The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-06
The Noturalization Question.

The Naturalization Question.
The necessity for the re-enactment Of
the naturalization laws SO that the
conditions upon which new Corners to
America can become voters is more APP
parent than ever. In New York, where
the evils of the present loose laws are
most directly noticeable, the citizens
have become alarmed and are petition
ing to Congress to take action.
Last week Senator Hiscock, Of that
state, presented to the senate amend
rial signed by many of the most promi-
nent citizens, among them such men as
Cornelius Bliss, Brayton Ives, LIE Grand
Cannon, Frederick Taylor, Elihu Root,
Joseph NJ. Drexel, George Bliss, Daniel
G. Rollins and many others equally we'll
known, calling attention to the grave
demand for better laws.
The petition sets forth that 2O5,O0O
immigrants from Austria, Russia, Italy
and Sicily landed at the port OF New
York in 1891. This was great in
crease over the number arriving the
previous year, and this year the mum.
Der will be still greater. The petition
declares also that only a comparative
lew Of those composing this vast army
are able to read or write, the majority
being from the ignorant classes in their
native countries. Few of them speak
our language and all are in total igno-
rance Of our laws and are, OF course, in
different to them. They usually settle
in the larger cities Of this country or
form themselves into colonies and settle
in the West where they preserve their
own language and customs.
What the petitioners complain OF is
that while these ignorant classes retain
loyal feeling to their own country,
they are allowed here to go through the
Formally of becoming naturalized citi-
'zens, and "by their votes to counteract
the influence of intelligent men, who
have after long-years residence become
Americanized, as well as the votes OF
our native born citizens who are
thoroughly familiar with American in
stitutions."
Striking examples Of this state of
affairs are pointed out in New York
City, where indiscriminate and whole
sale naturalization is conducted by the
Democratic party to strengthen its
power. It is notable fact that the
very party-whfch has 80 much to say
about the Ignorant eol6red Republican
vote in the South" is recruiting its own
ranks in the manner related above.
The New York memorialists, in sup
port of their assertion, point out the
fact that Immediately preceding the
last election in the metropolis the
naturalization of the classes Of immi-
grants referred to was accompanied by
great Irregularities and fraud. In one
court in New York City 6,S71 persons
were naturalized in twenty days, $3.50
Of them by single judge. Many OF
these new citizens were manufactured
at the rate Of one minute, and on one
day October u, 1901, single judge
naturalized 5SS persons, and on two
L., KAT ond QIQ
These are startling statements, but
they are supported by the records OF
the court and cannot be disputed. Are
they not enough to set every good
American citizen to thinking2 The right
to vote is sacred thing to a citizen.
Ought not American suffrage to be bet
ter guarded? The people of this coun.
try gladly welcome intelligent and in.
dustrious new corners; but they want
halt called on the indiscriminate, whole
sale and oftentimes fraudulent naturali-
cation for political purposes. Congress
should take the matter in hand.