The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-09

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slider the question or the retirement OF
the greenbaclSs and the problem Of Sc
curing In our currency such elasticity
as is consistent with safety. Every
silver dollar should be made by law re-
deemable in gold at the option of the
holder. &y
Merchant Marine.
especially commend to your immedi-
ate attention the encouragement Of our
merchant marine by appropriate legis-
lation.
The growing Importance of the orient
as field for American exports drew
from my predecessor, President Nc
Kinley. nm urgent request for its spe-
cial consideration by the congress.
The Importance of securing proper
information and data with a view to
the enlargement Of our trade with Asia
is undiminished. Our consular repre-
sentatives in China have strongly
urged a place for permanent display of
American products in some prominent
trade center Of that empire. under gov
eminent control and management. as
an effective means Of advancing our
export trade therein. I Gull the atten-
ton Of the congress to the desirability
Of carrying out these suggestions.
Immigration and Naturalization.
In dealing with, the questions Of Inn
migration and naturalization 1t is in
dispensable to keep certain facts ever
before the minds Of those who share
in enacting the laws. First and fore
most, let us remember that the ques-
ton of being good 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 foremost rank of
good citizenship, and that not merely
in one but in every field Of American
activity. u a
There is no danger Of having too
many immigrants of the right kind,
but the citizenship Of this country
should not lie debased. 1t is vital that
we should keep high the standard Of
well being among our wageworkers.
and therefore we should not admit
masses Of men whose standards Of liv
ing and whose personal customs and
habits are such that they tend to lower
the level Of the American wageworker,
and above all we should not admit any
man Of an unworthy type. Similarly
we should take the greatest care about
naturalization. Fraudulent naturaliza-
ton. the naturalization of improper
persons, is d 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 naturaliza-
ton is permitted. = - g
Revisfon of Natura lization Laws.
There should be comprehensive re-
vision Of the .natufaiigati ton laws. The
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
impending naturalization applications
should be required in advance Of their
hearing in court, the form and word
ing of oil certificates issued should be
uniform throughout the country. and
the courts Should, be required to make
returns to the secretary Of state ut
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 sub
ject of scientific inquiry with a view to
probable further legislation The pow
er9 Of the government to protect the in
tegrity of the elections Of its own off,
Gals is inherent and has been recog-
nized and affirmed by repeated dec
larations Of the supreme court. There
is no enemy OF free government more
dangerous and none SO insidious as
the corruption Of the electorate. rec
ommend the enactment of law direct
ed against bribery and corruption in
federal elections.
Delays In Criminal Prosecutions.
No subject is better worthy the at
tention Of the congress than that por.
ton Of the report OF the attorney gen.
eral dealing with the long delays and
the great obstruction to Justice expert
enced in the cases OF Beavers, Green
and GaynoI and Benson. Were these
isolated and special cases should not
call your attention to them, but the DIFF
f1culties encountered as regards these
men who have been indicted for crimi-
nal practices are not exceptional. They
are precisely similar in kind to what
occurs again and again in the case of
criminals who have sufficient means to
enable them to take advantage Of
system of procedure which has grown
up in the federal courts and which
amounts in effect to making the law
easy Of enforcement against the man
who has. no money and difficult of en-
forcement, even to the point Of some
times securing immunity. as regards
the, man who has money. At present
the interests Of the innocent man are
amply safeguarded, but the interests of
the goyernment-that is, the interests
of honest administration; that Is, the
interests Of the people not recog-
nized as. they should be-.
!: 1.-THE president discusses the progress
IT the territories of Alaska. Hawaii
and Porto Rico, with recommendations
for changes in the present system of
government OF the first named. He de-
slres to see a delegate from Alaska In
congress.l