The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-03-05
TO EXAMINE ALIENS
P. J. O'BHen Of the Department
Of Justice Examining AppIi.
cants for Citizenship
MAN KNEW CONSTITUTIONS
Government Will In the Future Examine
All Applicants for Citizenship
Before Papers Are Issued
in Circuit Court

/ Department Of Justice Of the United
States government is in Kenosha MAX
II ing an examination of twelve foreign
born residents Of the city who have
made application to the Circuit Court
to be admitted as full citizens Of the
| United States. This is the first time
that the foreign born have been re
Izenosha and it is one of the provisions
Of the new Naturalization Laws that is
just now being enforced. Before be
ginning his examination of the twelve
applicants for citizenship now on file
with the Clerk of the Circuit Court,
Mr.. O'Brlen made close examination
of the records Of the court in regard
| to the admission of other citizens and
he stated that he had found the records
| in excellent condition and that it
would be unnecessary to reopen any
Of the former matters in regard to the
issuance OF citizenship papers. There
have been six applications granted in
the time since the new law went into
ieffcct. The twelve applications now on
file with the court will be taken up on
the fourth Monday in March and it is
to qualify these men for admission that
the special agent is in Kenosha. He is
forced to make a personal visit to the
homes Of each of the men and personally
examine them as to their knowledge of
the institutions Of the United States.
Mr. O'Brien began this work on Thurs
day afternoon and the foreigners Of
| Kenosha are not without their wits One
of the first men he examined gave an
answer which was sufficient to bring
smiles to the face Of the agent. The
alien had answered number Of preli-
minary questions in regard to Civil
| Government and seemed to be getting
along pretty well when Agent 0 'Brien
with great solemnity propounded the
question t'What is the Constitution Of
the United States The Alien evi-
IDENTIFY had heard Of the Constitution and
ne possibly knew that better men than
be had stumbled on the Interpretation
Of that same document, but he was an
xicus to get his papers anu he did the
best he could to answer the question,
Now you see Mr.. O 'Brien said the
man being examined Il know what the
Constitution Of the United States is but
| don't know just how to put it in Eng
lish. | know though that it is some
thing that man gets after he IS mar
ried = Mr.. O 'Brien declined to state
whether Of not he had recommended the
man for advancement in citizenship.
The work of the agent is one that
covers wide territory as three Of these
examiners are expected to take charge
of six states in the Union and get
around III time to make personal ex-
animation of all aliens before the
second papers are issued to them.
The new law is working a hardship
for some Of the aliens as few Of them
are able to meet the agent and answer
his questions and he has the power to
force them to wait for the papers until
they are able to pass the examination.
In Wisconsin there is at the present
time grand rush for second papers
particularly in the cities and this rush
has been caused by the fact that the
new law in regard to the issue of saloon
licenses provides that no license shall
be issued to any one except citizens.
There are many saloon men in the larg-
er cities who are not citizens and they
are now seeking to get papers before
the first of next July in order that they
may be able to get licenses granted to
them.
The work viii probably require the
services Of Mr.. O'Brien for several
days.