The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-05-25
Creed of the A. p. A.

council OF the American Protective
Association completed its labors here
tonight, after four days session.
The most important work was the pre-
paration of the declaration of princi-
pies for the order, which was drawn
up during the two days conference.
1t is an important document in everv
way, The statement that Supreme
Ruler II. R. Traynor had recon-
mended twenty-one years residence
TOR naturalization was an error. His
recommendation was ten years, and
the supreme council finally decided
that seven years should elapse between
an aliens declaratation of intention
and naturalization. The council pas
sed resolution asking that this cor
rection be made by the press. The de-
claration of principles is as follows:
"Flrst-Loyalty to true American
ism, which knows neither birthplace
race, creed or party, is the first reoui-
site for membership in the American
Protective Association.
"Second-The American Protective
Association is not political party and
does not control the political affiliation
OF It's members, but it teaches them to
be intensely active in the discharge of
political duties in or out of party lines
because it believes that all problems
confronting our people will be best
solved by conscientious discharge of
the duties of citizenship by every indi-
vidual.
"Third-While tolerant of all creeds
1T holds that subsection to and support
OF any ecclesiastical power not created
and controlled by American citizens
and which claims equal if not greater
sovereignty than the government of
the United States of America is ire
conciiable with citizenship. 1t is
therefore opposed to the holding of
office i'll national or municipal govern
ment by any subject or supporter of
such ecclesiastical power.
"Fourth-We uphold the constitu-
ton of the United States of America.
and no portion more than its guarantee
of religious liberty to be guaLanteed to
the individual and not to mean that
under its protection any un-American
ecclesiastical power can claim absolute
cotrol over the education of children
growing up under the stars and stripes.
"Fifth-We consider the non-sec-
tartan, free public school the bulwark
of American institutions; the best
place for the education of American
children. To keep them such we pro-
test against the employment of sub
jects of any un-American ecclesisastic
power as officers or teachers of public
schools.
"Sixth-We condemn the support
out of the public treasury, by direct
appropriation or by contract, of anv
sectarian school, reformatory or other
institution not owned and controlled
by public authority.
"Seventh-Believing that exemp-
ton from taxation is equal to grant
of public funds, we demand that no
real or personal property be exempted
from taxation, the title to which is not
vested in the national or state govern
ments or in any of their subdivisions.
"Eighth-We protest against the
enlistment in the United States army,
navy or the militia of any state or
any person not an actual citizen of
the United States.
"Ninth-We demand for the protec-
ton of our citizen laborers the prohi-
bition of the importation of pauper
labor and the restriction of all immi-
grafton to persons VINO can show their
ability and honest intention to become
self-supporting American citizens.
"Tenth-We demand change of the
naturalization laws by repeal of the
act authorizing the naturalization of
minors without previous declaration
OF intention, and by providing that
no aliens shall be naturalized or per-
mitted to vote in any state In the
Union who cannot speak the language
of the land and who can not prove
seven years continuous residence in
this country from the date OF his de-
claration of intention.
"Eleventh-We protest against the
gross negligence and laxity with which
the judiciary of our land administer
the present naturalization laws, and
against the practice of naturallzlng
aliens at the expense of committees or
candidates as the most prolific source
of the present prostitution OF Ameri-
can citizenship to the basest uses.
"Twelfth-We demand that all hos
pitals, asylums, reformatorles or other
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