The San Francisco call., 1904-08-20
NATURALIZATION FRAUDS.

IT HE startling discovery that i'll and around New
York City aliens to the number of 100000 who
hold fraudulent naturalization papers should rouse
people the exceeding need of complete revision of
our immigration laws Soon after these frauds were dis
closed the Atlantic liners put down the steerage fare
from Europe to the small sum of So IS. This means
that the material of which fraudulent citizens and
illegal made is to be largely increased. The
evidence already the possession of the officers shows
that there enough of these probably hold the bal
of power in a close Presidential election.
They are grouped in and around New York City, TO
cused upon the location where political battles are
intense, and the risk of having the posses
of the Presidency decided by English speaking
Aliens who are legally citizens The prospect is far
from pleasing and the situation should admonsh our
legislators of the of better protection against the
possibilities of this foreign immigration. No
difficulty is found in getting legislation to exclude the
Chinese, for they have Indeed. 1t may be said
be a merit in them that matter what frauds they
may practice get into the country they cannot legally
or illegally become voters after they get here.
Serious as considerable violations of the Chinese
clusion law may be, they seem to lose importance in
the presence of wholesale violations OF our naturaiza-
tion laws by which immense numbers OF aliens. equal
to the Chinese ignorance OF country and govern
and inferior to them in good ORDER get the power
control the government itself Some must take
the responsibility of making such situation less posi-
bic. Time was that we wanted immigration. 1t was our
proper national policy to encourage It, To that end we
forced expatration treaties with the governments OF
Europe and put the period OF probation for natural
lied citizens five years. For long time the majority
of immigrants who came sought new home here be-
OF their knowledge of institutions and their
intelligent attachment form of government
They a wholesome addition to our population.
They rapidly assimated and made good Americans. and
composite blood still shows the physical prepotency
they brought with them. Their motive in coming was
entirely 1t had strong infusion of senti-
mental attachment liberty, regulated by law Their
thrift and industry readily took advantage of broader
opportunities for the beerment of their fortunes and
they contributed largely to the national wealth But in
threequarters of century drained Europe OF that
element 1t the moral and physical health of the
Old World and valued addition to the vgor OF this
republic While it coming, in response to our invi-
taton acquired certain sentimental ideas about mmi-
grants which grossly mst the hordes that pouring
in at the rate of nearly million year. and that
have little respect for institutions that they imme
diatey proceed violate laws and sophsticate Our
citizenship
The old style immigrants looked upon our laws and
institutions with and held them sacred to
be trihed with. large percentage of those who come
have respect for laws and institutions and
many of trem heart the enemies OF all government
and OF all law. The issue is serious. The immigration
laws should be revised We should dictate the number
should seriously and sternly purge that number of all
undesirable individuals.
This proposition offends first the American sentmen
talst who still treating his country an asylum for
the oppressed of all nations and has conception of the
exceedingly practical of the problem presented
in the complete change in the character of immigration
Next this reform touches the practical politician the
who will strive get for his ticket the hundred thou
sand of the aliens who by fraud and crime have
possessed themselves of illegal naturalization papers He
Will make himself felt all the way up the line to Con
gress He will make it appear that better laws the
subject and the better safeguarding of American citizen
ship will offend foreign born people already domes
Gated here. The this is that if they are OF
Tended by protect the liberties and free in
stituons which they here to enjoy they ougbi
never to have been permitted to come, and the sooner
keep others like them the better for the country
No deserving alien born citizen will object to proper
reform Such has heart the interests of his
adopted country 1t has been kind him. Here he has
enjoyed larger opportunity and perfect liberty, and the
only way perpetuate both by properly safeguarding
the political institutions that make them possible He
will and readily admit that those institutions cannot
long survive the effect of fraudulent citizenship and il
legal votes. We OF opinion that the member of Con
gress who will give to this matter wise and udicious
attention will secure enduring fame as a bcnefactor oil
his country.
Reno has risen her might and metropolitan dignity
She has been able to endur with patient suffering III.