Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-06

enacting the laws. First and fOremost,
let us remember that the question Of be-
ing a good American has nothing what
ever to do with mau 3 birthplace any
more than it has to do with his creed.
In every generation from the time this
government was founded men Of for
eign birth have stood in the very fore
most rank of good citizenship, and that
not merely in one, but in every Held of
American activity, while TO try to draw
a distinction between the man whoao
parents came to this country and the
man whose ancestors came to II several
generations back is a mere absurdity.
Good Americanism is matter Of heart,
of conscience, of lofty aspiration, Of
sound common sense, but not Of birth
place OF Of creed. The medal Of honor,
the high prize to be won by those who
serve in the army aud the navy OK the
United States deeorates men born here,
and il also decorates men born in Great
Britain and Ireland, in Germany, IN
Scandinavia, in, France, and doubtless
| in other countries also. In the Held OK
craftsmanship, in the field OF buatneas,
| in the field Of philanthr0pic endeaver,
| il is equally true that among the mon
of whom we are most proud as Ameri-
cans, no distinction whatever can DO
drawn between those who themselves
or whose parents came over in sailinG
shin or steamer from across the water
land those whose ancestors stepped
Iashore into the wooded wilderneas at
plymouth or at the mouth of the Hud-
Ison. the Delaware OF 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
lworahips his Maker, or because OF the
Ibirthpiaee of himself or his parents.
lnor should he be in any way diseRimt
mated against therefor. Each must
Istand on his worth as man, and each
lis entitled to be judged solely thereby.
There is no danger of having too
many immigrants Of the right kind. At
Imakes no difference from what country
lthey come. II they are sound IN bod5
aud mind, and, above all, II they are
J Of good character, so that we can rest
| assured that their children and grand
Ichildren will be worthy fellow citizens
of our children and grandchildren, then
we should welcome them with eordiaa
: hospitality.
: But tho citizenship of this country
; should not be debased. IL IL vital ehas
} we should keep high the standard OK
. wellbeing among our wage.worsers,
+ land therefore we should not admit
Q massas of men whose standards of law
c linz and whose personal customs and
5 habits are such that they tend TO lower
b the level Of the American wage-workeri
and. above all, we should not ndmAt
lanv man of an unworthy type, any man
r concerning whom we can say thatvhe
= win himself be bad eitizeny or th@s
o lhis children and grandchildren win de-
( Itract from instead Of adding to the sum
o Of the good citizenship of the country.
r Isimilarly we should take the greatest
l. care about naturalization. Franduient
v naturalization, the naturalization on
y Improper persons, is O curse to our gov
D lernment. and IL Is the affair OF every
" honest voter, wherever born, TO see
% that no fraudulent voting IL alicweo'
D. THAT no fraud in connection Wish nat
IT Iuralization is permitted.
T. In the past year the cases OF false,
ID fraudulent and improper paturhliEa-
os tion OF aliens coming Co the attention
Iof the executive branches OF the gov
Iornment have Increased TO an alarming
"a ideoree. Extensive ssles Of forged GER
" Itifeates of naturalization have been
n discovered, as well as many cases OK
ss naturalization secured by perjury and
T. fraud; and, in addition. instances have
sr Accumulated showing that many courts
O. Issue certificates of naturalization care
r lessly aud upon insufficient evidence.
ID Under the constitution IL Is an the
1T power of the congress "to estabish
If Uniform rule of naturalization" and ma
~ merous laws have from time to time
l. been enacted for that purpose, which
@ have been supplemented in a few statea
10 by state laws having special appltea-
tion. The federal statutes permit nat
iuralization by any court or record an
e, the United States having common law
1f jurisdiction and a seal and clerk, except
te the police court of the District OF Vo-
llumbia, and nearly all these courts 'eK-
ercise this important function. t-re-
nt suits that where so many courts OF ~ seen
W VARYING Qrades have Jurisdiction there
n is lack of uniformity in the rules aP-
nj IuIied in comforting naturalization. bome
is courts are strict and others lax. An
Ialien who may secure naturalization An
o. one place might be denied 10 An an
10 other. and the intent of the eonstitn-
lie tionai provision is in fact defeated.
u Furthermore, the certificates Of natnF-
/ alization issued by the courts diher
I'd widely ia wording and appearance, ai'a
O. when they are brought into use IN tor-
he eiRn countries are frequently subject
Tn TO suspicion.
~ Naturalization Laws Should Be Reviaee
n There should be comprehensive re'
n vision of the naturalization laws Hha
In courts having power TO nhturailfs
to should be definitely named by nationa'
es authority; the testimony upon whiss
ma naturalization may be conferred should
es be definitely prescribedj Publieation OF
OF Impending naturalization Applications
N. should be required in advance OF theif
n hearing in courtj the form and word
a. ling of all certificates issued shouidap ps
le- uniform throughout the country, ana
the courts should be required 10 lnaks
he returns TO the secretary OF state az
N. stated periods of all naturaliSA''oAa
ed - 4nrrnd