The Raymer enterprise., 1915-09-16

the administration OF the naturalization law 1t
Is safe to state that although $4,000 foreigners
have been refused citizenship because OF mental
ana moral unfness. at least that many have been
admitted to citizenship, in spite of these def.
cieheles. during the period OF federal supervision
Ihe courts have been reluctant to refuse citizen.
snip to candidate. even though he be ignorant
OF our institutions OF the privileges conferred
upon him Especially is this so where there are
no facilities offered by the cities and towns where
the petitioners live for overcoming these defects
IN many places the public schools have under
the inspiration Of the bureau of naturalization
opened their doors to the foreigner and have
taught him the duties OF American citizenship
anu IN THESE places the courts have readily re-
sponded to the new order of things and refused
citizenship unless the candidate could come nm
TO the higher standard which has been brought
about by the federal supervision This system
the bureau has tried out for years and with sue
cess IN various localities throughout the country
There is scarcely state In the whole country
that does not now have citizenship classes car
ried on either by the public schools or under the
direction OF private agencies
In many localities where there are hundreds
and indeed thousands. of citizens admitted an.
nually, no cognizance had been given this i'm
portant proceeding by the general public. muni
cipai ohiclaldom. public school or other authori.
Ties until brought to their attention BY the repre
sehtatiVes OF the bureau OF naturalization This
was so evident that the bureau. through its ofl.
GERS, brought to the attention of the mayor of
the city OF Philadelphia last winter the fact that
about 1000 petitions for naturalization would be
heard during the spring months and as a result
OF this, approximately $500 new citizens would
De made at that time in the persons of the candi.
dates and their wives and children, born abroad
rms resulted In the first reception extended by
any municipality In the United States to its citL
zels OF foreign birth
ihls reception was but one OF the activities of
tne bureau OF naturalization to bring to the aten.
uoh Oh the entire nation this most vital activity
OF eitizenshp. In the press OF the day preceding
the reception, there was published throuebout
the United States announcement of the nation.
wide movement for the education OF the resident
allen body through the candidates for r,,i,o,oh,r
Heretofore the activities OF the schools have
been directed almost wholly to the candidate for
maj papers. while the foreigner possessing his
hrst papers, or who has just declared his intep.
toh 10 become citizen at some future time has
peeh largely neglected. The bureau has recoe.
nized, however. that there has been copstan,
and steady. though silent. appeal coming annually
from the hearts of hundreds of thousands of for.
eigners holding first papers. for relief helm and
assistance TO the attainment OF their homes and
desires in this country
Inc law permits an alien to declare his inten.
uoh VINO Is an illiterate In from two years to
nVe ne Is eligible to petition for naturalization.
puflhg that period, while the United States holds
tne 'ahuidate to be on probation. 1t has done
nothing heretofore to help his claim except in a
very meager way The bureau OF Naturalization
has been the only governmental agency which
mas extended to him the helping hand. II has
now arranged and perfected plans for the helm.
ing hand to be extended to the nearly half mil.
lion foreigners who each year ask for citizenshiu
During the last year over 335.O00 foreigners
declared their intention and petitoned for natural
ization This is the highwater mark since fed.
eral supervision. The federal census records for
the United States show that the foreign nonu,a.