The morning call., 1893-03-29
MAKING CITIZENS.
The Process Often Stops
Very Early.
Men Who Declare Intentions for Bush
ness Ends-Others Who Hasten
to Become Citizens.

In the County Clerks office there is O
room set apart for the foreigner who feels,
or thinks he feels, that this country is good
enough for him and that he is content to
spend the balance of his life under its laws.
During the past month 12s persons have
signed away their allegiance to various for
eign powers and potentates in Clerk Haley's
office.
Built by no means follows that this eouE-
try viii gain 12S new citizens. There is a
little joker" at work
The Joker" is this: Before a man can
file on Government land he must be a citi-
zen, or have declared his Intention" Be-
fore man can become a member of the
Coast Seamen's Union he must have done
likewise. Before he can serve on any
American vessel or become even a petty
officer he must either be a citizen or have
declared his intention of becoming one.
There are some nationalIties which have
from al. time since The revolution furnished
steady stream of immigrants, waiting
only for the first chance to claim complete
citizenship. Thus it is not surprising to
find that Of the 128 intentions declared dur
ing the past month twenty-siX of the sign
ers were subjects of the Emperor of Ger
many and nineteen were natives of Ireland,
nominally subjects of Queen Victoria.
But the other figures are little surpris-
ing since the general impression is that Eng
ishmen, Scotchmen, Welchmen and CO.
lonials Including Australians, New Zeal
anders and Canadians are seldom disposed
to 40 back on the UHien-Jack.
Nevertheless the records in Clerk Haley's
Office show that during the past month
fourteen natives of Scotland. thirteen of
England and Wales, six of Canada and
four OF Australia aud New Zealand gave
notice OF their intention TO become citizens
and to forswear allegiance specially to
the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland"
The Scandinavans, Danes and Firms are
sailors in nearly every instance. and of the
declarations of intention eleven were signed
by Swedes, five by NOrwegians. four by
Danes and six by Firms. The Finlanders
of course abjured allegiance to the Emperor
OF Russia, as did one Pole aud three natives
Of Russia proper.
In this connection reference to long list
OF declarations Of Intentions and subsequent
naturAlizations since 1880 showed that of
the maritime Immigrants or men following
the sea as trade not more than 3 per cent
carry out the declaration of intention
to the full extent of citizenship, leading to
the Inference that the declaration is
merely made to comply with the letter OF
the law affecting the manning of American
ships
OF the British subjects who declared in
tention during the month one was William
GfetI 11aITlSOut WHO ueScTlOeS MIN SELL as q
native of Ireland. Another was Sarah L.
Turner, native of England, the only
female applicant ON the list for honoIs of
citizenship.
Ausria-Hungary furnished five appli-
cants and the records of ten years show
that such applicants generally become
actual citizens. So with Switzerland,
which contributed four applicants. Portu-
gal and Italy contributed two each.
The Portuguese and Italians are acquir-
ing considerable property In California, and,
according TO Clerk Deane, are showing an
increasing disposition to reside permanently
in the State and interest themselves in its
government by becoming actdal citizens.
The months record is slightly anomalous,
to appearance, in not showing a single
French applicant for the first step to cIti-
zenship. 1t appears. however, that the in
flux of French citizens Into this State ii
almost nominal now. and has been so fol
some time past.