Smyrna times., 1894-09-19

THE question of naturalization has
been for some time one of deep interest
and is absorbing more than ever the
public mind of the nation. This is evil
denced in the recent origin of the
American Protective Association,
Junior Order of American Mechanics,
and other kindred associations. 1t has
been one of the exciting topics of the
Constitutional Convention of New
York, now in session. Under the pres
ent Constitution of New York it is
necessary that an alien shall be ma
turalized only ten days before an cleo
tion in order to make him a qualified
voter at that election. According to
the amendment adopted by the con-
vention Wednesday naturalization
must occur at least ninety days before
an alien will be qualified to vote. 1t
was even proposed to make the time
six months, but ninety days was the
time agreed upon after much discussion
of the subject. If the people ratify
this amendment at the polls one of the
most prolific sources of political cor
ruption will be abolished.
One of our leading daily cotemperar-
les thus refers to the subject of natural
iZation:
The history of naturalization in this
country is an interesting one. The
first Congress under the present form
of Government took cognizaDce of the
matter and passed in 1890 law which
required a residence of two years be.
fore an alien could become a citizen
In 1895 the term of probation was in.
creased to five years, and in 1898, in.
spired by fear of foreign influence in
American politics, the term of proba-
tiOn was still further extended to four.
teen years. But the latter law did MOI
remain in force long. During the ad
ministratiOn of Jefferson the time wa:
again reduced to five years and resi-
dence of three years required before {
declaration of intentions to become
citizen was made, but this residenc,
requirement was reduced to two year.
in 1924. Later changes in the law
while not reducing the time limit hav,
tended to make them inconsistent ant
contradictory and to open loopholes 70
fraud.
The abuses that have grown up ar
patent to every one. Regular factorie
for the manufacture of citizens are Sc
up in the large cities just before elec
tiOn and the lowest dregs of the popu
lation of Europe are invested with th
privilege of suffrage. The dominen
party in Boston, New York and Chi
cago depend largely for their cOntinu
ance in power on the number of citizen
they can turn out of the naturalization
mill daring the few days before cleo
tiOn. One of the witnesses before tn
LexOw Committee sitting in New Yorl
testified how he was instructed to oh
tain naturalizations. He was furnishe,
with a letter to a Tammany judy
saying: "Please naturalize all hands a
quickly as possible, and oblige," an
was told ITO get all the men he could
that it did not matter how long the
had been in this country and that the
would not be asked any questions"
Such loose naturalization method
are menace to American suffrage tina
cannot be ignored. This cheapenin
of citizenship is disgrace and a shame
Every travelling American feels humil
ated when he finds in London an
Paris and other large European cite
hundreds of men who boast of thei
success in getting naturalized after
few weeks residence in America, ,vOtin
and then returning to Europe with th
money in their pocket for which the
sold their votes. The priceless priv
ilege for which native Americans hay
to wait twenty-one years is thrust
the cheapest of gifts upon indigeI
foreigners.