Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1915-07-28
WINNESRIEK ALIENS
NEGLECT PAPERS
Decorah Was Visit, 9 friday by U.
$. Naturalization e vaminer
A. H. Boo
80 WINNESHIEK DECL "A \TIONS
HAVE ALREADY ! e TRED
About $50 Declarations Will ire
i'm Short Time Unless HOlde,
File Petition for Full
Citizenship.

SltlZCHSiuPs
That foreigners in Winneshiek
county are unusually negligent in ap-
plying for their naturalization papers
is the statement made U. S. Natur-
alization Examiner A. H. Bode, who
has just completed an examination
f of the naturalization records in the
Office of the clerk of the district court
at Decorah.
Since the passage of the present
naturalization law on June 20, 1906,
Z the naturalization of aliens is in
charge of the Federal Government.
The Bureau of Naturalization in the
Department of Labor is conducted by
attorneys highly specialized in laws
relating to naturalization. The pur-
pose of the Bureau is to insure the
legal naturalization of aliens of good
moral character.
According to the examiner the rec
oiuS sho" lhdI q idl sc hulipCi Vi
aliens have resided in the county for
a period of 15 and 20 years but who
have never been naturalized. Either
these foreigners do not appreciate
the value of citizenship of the Unit
ed States or they do not possess the
necessary mental and moral qualifi-
cations for admission. Mr.. Bode is
loath to believe the latter condition
exists to any great extent in this
county, but says that nevertheless
those aliens who have lived here for
such a long time without becoming s
naturalized lay themselves open to
the suspicion that they are mentally
or morally deficient and for that rea-
son do not attempt to become citi-
zens of the United States.
The records also show that con-
siderable number of aliens, who de-
clared their intention to become citi-
zens since September 26, 1905, the
date when the present law became
effective, are permitting their declar-
ations to expire. Section four of the
naturalization act of June 20, 1906,
provides that not less than two years
nor more than seven years after an
alien has declared his intention to
become citizen of the United States,
he must file a petition for final Ger
tificate of naturalization. If he does
not file a petition within this pre-
scribed period his rights under the
declaration are lost. This seven year
limitation, however, does not apply
to declarations of intention made
prior to September 26, 1906.
Mr. Bode states that so declara-
tions of intention, filed in Winnie
shiek county under the new law,
have already expired. A large per-
centage of the holders of these de-
clarations failed to apply for final
naturalization and they must make
new declarations. About $50 declara-
tions will expire in a short time un-
less the holders file petitions for full
citizenship. 1t is estimated by the
examiner that approximately 800 for
eigners are residing in this county
who are eligible for naturalization
and who should be citizens, if they
intend to permanently reside in the
United States.
Applications for final naturaliza-
tion may be made at any time. The
cost of filing petition is S4.OO. In
formation concerning the steps neces-
sary to become naturalized may be
obtained from Olaf Kallevang, clerk
Of the district court at Decorah. IL
is not necessary for an alien desir-
ing naturalization to employ an at
torney for that purpose. The services
of the Bureau of Naturalization are
at the disposal Of applicants without
cost to them. Any communication
addressed to M. r. Bevington, Chief
Naturalization Examiner, Custom
House, st. Louis, Mo-, will receive
prompt and careful attention from
attorneys who are experts in natur-
alization law.