The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-01
QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS.
Senator Forrest COrrects a Very Serious
Miss:atement.

SEATTLE, Oct. 81. 1892
To THE EDITOR: The following appears in
your issue OF this morning (Monday October 30),
under the heading Harry Is Right:
SEATTLE. Oct. %, Is9,
dispute for few workingmen, who cannot
afford the luxury OF a lawyers advice? Charlie
came to the United States before he was q
years old. When he became OF age he voted and
took all the rights OF citizen, thinking that
because he came to the United States before he
was legally man he did not have to take out
any naturalization papers. Ten years after he
became of age he was told that he was not n
legal citizen. ana he then took out his first
papers in Dakota. while it was a territory lie
then shortly after came to Washington uhat
was in 1850 before il was a state. Now. Harry
says Charlie Is ii legal citizen and don't have to
take out any second papers. l say that he is
not; that he cannot vote at the next election or
hold any Office. Which IS correct?
Is9 Mercer street JAMES CRAWFORD
las he had taken ont his first papers ard lived
here before Washington was admitted as a state,
be Is II legal voter now. All who were legal
voters in territorial days are legal voters now
Ii he had not lived here and taken out his first
papers before the admission of Washington, he
would not be voter
Permit me to disagree with you am of the
opinion that Harry is wrong Section $3.50 of
the code of 1851 reads as follows: All Ameri-
can male citizens above the age OF 81 years and
all American hall breeds over that age who
have adopted the habits of the whites, and oil
that age. who shall have declared on oath their
intentions to become citizens, at least six
month previous 10 the day of election, and SHAH
hare taken an oath 10 support The constitution Of the
United States. ard the organic &c. of this terr0ru
at least SIX months previous to the day OF cleo
ton, aud none other sh all be entitled
To hold Office or vote al any election in this ter
ritory,'' etc. You will notice that the law ia
very plain ana specific IN prescribing the quail
hcauoas necessary Tor an alien to become an
elector. First, he must have declared his IN
tention 10 become q citizen at least six months
previous 10 the day OF election. Second he
must have taken an oath to support the eonsti-
tuition of the United states and the organic nf Of
this (WdshiRgtonJ territory. at least six months
previous 10 the day OF election. When was
city clerk and ex-o!cio registrar of the city
noticed that the second qualification required
by the territorial statute had been generally ig-
nored, and any alien who had declared his
intention 70 become e citizen the requisite time
before an election, Was permitted to register and
vote. In order to make fair test of the
law, IN the spring OF IsS6 or 1857, | refused
10 register resident of the city who
had been registered and voted at two
previous city elections, GA the ground that
his declsration OF Intention having been made
IN Kansas, he had not taken oath 10 support
she organic act OF Washington territory as re.
Quired by law. JuEius Rochester. acting On
behal. OF the plaintiff. man named Olson, if I
remember rightly, Immediately sued gu; a writ
of mandate in the district court TO compel me 10
register the plaintiff. The Hon George Turner
then judge OF the United States district court
holding term OF court here for Chief
justice Jones. | think, and the writ was msde
returnable before him. Upon the hearing Judge
Turner sustained NY position, and refused 10
grant the VIII Under this decision OF Judge
Turner's which has never been questioned. II
follows that the only sersons not full citizens Of
the United States who are qualified 70 vote in
taIs state are those who were residents OF Wash.
ingtou territory aud had declared their inten-
tons TO become citizens of the United states IT
least six months previous 10 the adoption OF our
constitution. and who took an oath to support
the constitution OF tie United States and the
organic act OF Washington territory az least six
months previous - tBe adoption OF OR state
constitution. The oath required OF an alien
npon his declaring ais inieniion 10 become 8
citizen Is IN eject that IL IS bonafde his iuten-
ton 10 become u cIGZea Of the United states
ami reuounce forever all allegiance to aDv
foreign prince, potentste, state or sovereignty
whatever. IL therefore follows that b., very