Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-05-13
Judge Hanford Recalls Natur-
alization Papers Of
Socialist Leader
PERFORATED A FRAUD
Used Deception to Gain Cit
izenship and May Be
Punished Says Judge

SEATTLE May 12-Leonard Ole
son. of Tacoma, in probably the first
suit ever brought in the country TO
Annul the naturalization of an alien
was yesterday, by a decree of Judge
Hanford, disbarred from exercising
rights as an American citizen. Ole
son is a Socialist.
Other applicants for citizenship have
had their petitions denied on the
ground that they declared themselves
opposed to organized government, but
Naturalization Examiner John Speed
Smith yesterday said that Oleson' ;;
is the first case on record where d
naturalized citizen has had his rights
cancelled after being granted.
Found Not Attached to Constitution
The suit in equity brought by Unit
ed States District Attorney W. G.
McLaren, on the complaint Of Mr..
Smith, was heard at Tacoma about l
fortnight ago, the complaint alleging
that Oleson for the purpose of obtain
ing his certificate represented to the
court that he was attached to the
principles of the constitution. when in
truth and in fact, all Oleson's an
says in his opinion, all Oleson's an
swers to questions put him on cross
examination respecting his attach
ment to the constitution We're evas
i've.
Judge Hanford's opinion, in part,
follows:
Socialist Against Property Rights
"Oleson admitted that he is a So
cialst. a frequenter of assemblages Of
Socialists in which he participates as
a speaker, advocating a propaganda
for radical changes in the institutions
OF the country. He claimed to have
a clear understanding of the consti-
tuition of the United States and knew
that by one of it's articles depriya-
tion of life, liberty or property with
out due process of law, is forbidden,
and yet the evidence introduced in
his behalf proved that the party with
which he is affiliated and whose prin-
ciples he advocates has for its main
object the complete elimination o.
property rights in this country.
"He expressed himself as being
willing for people to retain their mon
ey, but insisting that all the land,
buildings and Industrial institutions
should become the common property
of all the people, which object is
to be attained, according TO his be
lief, by use of the power Of the ballot,
and when the object Shall have been
attained the political government Of
the country will be entirely abroSat-
ed, because there will be no use for
1t. And he further admitted that his
beliefs on these subjects We're enter
tanned by him at and previous to
the date of the proceedings In the
superior court admitting him to be-
come a citizen of the United States.
A Dangerous Heresy,
"The notion that citizens of this
country may absolve themselves from
allegiance to the constitution Of the
United States, otherwise than by eX-
patriation, is a dangerous heresy. The
nation. recognizing the principle Of
the law of self-preservation, restricts
the privilege of becoming naturalized
to those whose sentiments are COM
patibility with genuine allegiance TO
the existing government as defined
by the oath which they are required
10 take. Those we believe in and
propagate crude theories hostile to
the constitution are barred
1.-THE evidence in this case, lncluf-
ing the respondents admss 'ons, dc
not have to be analyzed. interpreted
or weighed in order to determine any
doubtful question as to his attitude
He has no reverence for the consti
tuition of the United States, nor inten-
ton to support and defend it against
it's enemies and he is not we'll disposed
toward the peace and tranquility OF
the people. His propaganda is tc
create turmoil and to end in chaos.