The Washington times., 1915-08-15
new RECORD IS SET
FOR NATURALIZATION
All Previous Marks Are Set by
Board by Figures Hung Up
by Bureau In Report.

Coupled with the announcement today
by the Bureau Of Naturalization. De-
partment Of Commerce. that In the last
year 335,00o foreigners declared their In
tention and petitioned for naturaliza-
ton. breaking all previous yearly re-
cords. final plans for the Government s
new educational plan to make citizens
out Of this raw material are made pub
lie.
Almost two and a half million for
eigners have asked for citizenship since
the present naturalization law was
passed in 1905. But these figures are
not 30 significant as tho census figures
of 1910. which showed that Of the 1900, :
900 foreigners in this country. 100000
were not citizens. Among these 14Oo,oOO
there are 1850. 3e1 classed as illiterate.
Il 10 to reclaim these illiterate foreign
ers and those who are to follow them.
and to give the literate aliens better
understanding Of American citizenship
; 80 that they may become citizens IN
spirit, sympathy and loyalty. that the
Bureau Of Naturalization has arranged
It's educational plan.
Briefly the plan is to open the door OF
the public schools for day and night
classes for foreigners. where prospec-
tive citizens may be given not only a
rudimentary training in the English lam
guage, but may be instructed In the
duties and advantages Of citizenship.
Statement Is Issued.
A an evidence that the foreigners
need some instructions in the duties
and advantages of American citizen
ship, a statement issued by the Bureau
of Naturalization says:
by far the larger portion Of the for
eign residents Of this country have re-
tained their allegiance to the sovereign
ty Of their birth. 1t is well known that
large numbers returned Immediately
upor the call of the country of their na-
tivity. leaving the ties, personal, FAM
lily. industrial. and others, which have
grown up in this country. for the
stronger call Of allegiance to the for
eign sovereignty. Many have gone back
to the old country who have declared
their intention. Some of these after
ward returned to this country and pre-
of citizenship for admission. but judges
! OF the naturalization courts have held
that such absence from this country in
tho armies and fighting under their ma
tive allegiance broke the continuity of
residence for naturalization purposes.
ane denied their applications
For several years Though co-opera-
ton with boards Of education there
have been citizenship classes In the
schools. Heretofore the activities OF
wholly to the candidates for final pa
2ers, while the foreigner possessing his
nrst papers, or who has just declared
his intention. has been neglected.
Foreign Populations.
The bureau has extended its efforts
throughout the United States and
brought its educational movement tc
the attention Of all superintendents OF
schools wherever there is a. foreign
population. The Bureau Of Naturaliza.
ton receives the duplicates Of all nat.
uralixation papers from $500 naturaliz.
alton courts all over the United States
and IN its letters to the superintendents
OF schools has shown the number OF
foreigners applying for citizenship dur,
Ing the past three years In the locali-
ties to which the letters 60. The pur.
pose IN sending these letters Is to en-.
able the school authorities to become
acquainted with the candidates for
ments as they can that will inspi-e
every candidate for citizenship to at.
tend the public schools. At the same
time the bureau sends literature. tc
cHRAaoS LitiA W the lNQlVlOu0l, personal
industrial. social and moral advantages
which will accrue to him by attendance
upon the public schools. Where ia,
cfilties can be given school authorities
are asked to open night schools
In the District OF Columbia, with q
total population Of 81 .Oe9 in 1910, there
were 4.351 foreign born white rest
dents, 1.944, or SO per cent. were classet
as iliiterate. Superintendent Thurstor
has agreed to cooperate heartily ir
reaching as many Of these illiterate.
a. possible under the Bureau Of Natu
ralizatlons new educational plan.