Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-12-09

agement, as an enectlVe means or adVanc-
ing our export trade therein. 1 call the at
tention of the congress to the desirability
Of carrying out these suggestions
Immigration and Naturalization.
In dealing with the questions OF immi-
grafton and naturalization, it is indispen-
sable to keep certain facts ever before the
minds Of those who share in enacting the
laws. First and foremost, let US remember
that the question of being coed American
has nothing whatever to do with a mans
birthplace any more than it has to do with
his creed. In every generation from the
time this government was founded men of
foreign birth have stood in the very fore
most rank of good citizenship and that not
merely in one, but in every field of Amer
lean activity; while to try to draw dis
tinction between the man whose parents
came to this country and the man whose
ancestors came to it several generations
back is a mere absurdity. Good American
ism is a matter of heart. of conscience. Of
lofty aspiration, of sound common sense,
but not of birthplace or of creed. The medal
Of honor. the highest prize to be won by
those who serve in the army and the navy
of the United States decorates men born
here, and it also decorates men born in
Great Britain and Ireland, in Germany, in
Scandinavia, in France, and doubtless in
other countries also In the field of states
manship, in the field of business in the
field of philanthropic endeavor, it is equally
true that among the men of whom we are
most proud as Americans no distinction
whatever can be drawn between those who
themselves or whose parents came over in
sailing ship or steamer from across the wa
ter and those whose ancestors stepped
ashore in the wooded wilderness at Ply
mouth or at the mouth of the Hudson, the
Delaware, or the James nearly three CEN
turtles ago. No fellow citizen Of ours is en-
titled to any peculiar regard because of the
way in which he worShipS his Maker or
because of the birthplace of himself or his
parents, nor should he be in any way dis
eliminated against therefor. Each man
must stand on his worth as man and each
is entitled to be judged solely thereby.
There is no danger Of having TOO many
immigrants of the right kind. 1t makes no
difference from what country they come.
If they are sound in body and in mind, and,
above all. If they are of good character so
that we can rest assured that their chill
dren and grandchildren will be worthy fe.-
low citizens of our children and grand
children, then we should welcome them
with cordial hospitality.
Protect Our Citizenship.
But the citizenship of this country should
not be debased. 1t is vital that we should
keep high the standard of well-being
among our wage workers, and therefore
we should not admit masses of men whose
standards of living and whose personal Gus
toms and habits are such that they tend to
lower the level of the American wage work
er; and above all, we should not admit any
man Of an unworthy type. any man con-
corning whom we can say that he will him
self be a bad citizen, or that his children
and grandchildren will detract from in
stead OF adding to the sum Of the good
citizenship of the country. Similarly we
should take the greatest care about nat
uraliZatfon. Fraudulent naturalization,
the naturalization of improper persons is
q curse to our government; and 1t Is the
affair Of every honest voter, wherever born,
to see that no fraudulent voting is allowed
that no fraud in connection with natural
ization is permitted.
In the past year the cases OF false. fraud
ulent and improper naturalization of aliens
coming to the attention of the executive
branches of the government have increased
to an alarming degree. Extensive sales OF
forged certificates Of naturalization have
been discovered, as well as many cases of
naturalization secured by perjury and
fraud and in addition, instances have ac-
cumulated showing that many courts issue
certificates of naturalization careiessly
and upon insufficient evidence.
Under the constitution it is in the power
of the congress Ito establish a uniform
rule of naturalization" and numerous
laws have from time to time been enacted
for that purpose, which have been supple
mented in a few states by state Jaws hav-
ing special application. The federal stat
utes permit naturalization by any court
of record in the United States having COM
mon law Jurisdiction and seal and clerk
except the police court of the District of
Columbia and nearly all these courts ex-
ercise this important function. 1t results
that where so many courts of such varying
grades have jurisdiction, there is lack of
uniformity in the rules applied in con-
ferring naturalization. Some courts are
strict and others lax. An alien who may
secure naturalization in one place might
be denied it in another and the intent of
the constitutional provision is in fact de-
: feated. Furthermore. the certificates of
naturalization issued by the courts differ
widely in wording and appearance, and
when they are brought into use in foreign
%-f0 L.
picion.
; Naturalization Laws Need Revision.
There should be a comprehensive revi-
sion of the naturalization laws. The courts
having power to natura.ize should be
definitely named by national authority; the
; testimony upon which naturalization may
| be conferred should be definitely prescribed
publication OF impending naturalization
! applications should be required in advance
of their hearing in court; the form and
worclng OF a. certihca-. 5 issued should be
uniform throughout the country, and the
| courts should be required to make returns
to the secretary Of state at stated periods
| of all naturalizations conferred.
Not only are the laws relating to
| naturalization now defective, but those
| relating to citizenship of the United
| States ought also to be made the subject
of scientific inquiry with view to prob
able further legislation By what acts
| expatriation may be assumed to have
| been accomplished, how long an Amer
| lean citizen may reside abroad and re-
ceive the protection OF our passport
| whether any degree of protection should
| be extended to one who has made the
| declaration of intention to become a citi-
| zen of the United States but has not Sc
| cured naturalization are questions OF
| serious import, inv Diving personal rights
| and often producing friction between this
| government and foreign governments
| Yet upon these questions our laws are
| silent. I recommend that an examina-
ton be made into the subjects of citizen
| ship, expatriation and protection OF
| Americans abroad, with a view TO ap-
| propriate legislation.
Protection Of Elections.
The power of the government to pro-