The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-30
HOUGHTON CO.,
HAS THE MOST
MORE APPLICANTS FOR NATUR
ALIZATloN THAN ANY OTHER.
EXAMINER TALKS OF
THE LAW.

Merton A. Sturgis, United State
naturalization examiner, was il
Houghton today examining applica.
tons for naturalization 20 be heard a
the coming term of the Houghto
county circuit court. About 226 ap.
plications are 10 be heard at the Ma
term and the number has been divide,
into three parts 10 be heard May ~
May 81 and June 8.
In discussing the large number o..
applicants 20 be heard at the comiug
term, Mr. Sturgis stated that Hough-
ton has more applicants for naturaliza-
ton than any other county in the state
including Wayne county Since the new
naturalization law went into effect
Sept. %, 1906. 1871 foreign born resi-
dents of this county have been admit
ted 10 citizenship. In the same time
the records of Wayne county show ON
ly 1900 naturalzed citizens. After
Wayne county comes Marquette which
has a list Of only $50 applicants, since
1906.
The reason given by Mr.. Sturgis for
this large number is the foreign pop
ulation, it being a matter Of record
that Houghton county has the largest
foreign population of any county I'm
the state. not excepting Wayne coun-
~, whose population greatly exceeds
that of Houghton county. The naur-
alization clubs are also responsible for
the great business that is done in this
county. having been especially rcspou-
sible for the large number OF mon they
have induced TO take mp second viu-
zenship papers who formerly voted uu-
DER their first papers.
"'rhe law giving foreigners who
have declared their intentions To- be-
come citizens, the right to vote. win
probably be changed in few years."
said Mr.. Sturgis this morning "The
question Of striking out this amend
ment TO the constitution was brought
up before the constitutional convcu-
tion held at Lansing a few years ago.
but was vetoed. 1t met with the ape
prevail Of the makers Of the constitu-
ton but they feared the effect such ace
ton would have on the people who
possessed their first papers and had
a right 20 vote against the adoption o..
the constitution. But the notuallaa-
ton clubs Of the copper country and
other places are bringing I'm these
voters and giving them fun citizenship.
and the proposed law viii be brought
up. 1t is very necessary that the con
stitution should be changed with re
gard TO this provision. Michigan is
one OF only a small number OF states
in the union that suu have this proc
vision. and Wisconsin voted the pro-
vision out last year
THE law" continued Mr. SUursis.
"gives all residents who declared their
intentions before May 8. 1882, the right
to vote. The provision for these old
residents has brought mp many COM
plications, some of which are anus
ing. Old residents who have run for
some sort of Office have found that
they could not hold that Office until
their second papers had been obtained
Children of these residents who have
attained the age Of 21 having been
born in Europe, whose fathers have
always voted before them, have come
10 the polls with the intention Of vot-
ing but have been turned back because
their parents We're not citizens but on
~ possessed the power 10 vote. / hope
the law will soon be changed as it
would simplify many matters and
make the conditions and the laws
throughout the United States uni
form"