Cañon City record., 1910-11-24

lueOTeliCdliy IL 10 muCu udIucT INV
to become a citizen than it was few
years ago-any way one must become
citizen before one can vote in Col
orado now.
Formerly every election year a.
bunch of foreigners were gathered up
by the politicians and brought into the
county court where the first papers
were issued and in six months the for
eigners could vote-and the theory
was that he would vote for the man or
party that paid the fees for his first
papers.
After that it didn't make much diff
ference whether he took out his last
papers or not, for he was voter
after five years, 1t was an easy mat
ter to do so.
Now foreigner cannot vote in
Colorado until after he has been nat
uralized-that is, taken out his last
papers and he must have resided in
this country five years before he can
do that.
The process of making a citizen is
now conducted in the District Court
and is much more formal than in for
mer years.
Last week the Court devoted one
day to making citizens" and l went
up to see how it was done. 1t is really
an interesting proceeding and one
well worth observing-and it would
be good thing II the law makers es-
pecially would look in occasionally.
Every year hundreds of thousands
foreigners are made citizens of the
United States and become full fledged
voters with every right and privilege
of any American citizen.
On the day mentioned Judge Cham
pion presided. Mr.. Anthony. an at
torney from the Department OF Com
merce and Labor. represented the
United States government. 1t seems
to be the duty of this attorney to look
into the qualification of each appli-
cant and If he is satisfied with the
man he moves to have him admitted
have his case continued or dismissed.
Under the present system the court
usually rules as the United States at
torney moves, as the court takes the
position that It is a government af-
fair and the duty of this special rep
resentative to be fully satisfied of the
applicants character and qualifica-
tions before he asks the court to ad-
NIT the candidate.
TIE ease or difficulty that candi-
date for citizenship encounters de-
pends largely upon the special repre-
sentative. Some are very exacting.
but Mr.. Anthony proved to be an easy
examiner.
The court room was full OF people.
mostly foreigners. The Judge an
nounced that case No. lat would be
taken up. Three names we're read out
that no one could spell or pronounce
Three foreigners we're led forward by
the bailif, two being the witnesses and
one the applicant for citizenship.
The witnesses were sworn and each
told how long he had been a citizen,
how long he had known the appli-
cant, and assured the court that his
character was good. Neither knew
what character meant, but the exam
liner explained, HAS he ever had any
trouble with the police or anything
like that" and got a satisfactory re-
ply.
Then the applicant himself was put
on the stand and listened to the usual
oath to tell the truth, the whole
truth. and nothing but the TRUTH" ETC..
and took his seat, no doubt wonder
ing what Clerk Nix was talking about
The examiner took him in charge
and tried TO find out what he knew
about the government. He didn't
know very much. do you know
what anarchy is?' He didn't. When
anarchy was explained he said 1t was
bad business"
DO you believe in polygamy?" He
knew about as much about the term
as he would a formula in chemistry
but when asked II he wanted more
than one wife, he said no.
He knew who the president is and
said he is elected for four years. He
didn't know about the governor. and
thought the president made the laws
When asked why he wanted to be nat
uralized he said SO that he could live
here" although he had lived here a
dozen years.
Candidate didn't seem to know
enough about the government, SO the