Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1915-09-16

public This work has its found
ton in the very vitals of the national fabric al
consists in the work Of making citizens out of Il
raw material OF the resident foreigner who h
been coming to this country from all OF the nation
of Europe since its discovery, and In vast al
increasing numbers during the past three gener
tions.
4he making OF citizen. in so far as the reauir
II snts of the law are concerned, is difficult ma
Ter, but to make a citizen in spirit sympathy ar
loyalty. imhued with all OF the essentials
love of country, is vastly different matter Fl
over a century the nation quietly and persistent
slept upon this most important duty and ne
Tntted anyone. even the most INSCRIPTIONS to vi
tate the naturalization laws and to add hundred
Ok thousands annually to the enjoyment of the pri
hcges of the franchise the holding of office an
all Of the other rights, held IN ancient Rome ,
he sacred to the naturaEborn citizen
congress, however, aroused by the report
OF the commissioners of naturalization. appointed
ny the president. and on June 90. 1906, passed the
current naturalization law BY this law all of the
courts, both state and federal and the officials Of
these courts in their ministerial relationship were
placed under the supervision OF the United States
government This administrative authority rests
with the bureau of naturalization Of the depart
ment of labor
With the creation of this federal control all
OF the laWlcssness ceased. except in sporadic
yases which arise because Of the ignorance OF
some particular candidate for citizenship his In
born fear OF the government and the law which
make him the prey of the unprincipled willing
TO win few dollars by quick rather than honest
methods
Almost two and one.hat million foreigners have
asked for citizenship during the first eight and
three-fourths years OF federal supervision Of the
naturalization law. Almost and three-quarters
million OF these have declared their intention or
taken out their first papers Something over
threaquarters of a million have asked for final
papers, and, Of these about $4,000 have been adj.
mitted to citizenship during that time
During the same time there have been UPWARDS
nj $4,000 foreigners who have been refused adj.
mission to citizenship Over One.half OF these
have been denied because OF mental and moral
unftness The bureau has kept a close supervi.
sion over this phase OF it's work and as early as
1907, through its activities. the public mind was
directed to the necessity for providing some
means TO enable these unfortunate candidates
from the vast foreign populace not only TO &C.
Uomplish the act of admission to citizenship but
10 equip them better TO carry on the daily fight
for their livelihood For il is among these that
the fight for their existence Is carried on under
the most adverse circumstances
While the above figures indicate a large mum.
Der among the foreign element of this country
coming forward for citizenship the number does
not appear relatively very large when il IS known
that In 1910 there were nearly Il 900 900 foreign.
ers in this country. that OF this number 9 100000
were not citizens, and that the foreign body has
been increased nearly I00o 600 annually since
then By Ear the larger portion OF the foreign
residents OF this country have retained their al
tegtance to the sovereignty OF their birth Re
cent reports in the public press have shown
many OF these are ready to respond to the be-
hest OF these sovereignties 1t il well known tina,
large numbers returned Immediately upon the
call OF the country Of their nativity leaving the
ties. personal family. industrial and others
which have grown up In this country. for the
stronger call of allegiance TO the foreign SOW.
eretgnty. This the case prior to the rrea,
war OF Europe. IN the lesser wars among the bal.
kan states. Many have gone back TO the old
countries who have declared their intention Some
NJ these afterwards returned to this country and
presented themselves before the courts OF citizen
snip Tor admission Judges OF the naturalization
courts have held that such absence from this
COUNTRY in the armies and fighting under their
native allegiance broke the continuity of resi-
dence for naturalization purposes and denied
their applications
Among the approximately $4,000 900 foreign
alien residents. i.65o36i ciassed as filiterate
These ifterates are the natural prey OF the de-
signing and scAeming foreigners and natives a.
weli. at every turn They compel them TO nay
tribute both IN cash and blood. for every service
both real and imagined. and In the Qualification
d their desires. however snscrupuious or IN.
natural
For Years this conditions has been studied by
he bureau OF naturalization In ts application 10