Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-12-06

Asid nf philAnthropic sndssyor. \ r,
equally trus that among the men q.
whom We are most proud A. Ameri-
cans no distinction whatever can ~
drawn between those who themselves
Of whose parents came over "a sailing
ship or steamer from across the water
and those whose ancestors stepped
ashore into the wooded wilderness at 4
Plymouth or at the mouth of the Hud
son. the Delaware or the James nearly
three centuries ago. No fellow citizen
OF ours is entitled to any peculiar re-
gard 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 discrimI-s
mated against therefor. Each must
stand on his worth as q man. and each
II entitled to be judged solely thereby.
There is no danger Of having too
many immigrants OF the right kind. It
makes no difference from what col,l
try they come II they are sound IN
body and in mind and above all Il they
are Of good character. 50 that we can
rest assured that their children and
grandchildren Will be worthy fellow
citizens Of our children and grandchil-
dren. then we should welcome them
with cordial hospitality. '': 5ss5.5s.
But the citizenship of this country
should not be debased. It lie vital TINT
We should keep high the standard Of
well being among our wageworkers,
and therefore we should not admit
masses OF men whose standards OF liy-
Ing and whose personal customs and
habits are such that they tend to lower
the level Of the American wagework-
any man Of an. unworthy type, any
man concerning whom we can say
that he will himself be q bad citizen or
that his children and grandchildren
Will detract from instead of adding to
the sum Of the good citizenship Of the
country Similarly we should take the
greatest care about naturalization.
Fraudulent naturalization, the natnral-
ization Of improper persons. is a curse
to our government, and it is the affair
Of every honest voter wherever born to
zee that no fraudulent voting is al
lowed, that no. fraud in connection
with naturalization is permitted.
In the past year the cases of false,
fraudulent and improper naturalization
OF aliens coming to the attention of the
executive branches of the government
have increased 4 to an alarming de-
gree. Extensive sales of forged certifi-
Gates of naturalization have been dis
covered, as well as many cases of nat
uralization secured by perjury and
fraud, and. in addition, instances have
accumulated showing that many courts
Issue certificates Of naturalization care
lessly and upon insufficient evidence.
Under the constitution it is in the
power of the congress Ito establish q
uniform rule Of naturalization" and
numerous laws have from time to time
been enacted for that purpose, which
have been supplemented in few states
by state laws having special applica-
ton. The federal statutes permit nat
uralaation by any court Of record In
the United States having common law
5urfbdictiOn and a seal and clerk, ex-
cep the police court of the District of
Columbia, and nearly all these courts
exercise this important function. II
results that where so many courts Of
sutdl varying grades have jurisdiction
th're Is lack of uniformity in the rules
applied in comforting naturalization.
Some courts are strict and others lax.
An alien who may secure naturaliza-
ton in one place might be denied it III
another, and the intent of the constitu-
ttonal provision is, in fact, defeated.
Furthermore. the certificates Of nat
uralization issued by the courts differ
widely in wording and appearance and
when they are brought into use in for
aign countries are frequently subject
to suspicion.
Naturalization Laws Should be Revised
There should be comprehensive re-
vision Of the naturalization laws. Tie
courts having power to naturalize
should be definitely named by national
authority; the testimony upon which
naturalization may be conferred should
be definitely prescribed; publication Of
naturalization applications
should be required in advance Of their
hearing in court: the form and wording
Of all certificates issued should be uni
form throughout the country. and the
courts should be required to make re-
turns to the secretary of state at stated
periods Of all administrations conferred.
Laws Concerning Citizenship.
Not only are the laws relating to
now defective but those
relating to citizenship Of the United
States ought also to be made the sub
ject Of scientific inquiry with view to
probable further legislation. By what
acts expatriation may be assumed to
have been accomplished, how long an
American citizen may reside abroad
and receive the protection Of our pass
port whether any degree Of protection
should be extended to one who has
made the declaration Of intention to be-
come a citizen of the United States. but
has not secured naturalization. are
questions Of serious import, involving
personal rights and often producing