Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-10-31
Law Grants This Plight
Before Naturalization.
Ills POSITION ABROAD
Nine States Extend TO Newly Arrived
Immigrants the Right TO Vote Inn
ncdiaseIy Upon Their Declaration
Ct Intention TO Become American
Citizens.


olltical circies-who knows that
there are nine States in the Federal
ssasoa where an alien. just landed in
It's country. may in all sincerity and
tsasa say:
aola nc yalise until cast me
VOC
"a ether words. there are nine
Stsses that extend to the newly ar
rived foreigner the privilege to exer-
else the suffrage Immediately upon
his declaration OF intention 10 be-
come an American citizen. whether
uttered in good faith or not. These
States are Arkansas, Indiana, Kan
sas. Michigan. Missouri Nebraska.
Texas, Oregon and Wisconsin.
ramber of States have adopted
lax s-as - .s..- 49, - snf-
frage for aliens. The Feuelai ~
eminent IS not so considerable of the
foreigner TO reside in this country
and qualify for citizenship Except
as to the right to acquire public
lands the political status of an alien
under the Federal laws is unchanged
by his declaration of an intention to
become a citizen
One who has made the declaration
is really in the position of having no
look to for protiontion in case Of
need. His citizenship is in an in
choate state. 1t has not. however,
been acquired. and the person who
has made the declaration is still an
alien. but as he has formally de-
clared his intention to throw off his
former allegiance and take on allegi-
anca TO the United States. the for
,vernment of which he was a
cannot be expected to extend
its protection to him Whether or
not he IS entitled to the protection of
this government, If he goes abroad
for temporary sojourn. was for
merly question of doubt.
A year or so ago. President Roose-
welt create commission TO investi-
gate and report u~oa subject of
naturalis; on in ts ~. ed States
Among tbs recon raa lions made
BY that body was tie Glowing:
"That tie decl- ION of intention
be abolished and there be substitu-
ted in its place petition to be filed
with the court before which the APP
plication for naturalization shall be
heard at least ninety days before the
hearing"
The object of this proposed law
was to prevent what is regarded by a
good many people as an abuse of the
ballot in the States named above.
Congress refused to strike from the
statutes the provision requiring the
declaration of intention. Why? Per
haps some of the practical politicians
could explain. The Naturalization
Comnie-'on composed o'-a5.e ard
conscientious officials, considered and
recited IN it's report all the argu-
ments for an against the declaration
Of Intention, and came to this conclu-
sion.
1T is the commissions opinion
that the arguments against 1t are
conclusive. and it is recommended
that it be abolished and additional
safeguards concentrated upon the
final naturalization proceedings"
Congress compromised By insert
ms in Section of the new naturali-
ration act these words:
That no person shall be natural
ICED nor shall any certificate of nat
ufaiization be issued by any court
within thirty days preceding the
holding of any general election
within it's territorial jurisdiction"
When Congress passed the law 4
undoubtedly had in mind frauds
sainst the ballot. BY failing to
strife out the requirement as to the
declaration of intention it left loop
hole for violations of the spirit OF
he law in the States that deal SO
fentIy with an alien declarant On
this subject the Bureau of Naturali-
Aation says:
The obvious intention Of the pro-
viso that no person should be Hatur-
allied nor any certificate of naturali-
aation be issued by any court within
thirty days preceding the holding OF
a general election was To prevent
fraudulent voting. 1t was not taken
/ into consideration when the act was
passed that a number of States per-
Initled alien declarants to exercise
the right of suffrage equally with
citizens of the United States, and
hence the exact terms of the provisc
applied only to naturalization, which
Is tho usual prerequisite to voting.
Ia ether words, the terms of the
present act are not such as to enable
the Government to maintain a prose
cation for accepting declarations OF
intentions within thirty days of a
general election where such declara-
tions is made for the purpose OF ac-
curing the right to vote within thir-
f. days after being made"
Under the new law, the declara-
ton of intention viii be in force and
effect for a period of seven years. It
is provided however. that no alien
who has made declaration under
prior laws shall be required to take
cut a new declaration. so that be is
in the position ofshaving a perma-
nent right to vote In the States which
grant such a declarant the privilege
NJ fha hallot