The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-05-13
OFFICIALS APPROVE
HANF0RD DECISION
Nothing Drastic or Unusual in
Annulling Citizenship
Of Socialist.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW
1t Is Pointed Out That One Must
Accept Constitution to
Receive Papers.

WARRINGTON. May i2.-Ohicials Of the
division Of naturalization in the Depart
mcnt Of Commerce and Labor do not lool,
on the decision Of Judge c. H. Hanford
Of he United States District Court Of
Washington handed down yesterday, an
nulli,g the citizenship OF Leonard OLSON.
Socialist. as drastic or unusual. II was
said that a similar decision was made
heretofore and sustained by the Supreme
Court.
It Ia pointed out by the official. tina.
cirizenship papers cannot be annulled
merely because a man is a Socialist. the
issue depending upon the meaning which
the person desiring citizenship gives TO
that term
Discussing the Hanford decision an
official Of the Department said tonight:
Under the naturalization law passed
by Congress the method whereby an alien
may become citizen II clearly defined
He must comply with certain formnlities
as to declaring his intention. live in the
country certain length Of time and so forth
One thing he must primarily do. and mus,
satisfy the Judge before whom he appears
FOR citizenship papers. il that he is attached
to and believes in and accepts unrescryedly "
VIC VI tue uiteu Ntdtes. ana
believes In this form Of government and
renOunces all others.
Now. when man appears before Judg &c
and the Judge questions him and II devel-
ops that the applicant believes in radical
changes In the constitution of the coun =
try. the Judye cannot under the Law admit
that man to citizenship.
During the last three or four years Judges
in all parts or the country have become
stricter and have followed the practice
Of interrogating more closely applicants
for citizenship. In many instances our
examiners have found applicants for citizen
ship who termed Themselves socialists who
upon crOss-eyamination turned ont to he
anarchists of the most radical type
Judge Hanford's decision therefore is
essentially sound If OLSON atanv time after
he entered the country advocated a propa-
ganda for radical changes in the Constitu-
ton
The officials Of the department are ia
accord in the view tina; If Judge lIanford's =
case is taken to the Supreme Court IL
will be sustained. The department it.
self for several years has had policy
in substantial accord with Judge Han
ford's decision.
San FRANCISCO. Cal. May - Under
the same ruling Abraham Lincoln could
have been deprived OF citizenship" was
the comment of william McDevitt. former
Socialist candidate for Mayor aud now
member OF the city election commits
sion. on the decision OF Judge Hanford.
when Lincoln in Boston in 1870 said
This snake Of slavery must he killed
no; scotched' he was advocating some
thing contrary to the Constitution which
at that time sanctioned slavery" con-
tinued McDevitt. According TO Han
ford's decision. he ought to have been
deported as an undesirable citizen.
III the majority cannot change the Law
by ballot, then Republican government
fails.
-Olsson's rights were taken from him
without due process Of law. There is
nothing in the statutes that gave Judge
Hanford the right TO cancel his na,urati-
zation papers after two years had passed
Therefore Hanford lS the most reactona-y
JUDGE in the United States. His decision
is purely political and will be followed
by Judges holding the same views Under
Hanford's decision everybody that ever
advocated changing the Constitution
should be deported.
Cameron II King. Jr. vice. president
Of San Francisco Labor Council. said that
disfranchising foreign born citizen for
participating in a strike and being a
Socialist was "unmitigated tyranny"
IL NilOWb me absolute neeO OF amending
the laws governing the Federal judiciary.
he said. so that judges of the pliny mental
calibre of Hanford may be recalled by the
people whose rights they are continually
invading. II an oppressed people cannot
express its discomfort through the ballot
il will through the bomb
Judge Hanford in notorious for his
enmity to labor and | shall move at the
next meeting of the labor council to have
a protest against this latest tyranny sent
to President Taft with u request for his
removal"
CHICAGO, May Il.-Stitt Wilson. Social
ist mayor of Berkeley. Cal. commented
on Judge Hanforefs action.
Il am not surprised" he said. Judge
Hanford is serving his masters well
But in this instance he overstepped even
the bounds of judicial unwisdom"
MILWAUKEE. Wis. May l..-Socialists
declare that Judge Hanford entirely mis-
understood the spirit OF socialism. That
socialism contemplates the public owner
snip OF all industries. railroads. every
thing that produces. every public utility
and that socialism will continue its ef-
forts to secure governmental. or munici.
pal control az the case may require, is
the statement Of the Milwaukee members
OF the party. They declare they are fitted
to speak for Socialists at large as having
been the first to secure Office and begin
to accomplish these purposes.
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