Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-18
MADE 400 CITIZENS.
A Small Army of Foreigners Natural
lied Yesterday.
SOME POINTED QUESTIONS ASKED,
And . Number Of Rather Amusing answers
Given in Return.
APPLICANTS BOTH DULL AND WITTY

Four hundred aliens were made citizens
of the United States yesterday by the
courts of Allegheny county. Already this
season nearly 800 foreigners have been nat
uralized in Pittsburg. The naturalization
season closes on October 8, and it Is believed
that at least 200 more will be naturalized
before that time.
Yesterday, however, was the biggest day
in the way of making citizens tho Pitts
burg courts have experienced In years
Common Pleas Courts Nos. 2 and and the
most of the day. In the Common Pleas
Courts 253 were naturalized, and in the
United States Court, lat. The applicants
represented nearly every nationality, and,
in the main, were an intelligent looking lot
of men.
A great reform has recently been in
augurated In .he method of naturalizing
citizens The applicant Is put through q
rather rigid examination, and he is asked
many pointed questions before being ac-
cepted into the great nursery of freedom.
Anarchists and Socialists Rejected.
All the judges have positively refused to
naturalize any one with anarchistic and
socialistic tendencies. Each one Is asked
if they have or ever had any connection
with organizations of that character. They
are also asked about the form of govern
ment in the United States, the National
and State constitutions and many other
things that the Judges believe all good citi-
zens should know. Each applicant is asked
if he can read and write and Judge Nc
Clung Is in favor of naturalizing only those
who can.
Occasionally an applicant is refused citi-
zenship and during this season several have
been turned away with instructions to learn
to read and write and speak the English
language before they again apply for natur-
alization.
Judge Kennedy refused papers to one of
the applicants recently. Tho would-be
citizen was . German.
"What do you know about our Govern
ment?' Judge Kennedy asked.
'It is all right" the German replied, In
very broken English.
"But what form Of Government do we
have?' the Judge went on, showing some
enjoyment at the applicants innocence. 'Ts
our Government the same as that of Ger
many?" he asked.
"oh, yes, yes,", the German answered,
Gust the same"
"Who is King here?" the Judge asked.
"Harrison," the Germnn answered. His
papers did not issue and he will not likely
vote this fall.
Took Time to Learn the Constitution.
Judge White while Americanizing for
eigners recently found among the appli-
cants, big, broad-chested Irishman The
usual pointed questions were put and all
were promptly answered, the applicant re-
plying that he had read the Constitution of
the United States and of Pennsylvania
"How long have you been in this country?"
the Court asked, gratifed at the prompt an
swers of the subject
Twelve years, Your Honor" was the an
swer
"Why then have you delayed your nat
uralization so long?" the Judge asked.
'I was studying the Constitutions, Your
Honor" the Irishman answered. His pa
pers were issued promptly and the newly
made citizen and the Court Joined in q
hearty laugh