The San Francisco call., 1896-02-14

the pest ana only way to obtain such adequate
expression OF the popular will is for every citi
zen to be intensely active in the discharge o.
his political duties. both in and out of party
| lines.
3. while tolerant Of all creeds. it holds thai
subtection to and support of any ecclesiastical
power no. created and controlled by American
citizens and which claims equal il not greater
! sovereignty than the Government of the United
States of America, is irreconcilabe with citizen
snip. Il is, therefore, opposed to the holding OF
Offices in National or municIpaI 90 overnment by
any supporter of such ecclesiastical power"
This section needs no Interpretation. The
slatement-supporto of and subjugation 10 any
| power which claims sovereignty is irreconeila-
! oie with ci1zenship-is as plain in its meaning
! as words OF the English language can make IL.
d "We uphold the constitution of the United
states of America, and no portion than
Its guarantee of religious liberty the individual
Wnlch does not mean that under its protection any
un-Ameriean ecclesiastical power can claim abso-
lute control over the education of children growing
| up under the Star and Stripes"
| We hold that the absolute control of the edu.
cation of children by any church is ineom-
! patible with religious liberty and is an in
ir1ngement of an inherent right of the State.
| B. "We consider the non-sectarian free public
the best place for the education of American
Cnlidren To keep them such we protest against
the employment of subjects OF any un-American
public schools
Subjects of any un-American ecclesiastical
power are, IN our opinion, those who yield
oOpJCCtlOH W anu support OF any ecCleS1dSClCdi
power which claims equal if not greater
sovereignty than the Government of the United
States"
8. "We condemn the support out OF the public
treasury by direct appropriation or by contract, of
any sectsrian school, reformatory other institu-
tlon not owned and controlled by public author
ity"
This section condemns the payment of pub
llc funds TO private institutions of any kind,
whether for the restraint of the criminal or
the insane or for the care of the sick or the
widowed or the orphaned.
z. believing that exemption from taxation is
equal to a grant of public funds we demand that
no real or personal property the title to which is
vested in the National or State governments or
tnelr subdivisions be exempt from taxation"
This section contemplates the taxation of all
non-Governmental property, whether held by
churches, charitable institutions or private
individuals, and that such taxation shall be
equal.
g. I'VE protest against the enlistment in the
United States army or navy or in the militia of
any state, OF any person not an actual citizen of
The United States"
should be placed in such position that the State
or Nation might, i'll case of wdr, have to depend
on MIN whose hrSt allegiance is due to some ma
uon Wlth which we might become involved.
9. 1--WE demand, for the protection OF our citizen
laborers, the prohibition of the importation of
pauper labor and the restriction OF immigration TO
persons who can show their ability and honest in
tention to become self-supporting American cti-
zens.'
We purpose to secure proper protection for
the wage-earners of our Nation. We are there
fore opposed to the admission of those whose
competition is calculated to reduce American
laborers to pauperism. The restriction to
persons who can show their ability and hon
est intention to become self-supporting Ameri-
can citizens" contemplates the requirement Of
evidences of physical ability, moral character
and ordinary education.
10. s'We demand the change Of the naturali "a
tion laws by repeal oSthe act thorizng the natu-
raliZation OF minors without previous declaration
be permittedto vote In any State in the Union who
cannot speak the language of the land, and who
cannot prove seven years continuous residence
In this country from the date of his declaration of
Intention
This section requires no explanation.
IL. 1--WE protest against the gross negligence and
laxty with which the judiciary OF our land admin
lister the present naturalization laws, and against
the practice of naturazing aliens at the expense
OF committees and candidates, as the most prolific
source of the present prostitution of American
citizenship 10 the hasest uses.''
We believe that admission to citizenship
should be granted only after the most careful
examination of the applicant as to his qualif-
cations TO become proper citizen; and that
the offering of inducement, other than that
which addresses itself to the patrio tism of the
person seeking admission, should be made
criminal by law.
IL. awe demand that all hospitals asyIums re-
formatories or other institutions IN which people
are under restraint be at all times subject to public
inspection, whether they are maintained by the
Republic or by rivate corporations or individ-
uais."
We demapd this for the reason that the State
is interested in all her subjects at all times and
under all circumstances, and should make
proper official investigation TO the end that
abuses upon those who are under any restraint
whatever shall be prevented, whether that re-
straint be the effect of the voluntary or the in
voluntary act of the person.
49, awe demand that all National or State Iegis-
lation affecting financial, commercial or industrial
interests be general in character and in no in
eta Pa an n tnn Ountru
class Of people,
The reasons for this demand are so manifest
and its justice so evident that comment is
unnecessary.
Mr. Editor Since writing the foregoing l
have decided that, inasmuch as the "polit1cal
principles OF the A. P. A" merely epitomize
what have treated in more detail in my
Interpretation of the A. P. A. platform. it is
unnecessary for me TO further consider those
principles here, and for that reason omit
them from this letter. Very respectfully,
B. F. HUDELSoN.
President of the A. P. A. of California.