The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-04-08
~~~~~~e~~~~~~~%~ :

Hundreds of Lake county votes may
be challenged and thrown out next fall
at the elections owing to a recent de-
cision of the Federal court and the
instruction to the United States nat
uraIizatfon examiners to make a thor
ougli investigation of the methods en-
pIoyed in the past in issuing the pa
pers.
The decision is to the effect that
declaration of Intention must be issued
In the office of the clerk of any court
authorized by the Act of June 20, 1906,
to naturalize aliens, or in the court
room of said court; that the second
papers must be issued In the presence
of the judge SO authorized by this act,
in his court room and only after the
petitioner and his witnesses have been
examined by the special United States
attorney In the presence of the Judge.
The decision, as far as Lake county
is concerned will practically wipe out
the practice among the politicians of
herding the foreigners for the purpose
Cd of corralling them in some alder
mans office in one or the other of the
northern county cities, and then sum-
moning the county clerk, armed with a
pad of first papers and rubber stamp
is a thing of the past.
The old methods are being investi-
gated now by two United States nat
uralization examiners. who have pitch
ed their camp in the office of Charles
Surprise, deputy United States clerk,
in the Feredal building. The inspec-
tors who have been in Hammond since
the beginning of the week, are Carl f.
Booster and Arthur James of Chicago,
where they have their offices in the
Federal building.
| While at present the inspectors are
confning themselves to six particular
ases it is estimated that there are
hundreds of foreigners who made their
declaration of intention in Hammond,
Whiting, East Chicago and Indiana
Harbor before former county clerks
contrary to the ruling of the Federal
court recent.
The foreigners will eventually apply
for their second papers and will be
refused on the grounds that the dec
larations were not made in the proper
Offices or courts. Their first papers
are held to be null and void and there
i. question whether by holding these
papers they are entitled to vote.
The six cases in particular which
the inspectors have taken UP are those
of men who filed their petition for final
papers together with their first papers
with Charles Surprise, deputy United
States clerk in order that the ninety
day notice be posted before the petit
tions can be taken up by Judge Ander-
son.
While Mr.. Surprise had nothing to do
with the issuing of the first papers the
record made in his books shows that
these men made their declarations out
side of the proper courts and Offices
This is what the record shows:
That Petar Haralovich of East Chi
lcago declared his intention at Ham
lmond on June s. 1903, before County
lClerk H. II. Wheeler.
That Walenty Pisarski of East Chi
tcago declared his intention at Ham
Imond on May 9. 1902, before Clerk
That Matt Dombkrowsky Of East
Chicago made his declaration at Ham
Imond on April %, 1894, before Clerk
NJ Eder
That George Kandalecz of Whiting
made his declaration at Whiting, Nov.
Is 1900. before Clerk Wheeler. the dec
laration being signed by the clerk
with a rubber stamp.
That Frank Peterson of East Chicago