We must be free from suspicion of trying to force instruction on unwilling men and women. To this end, plans should be patiently explained through leaders of different groups. It is advisable to work with educational committees of labor unions, wherever they exist. Always there must be flexibility to adapt this work to the wishes and needs of each community and each group. A recognition of the value of old-world contributions is absolutely necessary to the full success of the undertaking.

APPENDIX

COMPOSITION OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN

1910

The figures in the 1910 census are now old but they give proportions which doubtless, in general, hold true.

OF THESE FOREIGN-BORN, ALMOST THREE MILLIONS, OR ONE IN EVERY FOUR, COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH

Illiterates in population of United States, ten years of age and more, according to the census of 1910:

Number

5, 516, 163

STATISTICS FOR NEW YORK STATE-1910 CENSUS

Total population of New York State........

Per Cent

7.7

9, 113, 614

More than 2,700,000 persons, or nearly 30 per cent of this number, were foreign-born whites. More than 3,000,000 persons, about 33 per cent, were of mixed parentage.

ILLITERATES IN NEW YORK STATE

Total number of illiterates 10 years of age and over:
Number

406,020 All classes

21.292 Native white of native parentage.

Per Cent

5.5

0.8

15.026 Native white of foreign or mixed parentage.

0.7

362,025 Foreign-born white

13.7

5,768 Negro

5.0

Niagara Falls, N. Y.

Waterbury, Conn.

Youngstown, Ohio.

Bridgeport, Conn.

Bayonne, N. J.
Lowell, Mass.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Seymour, Conn.
Chester, Pa.
Elmira, N. Y.
Los Angeles, Cal.
New Britain, Conn.
Southbridge, Mass.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Worcester, Mass.
New Bedford, Mass.
Cambridge, Mass.
Terre Haute, Ind.
West Orange, N. J.

FIRMS HAVING FACTORY CLASSES IN 1919
New York City

Franklin Simon Co.
General Cigar Co.
American Tobacco Co.
A. Goodman & Sas.
National Biscuit Co.
Frank Spica Co.
L. P. Hollander.
Henri Bendel, Inc.
Hickson, Inc.

Sweets Co. of America.
American Can Co.
Atlantic Comb Works.
Kaufman & Bonday.
Cohen, Goldman & Co.
L. Greenfield's Sons.
Winter & Co.
Altro Mfg. Co.

Wm. DeMuth & Co.

OPINIONS OF EMPLOYERS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON THE VALUE OF FACTORY CLASSES

In a letter to the National Americanization Committee, Charles M. Schwab said:

It has been found repeatedly that Americanization of workers has a stabilizing effect. It shows quick results in the reduction of labor turnover and tends to create a spirit of co-operation among the workmen which is impossible when they do not speak the same language.

The board of directors of the Merchants' Association of New York City said in a recent report:

We recommend strongly the institution of classes for manual workers and especially for illiterates, in places of employment during daylight hours, preferably with the cooperation of the public school authorities, and without loss of pay during the brief daily periods of instruction.

Mark A. Daly, general secretary of the Associated Manufac turers and Merchants of New York State, wrote to the State Department of Education in November, 1917:

The efficiency and safety of foreigners who do not speak English and who are employed in American industry has been seriously jeopardized by the fact that they have not a sufficient knowledge of the English language to comprehend ordinary "shop English."

Miss Sarah Elkus, in charge of factory classes in New York City, says:

As the classes progress, many employers are most enthusiastic in their approval of this innovation in factory life. They find the men become much more loyal to their country and to the company, and more efficient in their work when they have learned to read such signs as "Open at this end," "Do not tear," "Be careful to cut with scissors." A large amount of money is saved in this way, and increased pay and promotion have been given to those who learned the language.

The D. E. Sicher Company of New York City, manufacturers of women's underwear, says:

It is worth while and most emphatically so [to have factory classes for foreign-born]. Putting it on basis of expense, I could prove to you that it is worth while. They give back in efficient labor all that it costs to instruct them, part of each working day. We do not want cheap, illiterate, irre sponsible, unambitious labor, and all progressive manufac turers are coming to see that such labor does not pay.

The General Chemical Company of Bayonne, N. J., has said:

The results have been excellent and have made it possible to promote many of the foreign-speaking employees to more important and better paying positions.

Michael Stern and Company of Rochester wrote in July, 1919:

There has unquestionably been an increase in efficiency among those who have taken advantage of the opportunity offered. The institution [factory classes] is one in which we are very much interested and which has our entire ap