The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-27
HISTORY OF NATURALIZATION
Some of the Abuses Which Have De.
vclOped of Late.

some OF Inc ABUSES Nhlch lave De-
veloped of Late.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The history of naturalization in this
country Is an interesting one. The first
congress under the present form of
government took cognizance of the mat
ter and passed in 1890 a law which re-
quired residence of two years before
an alien could become a citizen. In
1895 the term of probation was increased
to five years. and in 1898, inspired by
fear of foreign influence in American
politics, the term of probation was still
further extended to fourteen years. But
the latter law did not remain in force
long. d uring the administration of
Jefferson the time was again reduced
five years and residence of three years
required before a declaration of inten-
tions to become a citizen was made, but
this residence requirement was re-
duced to two years in 1924. Later
changes In the laws while not reducing
the time limit have tended to make
them inconsistent and contradictory
and to open loopholes for fraud
The abuses that have grown up are
patent to every one. Regular factories
for the manufacture of citizens are set
up in large cities just before election
and the lowest dregs of the population
of Europe are invested with the priv
ilege of suffrage The Democratic party
in Boston, New York and Chicago de-
pend largely for their continuance in
power on the number of citizens they
can turn out of the naturalization mill
during the few days before election.
one of the witnesses before the LeXow
committee sitting in New York testified
how he was instructed to obtain ma
turaliZations. He was furnished with
a letter to Tammany judge saying:
please naturalize all hands as quickly
as possible, and oblige," and was told
ito get all the men he could, that ii did
not matter how long they had been in
this country and that they would not
be asked any questions"
Such loose naturalization methods
are menace to American suffrage that
cannot be ignored. This cheapening of
citizenship is disgrace and a shame
Every travelling American feels hu-
inflated when he finds in London and
Paris and other large European cities
hundreds of men who boast of their
success in getting naturalized after q
| few weeks residence In America vot-
| ing and then returning to Europe with
the money in their pocket for which
| they sold their votes. The priceless
privilege for which native Americans
| have to wait twenty-one years Is thrust
as the cheapest of gifts upon INDECENT
| foreigners.
A few efforts have been made to check
the evil, such as protests in congress
and at public meetings and by the ac-
ton of conscientious judges. But the
problem Is too large to be treatedby local
action. 1t must be treated by congress
or concert of action among the states
must be had. The bill introduced in
congress by Governor-elect Oates, of
Alabama, goes to the marrow of the
matter 1t refuses naturalization to
aliens convicted of crime and avowed
anarchists and requires residence of
one year In the state and five years in
the United States previous to applica-
tion for citizenship and confines the
right to grant naturalization to the
higher state and United States courts.
This would go far towards remedying
the evil. But If this bill cannot be
passed then there should be united ac-
tion among the states and the scandal
stopped of seeing aliens who have sim
ply declared their intentions voting by
the side of native born citizens in fif-
teen states of the Union