The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-08
MAKING NEW CITIZENS.
Many Foreigners Being Naturalixcd
in Large Cities.

NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE rush to get
natrralized in time to vote in the coming
elections crowded the narrow corridors of
the postofflcs building today with an eager.
| excited, distracted. and chattering mob of
foreigners. whom the custodian's squad.
aided by political heelers, sought to shape
into lines leading respectively to Conmis-
sioner Shields office, to the Office Of the
clerk of the United States District Court,
and to the court room itself. where the
men who had passed were finally sworn in
as citizens Of the United States by Justice
Brown. similar proceeding was going
on in Brooklyn.I Tomorrow is the last 6ay
according to law. for naturalizations in
time for the election.
The district captains were in a hurry;
1t was impossible to, coach half hundred
men effec lively in a few minutes in order
that they might answer properly questions
concerning the. Goyernment of this coun-
try and witness who knew all about the
applicant. his age, where he lived his
character, and kaIki in life had to be fur
nished in every case.
The first ordeal was the worst. line
led up to the commissioner desk. each
man with his witness Through the open
door the noise in the hall came in like
confused hubbub, followed by articulate
profanity and cries of Get out" Come
now, get OUT. Move him along" and
practical work by the doorkeepers, who
know how to push.
Whats the form of our government"
the commissioner asks, hurriedly
Injected State" says the applicant. af
ter some hesitation.
mo, no; what kind of government is
it?"
"oh, Republic"
Who makes the laws?"
This was usually answered as the Con
gress.''
who elects the Governor Of New York;"
What neople? The people of New Jer
sey?''
Yes"
The people of New Jersey elect the
Governor of the State of New York; says
the commissioner. wildly.
"Ess," repeats the applicant, who feels
he is the right track and consequently
becomes bland
"oh. you go study up Next" And the
applicant was obliged to leave his place
at the head of the line, withdraw, with
his contemptuous friend. the witness who
said "aw' sarcastically. to secluded cor
ner Of the building there to study again
the plain foundations of popu. ar govern
ment
oftentimes when the applicant had
passed rs first examination with flying
colors his witness brought him to grief.
Who is this man? How long have you
known him In this country Where does
he live2 Under what circumstances did
you make his acquaintance? What do you
know about his age?''-these questions and
more like them frequently caused witness
to stumble and break down.
Il don't like an Italian who runs with an
Irishman witness remarked the COM
missioner; they don't seem to 20 TO-
gether." He had just refused red-headed
Irishman. who professed to have been torn
and brought UP with his protege. though he
could net tell where the applicant worked
The question. "At what port did you first
land in America?" though usually simple
one to answer almost fioored an applicant
in Judge Thomas court, Brooklyn. He was
stout man in blue suit. with a splendid
ship under full spread of canvas tattooed
on the back of his hand.
''I followed the sea in '63,'' he said: "was
in the navy; the ship touched at New York
ard we went to Philadelphia to be dis
charged"
When was that?''
in TO-"
We'll. when did you first iand9"
'We were sailing all round the world;
put in ct lot of ports: in Peru too
South America l
Here the witness spoke up IT followed
the sea- he said land have shop now
ashore His bronzed face was set of by
a pair OF little. cIerlSly eyeglasses perched
on the end of his little nose. He volur-
teered much more extraneous information.
It took fully ten minutes to pin the two
men down to one port of the United States
where the applicant could be said to have
landed and begun his permanent life
ashore. 81
Citizens were made in Brooklyn at the
rate of-about twenty an hour. In Man
haitian the rate was somewhat less rapid
owing to the jamming of the corridors and
small offices. Applicants who were sworn
in today will receive their naturalization
papers on Wednesday. and SO be qualified
as voters.