Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-27

ears DO Not Change His Ideas
Regarding a"Furrnfers." "
(From a Staff Correspondent

Ctrom a Staff Correspondent z
LINCOLN, Jan.s 26.-(Special. )-Shoe-
maker of Douglas. county, who yesterday
introduced a bill, for a constitutional
an endment providing that a person must
be a citizen Of the United States before
voting, except those. persons who are all
ready now voting under their first papers,
has his arguments Of slxten years ago
rady to shoot. off again in. favor of his
masure. In the legislature of 1893 Shoe
maker introduced the same bill through a
friend and at that time he had published
his arguments. in favor of it as follows:
To the Members OF the Legislature of
the state of Nebraska: The concurrent
amend s%ectionl, article V. of the state con-
stttution, in relation to the elective fran
ohise, should receive the support of every
member Of both houses. The proposed
amendment provides for the protection of.
those of foreign, birth now exercising, the
right or suffrage, so no i'll effect can ac-
crue to a Single Individual IN the state.
Without impugning 1.-THE wisdom of those
who. in 1875, took part in. framing our pres
ent constitution, the time has arrived when
the change is demanded BY every considA
GRAFTON of public polieyq and good citizen
or the propriety Of allowing a person OF
foreign birth to vote on his first papers
and the reauireds residence in the state,
| quote from, my article in the World
Herald of date of November rs last:
The evil OF allowing a man to vote and
hold office on hits first papers and = six
months resideneesis at once apparent aIR
the first PLACE II is an, inducement to a
person OF foreign birth not to become a
citizen. .WhenIs uch person can vote on. his
first papers apd be, eligible to almost eYerY
office Within the state, and help elect presi-
dents. the indueement to become a citizen
is materially. lessened. Again, 1t begets in
difference and neglect in regard to full clti-
zenship, and leads to complications in many
ways. The examples of j. G.. Tate, candi-
date of lieutenant governor on the repub
lican ticket, and J.. j. Mcintosh, a candi-
date for congress on the democratic ticket
In the Sixth district at the late election,
are fresh in our minds, and should serve
as convincing arguments In favor of q
change in the constitution as to the cleo
tive franchise. Both these gentlemen were
compelled to decline and get off their re-
spective tickets simply because they had
neglected to take out their second papers
of citizenship, The. law in regard to. these
two offices requires full citizenship for
eligibility.
The right to, vote and to participate in
the affairs of the government, make and
unmake presidents and hold office IN TINS
country, should be esteemed the highest
civic privilege known to man, and no per-
son should be permitted to do SO until he
has fully completed his citizenship: There
are five or six western states which. ike
Nebraska, permit persons OF foreign birth
TO exercise the elective franchise and hold
office on their first papers. This was
properly when these states were
young and sparsely populated, but there IL
no need for further continuance OF the
right. Furthermore, in the national cleo
tions it is unfair. to those states which res
quire full naturalization as a qualification
to vote. The elective franchise in this re-
spect should be uniform.
''Under the provisions in our state con-
stitution on the. elective franchise, an Arab
from the deserts OF Arabia or a Slav from
Hungary or Bulgaria, arriving at Castle
Garden on the LIST day of May last, could
have taken the train for Omaha remained
here, and thirty days before the election
declared his intentions to become a citizen,
and participated In the election OF the presi-
dent and vice president Of the United States,
I am utterly opposed to this condition OF
the sacred right of the elective franchise III
this state"
Every voter should be a citizen OF the
United States. Our naturalization laws are
most liberal. They have remained un-
changed on. our national statutes for ninety
years. They allow a person Of foreign birth
to become a citizen on five years residence
in the United States by taking out tho
required papers. No public man VIII. be
rash enough to undertake to change these
naturalization avs at any time. But be,
ing so liberal, as they are, the right OF
! suffrage in this, like in most other states,
should be based on full citizenship: Re
spectfully, w: s; SHOEMAhhh'