The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-09-08
!. !. Morard. Who Has Cast Ballots
in Every Election Since 1891,
Not Permitted 10 Register.
HAS NOT BEEN NATURAllZED
He Made His First Profession III {;
Texas Court and Assumed the
Rights of citizenship
Native of France.

Holm J. Morard who has been resident
of the United States for nearly fifty years
and who has voted at presidential elections
since 1854. has finally discovered that he Is
not a citizen. has never been natura!ized.
and never was authorized to vote. Not only
this: Complications have arisen in Nh Mo-
rar.i's case that may prevent him from
casting a ballot this November, and event
ually he may ascertain that he is. Ike
George Francis Train. "A citizen of the World,
with no particular privileges In any land.
Mr.. Mnrard's story Is troubling not only
the Board of Election Commissioners, but
also Judge Withrow Of the ST. Louis Cir
cuit Court and Acting City Counselor
Charie. Clafiin Allen. Whether Mr.. Mo-
rard's long residence in this country ana a
declaration of intention to swear allegiance
IN tn. American iag made f0rty-six years
ago would ent,le him TO the right to vote
nv taking o.It the regular naturalization pa
pers no one will definitely say.
He Is native of France: In le',' ne ap-
ueared before 4 court in Texas and nlai@
his formal declaration To become q CltIztn'
and two years later made his first pro!eS-
sion. He assumed the ordinary rlsnt P,JJ
scrih,d hy law to vote after one year $ resi-
dencr AMI continued voting ever since,
never once being questioned ny REGISTRAR tCH
clerks or judges Of election. MI. Mo,dLu MOI ~ ~ %,
Ueye. he was duly natufailzeu put Is nor
| certain and cannot produce any OTTER doci.
maut than this declaration. ofhc1aily Sisheu
| and sealed. -.
| As he had no naturalization papers, the
deputies in the registration Office declined
4 to ali.w him to register, and Secretary
| BobIitzelle indorsrd the decision OF the
| clerks. Mr. Morard Then applied TO Judge
| Nirhro,y who informed him ne cannot vote
| This year according to Il literal lnterpreta'
! tiou of the common law and the STATE law
| Mr. Alien who was seen ntNt. concluded MI
| NJ 1rard could vote by taking out naturaiiZt'
| lion papers Mr.. Honlitzelle holds the same
| opinion ..,. -.
| law VIII exclude Mr.. MUraTd even from reg
| istering regardless of NATURALIZATION h'
\ law said the Judge. is piaIn. IN relhlhs
! The. uilalitiCdt ton of a voter II says ne uiuS
| have declared his intention 10 hecplhe 9
| citizen of the United States. according Il
law, net less than one year nor more thal
| FIVE years hefos he offers to vote. As Mr
| Morard made hh declaration forty-siN year
age. he will not he entitled To vote. Whethel
| he takes out naturalization papers or not
| became the time which has elapsed since
his d, ,cision l. more than five years M
| MIR. Monard." said Mr.. Hobiltz-he' !
| an old and well-known citizen. The only
| way he could ever have voted was throug
his wide acqairtance. Probably The clerks
| heretofore never examined his papers, as
Stunning that they were proper Ahothel
peculiar feature of Mr.. Morard's circum
stance is that he could not. If he desired
| call himself a citizen OF France. his native
! land. as that country has law which pro
| hibits a person from citizenship after resi-
! dence o: ten years in another country. II
| all intends and purposes citizen of tn
| United States. Mr.. Morard Is. therefore, IL
| theory. without a country dnd withou
s:Gch more right than an alien.