The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-08-21
THE FOREIGN VOTERS.

In recent issue we drew the at
tention of all foreign voters in Minne-
sofa to the amendment to the state con.
,titution, adopted last year. requiring
that in ensuing elections every man
DESTROYS Of exercising the right of SUI
flage must have secured his second pa
pers, and become United States citizen
three months before the day of election.
We deem it necessary to refer to this
important matter again and again, until
every man of foreign birth residing in
the state for six months preceding an
election is thoroughly naturalized and
qualified to cast vote.
AS the representative of the Irish.
American element, the Irish Standard
desires that every man born in the En-
erald Isle who has attained the age Of
q years, and who is now a resident OF
Minnesota, should lose no time in quail
flying himself as an elector in the next
state campaign. In order that he may
know how to proceed to become eligible
as a voter, the following directions are
respectfully submitted for his guidance:
The first step to be taken by an alien
desiring to become a full fedged Amerl-
can by adoption, is to go to the clerk Of
any district court, Or Of any United
States court, at any time during office
hours. and make declaration" undlr
cath. of his intention to become citi-
zen Of the United States, and to forever
renounce all Allegiance to foreign pow
ers i'll general .and particularly the
prince, potentatei state, or sovereignty,
whereof he has hitherto been citizen
or subject. He needs no other witness
at this time, neither does he need to SEQ
the judge. But The does need 81, the fee
to be paid to the clerk the same having
been made uniform throughout the
state by the last: legislature. the "uni
formity" consisting in doubling the price
heretofore fixed by the larger counties
perhaps because it is now to be paid by
the individual instead of by one of the
political parties just before election, but
more likely because clerks of court on
a fee basis were watching things.
Having paid the fee the clerk will pre-
sent the applicant with a certified copy
of the oath, which certified copy is
commonly known as first papers," and
& hn Full
Two years after the issue of the First
papers the holder thereof may apply to
any court authorized to grant naturali-
cation for full citizenship-this time 10
the court itself, and not to the clerk.
other than to notify him also But he
cannot receive the desired boon unless
two full years have interviewed, nor I'M
less he shall then have resided in the
United States for five years, and in the
state in which he is in for one year.
nor unless he procures witnesses other
than himself as to the fact of such resi-
dence. If he shall satisfy the court, in
other words, the judge. that he is enti-
tied to final papers," the same will be
granted. and while Satisfying the
court" is often mere form, it is intend
ed to be. and generally is more of
court proceeding than the applicant ef-
poets, inasmuch as he must prove up
show that he has complied with the
law as to residence, etc, that he has
made his declaration more than two
years previously, that he is man of
good moral character, worthy of citi-
zenship, and attached to the principles
Having satisfied tho court, and taken
the oath of allegiance, certificate is
issued to him, under the seal of the
court. and he can go on his way re-
joicing. He is now, and not till now,
a full nedged American citizen, and is
entitled to the enjoyment OF all the
rights conferred by the constitution of
the United States upon native born citi-
zens. He can run for any Office in the
gift of the people, except for the presl-
dency, and when, going abroad passports
will be issued to him upon application
to the secretary Of state at Washing
ten. vouching and certifying under the
great seal of the United States that the
bearer thereof Is hot foreigner, but a
bona fide Amerfeah citizen.
Considerable misunderstanding exists
relative to the status of minors, but the
law itself is quite plain. The uaturali-
cation of the parent--that is. his full
citizenship. not MIS- simple declaration
also naturalizes ali, children of such par
ent who are at thai time under 81 years
years of age, and who at the time arc
dwelling anywhere in the United States;
it does not naturalize minor children
who have not reached the United States
nor does their arrival here after the
naturalization of their parent affect
such status The taking out Of FIRST
papers" by the parent in no way af-
fects the status of his minor children,
save that if he should die before he ia
actually naturalized his widow and
minor children are to be deemed citi-
zens.
According to census returns the for
cign born males Of voting age in Mime