Iowa, to be on the safe side, outlawed conversations in any language other than English in schools, at church, or even over the telephone. When people protested that they would have to give up church services in their own languages, Governor William L. Harding responded: There is no use in anyone wasting his time praying in other languages than English. God is listening only to the English tongue.
In Iowa, a restrictive law was enacted that prohibited conversations in any language other than English in schools, churches, and even on the telephone. This legislation prompted significant protests from the community, particularly concerning the impact on religious services conducted in native languages. The law illustrated a broader trend of enforcing English supremacy during that era.
Governor William L. Harding dismissed the protests, stating that prayers offered in any language besides...
