The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-01-20
ADMITS HE'S A MAN
WITHOUT A COUNTRY
Bill for the Relief Of Eugene Prince
of Chicago. Who Was
Born in Russia.
HIS FATHER An AMERICAN
But Our Laws Bar Children Born Out of
the Limits and Jurisdiction Of
the Initcd STATES

WAsiIINUroN, Jan ~ Rch"f for u NAN
without Il country is sough, III Il resolution
presented In the House Of Representatives
o-dav The ease, which il regarded as
the most romarl,abr of the kind ever
brought 10 the attention of the Govern
mnet. IL that of Eugene Prince. who was
born III Russia. his father The son Of an
American and his mother an English
woman Eugene Prince ls dsowned
legally 10y Russia, and under American
laws the right OF citizenship in the United
States is denied him Prince has no
standing III the eyes OF any Government
in the world lie cannot secure IA pass
port aSan American citizen or as Il Russian
subject, all hough he has lived in Russia
practically all his life The facts III the
ease are briefly as follows
Eugene Princes grandtath-r. Geurg.
Henry Prince. l"tt the United States a.
Il young man To reprrs-n, the firm OF
W Ropes n 60 EXPORTERS of petroleum
al ~ Petersburg lie married an English
woman and hy her had siN children
lh. fifth child. John Henry Prince. father
OF Iug-n" Prince. WAS born III ~ Peters
burg Oh November q. 1852. and has always
resided there, representing American
firms, among them a uumbcr Of steel
works Under American law John Henry
Prince has retained his American citizen
ship. running from his father. and IL
registered 10y III. Russian Government AZ
an American citizen DOING business in ~
Petersburg under "a billie, du scjour
John Henry has newer visited the
natiN. land of his father His son.
Eugene Prince. has i-.u employed in
III" offices of TIA" international Harvester
Company AZ Moscow Young Prime.
came To th. United States moi long ago
10 take NY his citizenship and enter upon
business career IN Chicago II" found
that hr could not Lee recognized a. "A
citizen of the Cnit-d States. owing TO
the provision of section 1898 of the,
Revised Statutes which holds that The
rights of citizenship shall not descend
to children who's. father never resided IN
the United States IN. sam. sect ion
Of N" statutes recognizes the. father as an
American citizen. although deuving tn.
prlvlleg. 10 tn. son. The ldugims. of
th" statutes applying directly I" tue case
et tie athrr reads a. tullow-
All children heretofore. born or here
after born uui Of he limits, and lurl-uir-
tIou ot Tia" | nI,-d States who's. fathers
were CT may Ice al he Inn. of their blrt II
C.tl2"us hereof ar" declared - b. cit iI.u-
of the nltcd States lnen follows th.
provision 'ha, hals Iugcur Prince from
CiiItnshIp
Prince was staggered when lie learned
the IHport of tn" Jaw he pointed ,i.i To
friends to whom he turned tur adj, ice hat
under Russian Law. his faIhr being an
American. h" could not uubllfv a. a sub.
jeci ot The Gar II. was Obliged tn ad-
mi that for IA" tiin- d least he was man
without a country
The reSululi ion for h. relief uf MIR Prince
which was introduced bv Representative.
Gardner Of MasiarhuSe' II. provides iha'
Prince sha II br admitted Ia IA" character
and privileges OF citizen of tn. United
Sta'eo The resolution reCit.s that
Prince has no legal standing a. q citizen
before any Government in he world
so far a. could I've learned ru -dav there
Is only one precedent for rh" granting of
American CiiizeushlN hv special acl of
Congress Mrs Nelho Grant Sarrur,s
vas SO favored 10y an act of Congress an
proved MAY ~ 1898 Nellie Grant. the
favorlte daughter of Pres Id.nt Gram
lo>i her American citizenship and became
a British subject upon her marriage 10
AlSernon Snriorlus. an Engh-hman tpon
III" death Of her husband Mrs SariOrls
ret turned 10 IN. United S'a,ss and was
readmlttsd To citizenship hv legislative
enactment
Prime" has filed a declaration Of an in
ten'ion tn become a natura lied American
citizen Believing hat he has rights that
ought 20 he recognized he prefers 10 secure
ciilZcnshlp through IN. grace Of Con
gress, thus obviating the neCeSsitv Of
luahivlng 10y five years rcsid.nc" Mr
Primo" is a relative of the late John T.
Ropes and Prof James HARDY Ropes. he
historian. The family comes from rSsey
coiniv. Massachusetts, ard dates back
TO 1891