 foreign-born male employees 62.2 per cent can speak English, of those who were under 14 years of age at the time of coming to this country 92.9 per cent can speak English, while 61.1 per cent of those who were 14 years of age or over at the time of landing have this ability. All of the North Italians, Polish, and Swedish employees who were under 14 years of age at the time of coming to the United States can speak English, 96.4 per cent of the Finns and 56.3 per cent of the South Italians in this group can speak English. Of employees who were 14 years of age or over at the time of coming to the United States the Swedish show the greater proportion who can speak English followed, in the order mentioned, by the Slovaks, Slovenians, Finnish, South Italians, Poles, and Croatians, all of which show over 50 per cent who can speak English as contrasted with only 47.6 per cent of the North Italians having this ability. The totals for all foreign-born male employees show the Swedish having the highest per cent and the North Italians the lowest per cent who can speak English.

The next table shows, by years in the United States and race, the percentage of foreign-born male employees of non-English-speaking races who could speak English.

TABLE 81.-Per cent of foreign-born male employees who speak English, by years in the United States and race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 100 or more males reporting. The total, however, is for all nonEnglish-speaking races.]

Of 4,033 foreign employees 41.7 per cent of those who have been in the United States under five years speak English, 82 per cent of those with a residence of from five to nine years and 94.7 per cent of those who have been in the United States ten years or over can speak English. Of the total number reporting irrespective of length of residence, 62.1 per cent can speak English. Of foreign-born male employees who have been in the United States under five years, the Swedish, Slovaks, and Slovenians show over 60 per cent, the Finnish over 40 per cent, and the South Italians, Croatians, North Italians, and Poles between 35 and 39 per cent who can speak English. The Slovak and Swedish employees show over 95 per cent of those who have been in this country from five to nine years and the Slovenian, Finnish, and Croatian employees 80 per cent or over who can speak English. The other races given show over 75 per cent of employees who can speak English. All of the Slovak and Swedish employees who have been in the United States ten years or over can speak English, while the Croatians and South Italians alone show less than 90 per cent in this group who have this ability.