Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-28
THEY SEEM TO READ.
Foreigners Who Hustle TO Become Citizens
Before Being Barred-some of Their
PecuIiarities.

Foreigners Who Hustle TO Become Citizens
Before Being Barred-some Of Their
PecuIiarities.
While it may be true, and doubtless is,
that Europe vomits vast amount Of her
scum upon our shores, it must be conceded
that many of her emigrants, though possi-
bly, infected with anarchistic notions,
are not ignorant and Mr.. w. 7.
Lindsey, who has lately been
paying attention to the appearance and con-
versation of people who file declaration Of
intention to become citizens, states that
they average well. Almost all can write
their names and do it well, and they seem
to be fully alive to the Importance of taking
hand in selfgovernment, and to have some
unusual stimulus to action.
What is the cause? Some say it is for the
purpose of voting against the prohibitory
amendment to be submitted next June; and,
though the unusual number taking out
final papers, at a time when there is no
election pending, gives this assertion color
of plausibility, lit does not cover the ground,
as the final ceremonies are scant compared
with the number of new declarationists,
who would not be able to vote at that time
The real reason seems more likely to be
found in the recent introduction of legisla-
tive measures adverse to foreigners in Con-
gress and in our State Legislature. In
Congress a bill was introduced which, if
enacted, would require all foreigners who
wish to become citizens to be able to read
and write, There seems to be some dl-
versity of opinion as to whether or not the
ability to read and write English is re-
quired, or merely the language of the ap-
plicant.
But what is supposed to be the main
spring of the movement is the proposition
in the Legislature to require contractors to
pay protective, or at least semi-protective
tariff on all unnaturalized labor employed
in this State
If foreigners are not able to read
our language, they at least know
how to keep posted, and know
enough to flee from the wrath to come,
and even the more or less despised Chinese
or Hun is knocking at the doors of the Nat
uralization Courts, though not so nerV-
ously as the German. Italian names
are quite frequent, as also those of Poles. 1t
was stated some weeks ago that Engllshmen
were getting naturalized much more numer-
ously than formerly, and they were said to
be doing so in order to lessen the strength of
the Irish vote, but the rush of this class
seems to be over, and of late German and
Continental names generally are more nu-
merous.
Nor are these foreigners slow politicians.
They are not at all like the Polacks of
Chicago, driven to the polls in gangs when
naturalized, for on Tuesday man ran for
Office in this city who has not yet celebrated
the second birthday of his citizenship.
Last February there were % persons who
filed in the Prothonotary's Office their inten-
tion to become citizens. In only a little
over half of this month, 329 declarations
were filed in that office. In the Clerk of
Courts office at the same time there were
$50 declarations filed; in the United States
District Court there were 81, and in the
United States Circuit Court six, making in
all SIC in 1917 days, or three an hour
during work hours. The latter court does
not get get its share on account of the door
of the District Commissioners Office being
the first one reached.