The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1912-10-31

sent the following communication to
the Post-Intelligencer concerning
the naturalization of Robert Hodge
and which The Tribune believes is
of general interest The p l. pub
lished the letter, but in type SO
small that one needs a magnifying
glass in order to read it.
Judge White says:
Hodge came to the United States
of America when he was 5 years of
age; landed at Tacoma and took up
his residence in Pierce County, re-
siding there for a short time, and
for between two and three years
thereafter making his permanent
home with Scotch family, Mr.. Will
lam Nelson on Green river, King
county, who had two boys near his
own age. When he was between 10
and 20 years of age he went to
British Columbia to work in the
Dunsmuir mines, intending to re-
turn to this side. He became ac
afterward became his wife in King
County, where she lived. While he
was at work in the Dunsmuir mines
this young lady went to British Col
umbia and they were married. Soon
after the marriage they returned
to King County. and ever after that
lived in Washington and Idaho
When Mr.. Hodge applied in the
Shoshone County, Idaho, district
court for his citizenship papers, he
made application under section 2167
Of the revised statutes of the Unit
ed States. then in force, which pro-
vided that anyone coming into the
United States under 18 years of age
and having resided in the United
States three years preceding arriv-
ing at the age of 81 years, and who
had lived in the United States five
years in all. should be admitted 70
citizenship without making the usu-
al declaration of intention to be-
come a citizen applicable to persons
over p years coming into the Uni
ted States, but should make such
declaration at the time of applying
for citizenship and prove to the
satisfaction of the court that he
had been a resident of the United
States at least five years, including
the three years preceding arriving
at the age of 21 years.
Mr.. Hodge, in applying for citi-
zenship, statedo all the facts to the
court as to his temporary residence
IN British Columbia, and the court
held that he was entitled to become
%bc% ho hn1
been temporarily absent, and grant
ed him full citizenship under Sec
tion 2167 above referred to.
This judgment of the court has
never been appealed from or revers-
ed, was not obtained fraudulent
ly by the cOncealment OF any facts
1t is final judgment in every sense
of the word and cannOt~now be at
tackled by any one. not even the u
nited States, as the time for the ap-
pealing from the judgment has long
since passed.
The rule laid down by the courts
Is that where a boy establishes his
residence in the United States be-
fore he is IS years of age and
makes his home there, but tempor-
arily goes into foreign country for
the purpose of employment. or 9th
erwise, this temporary absence does
not break the continuity of his res
dence in the United States or pre-
vent his securing naturalization pa
pers under the minor section of the
United States statute known as 2167
the courts holding that the actual
residence Is determined by the in
tention of the party applying for
naturalization papers.
This should end all controversy
relative to this matter.