Fosdick Masten Park High School - Chronicle Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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THE CHRONICLE Il and willingness to work, a desire to become useful? Are the immi- grants of today any worse than those who preceded them? They are lgrecisely of the same character. They are of the same flesh and loo . The foremost exponents of the policy advocating a further ex- clusion of the immigrant maintain that a, labor shortage exists in this land, and that the immigrant is taking the place of the American la- borer. It is undeniable that the foreign laborer displaces the Ameri- can workman, but in doing so he assumes the burden of the heaviest work unflinchingly, thereby bettering labor conditions, making wages higher, and hours of labor shorter. Should a labor shortage exist in this country when so much of our great southern and western lands are yet undeveloped? IVIove the ports of entrance, establish them along the coast near to the field of labor. These immigrants cannot go far inland. Their money is exhausted. Is it surprising that they huddle on the East Side, in the dark anarchy-reeking recesses of the large cities, when our government permits them to settle in such places? Carry them to Virginia, Carolina, Iowa and Minnesota, lands which lead to greater opportunities and a place in the sun. Look back with me for a-moment over that horrible period, through which we have just passed. More men were killed, mas- sacred and mutilated and more innocents were made to suffer in that war, than in all the wars the world has ever witnessed. What part did the immigrant play in that awful struggle? Coming from every part of our country and from every class of the community, they fought like men, and died like heroes. Nobody asked .whence they came, they knew their duty, they knew how to obey and how to fight, and counted not the cost. Look at our country's huge service Hag. Read the honor roIl.' Name after name is foreigng names in blue and names in gold. No one dares deny that the foreigners gave freely of their flesh and blood for the preservation of those ideals of freedom and democracy for which America. fought-ideals with which they were hardly acquainted. Yet they sensed the American spirit and gave their last full measure of devotion for the cause of liberty. No one will deny that the Jew, the Pole, the Italian, the Slav is doing his share toward the maintenance of the principles of government in the United States. They unite with their fellow citizens in love, in venera- tion for the flag, and are ready at all times, in common with their fel- low-Americans. , When a man becomes a citizen of the United States, his nation- ality is unimportant. I Ie brings with him such gifts as he pos- sesses, and all of them combined, have brought about that remarkable being, the finest the world has ever known-the composite American. Go to all the cities of the land, visit all the states of the union, note the men and women who have left their mark and impress upon their communities, read the story of their accomplishments and you will find among them immigrants, and the sons and daughters of immi- grants, from every land and every clime. HERMAN TEIBEL,

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I0 THE CHRONICLE r I he Stamina nf the Immigrant Prize Oration in Columbia Oratorical Contest. There are many subjects in regard to which' there exists a great diversity of opinion. One of these is immigration. Since the begin- ning of our national existence, people have assumed three distinct attitudes toward the subject. There are those who oppose all immi- gration, those who advocate the open door policy without any re- striction, and those who believe in moderate restriction. The last course is the one I would recommend for the following reasons: I invite you to consider the experiences of the past as they bear upon our immigration policy--lest we forget. The services that the immigrant has rendered are invaluable. During the Revolutionary war he fought shoulder to shoulder with his more Americanized brothers, to free us from EngIand's despotic power. In the war of 1812 he fought with equal courage and fearlessness to insure the free- dom of the seas. In the Civil war he proved his loyalty and patriot- ism by combating that most undemocratic institution, slavery. We point with pride to the accomplishments of our nation in the past fifty years. The great west has been opened and settled. Who made it possible to develop our great farm lands? Who was it that made it possible to build the railroads which penetrate every part of our domain, our trans-continental railroads, our canals, and all the great public works of every imaginable variety, which have contrib- uted so greatly to the progress, prosperity, and development of this nation. It was the immigrant! What induces the immigrant of today to come to this land of opportunity? Europe and America 1 compare theml The one, old and crafty, the other, young and virileg Europe, bur- dened with the crime of centuriesg America, active with her future, clear of conscience: upon one side the privileged classesg upon the other, reward of merit. Europe, seething, raging with po- litical strifesg America calm, dispassionate, with a government as strong as Gibraltar. One is frantic for warg the other imperturable, admirable in both peace and war. Upon one side, there is despairg upon the other, hope. I-low unlike the two! Europe persecutesg America tolerates. The one in want and misery, sunken in aflilictiong the other in plenty, overflowing with wealth and prosperity. Could there be any other choice than America? What are the arguments lodged against the immigrant today? The immigrant is poorg the immigrant adds nothing to the wealth of the nation at the time of his arrival. It is true that he is poor: but were those who came to this country during the past century rich? Did they bring anything to this country except stout hearts

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12 THE CHRONICLE E112 Alumni Asasnriatinn nf im. as. One winter evening in l92l a little group of loyal Mastenites met at the home of Miss Elizabeth Grabau to talk over a matter that each had pondered earnestly in his heart,-the subject of a rebirth for the Alumni Association of lVlasten Park I-Iigh School. There had been an association in the old days but it had died a natural death. To reform, reorganize, and start anew, was the task they set before them. One thought was uppermost in every mind-one question they asked themselves: What can we do that will give to every graduate of lVlasten Park an opportunity to strengthen the friendships of high school days, to kindle anew the fires of love and loyalty to his Alma Mater, and to express this love in concrete form through service toi ward a common goal? In this spirit the new Alumni Association was formed. The little group of leaders consisted of members of the Class of 191 6. Therefore it was natural and fitting that the first meeting should be a gathering of that class. It was most appropriate, also, that they should gather in honor of their beloved Pop who, in March of that year, was celebrating his seventieth birthday. And so, on March IZ, I92I, at a birthday dinner, the Masten Park Alumni Association was urebornf' The first general meeting was held in June, l92l. Following the precedent established then, there has been a June meeting each suc- cessive year on the evening following Commencement, at which time we take pleasure in welcoming to our ranks the class which has just been graduated from lVlasten Park. As a token of our welcome, free membership for one year is given to each new alumnus. By the following June H9221 one of the biggest undertakings of the Association was well under way-the raising of funds for the Masten Park-Fosdick Scholarships to be established at the University of Buffalo. Up to May of this year almost 354,000 has been con- tributed. S5,000 by June! is our slogan. If we reach our goal the first awards can be made to members of the Class of I925. This will mean work,-work and co-operation and a spirit of loyal service. It will require the same spirit that prompted the gen- erous gift of the Class of 1922, that made possible the presentation of a play which netted more than 515300 for the fund-the spirit that set aside a portion of the proceeds from the School Concerts that the goal we had set ourselves might be reached. Work-co-operation-a worthy aim. These things we must have if we are to make the Alumni Association the power that we want It