Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-25
SYSTEM OF GERMANS IN sEcUR-
ING NATURALIZATION PA.
PERs TO BE EXAMINED.
RETAIN ALLEGIANCE TO
FArhERLAND DESPITE OATH
kuepferIe Case One Of Several Similar
Incidents and Again Calls Attention
to Passport frauds-state and Labor
Departments Already Giving Some
Attention to Subject.

Washington, May 25-The case OF
Anton Kuepferle the alleged German
spy. who committed suicide in London
and who is now shown to have been
naturalized American citizen, has
brought up once more the much mooted
question of whether Germans are TAX
ing out naturalization papers IN tnls
country and at the same time retain
ing allegiance to their own govern
ment
In official circles, the case Of Kuep-
ferle is attracting much notice. NOT
only that, but there is reason to be-
lieve that it is attracting much atten-
ton among foreign governments
In the case of at least one other
great power, the state department mas
been invited to give it's attention to
the alleged practice of Germans tax
ing the oath Of allegiance to this ma
ton and at the same time retaining
allegiance to the German govern
ment.
To Be Aired in Congress.
Congress became considerably inter-
es,ed in this matter last winter. In
view of the Kuepferle case. 1t is not
unlikely the subject will be once more
aired in congress next winter. 1t IS
know that the question will be given
attention. A demand for congress
sional investigation is possibility.
The allegations that German might
take the oath Of allegiance to this ma
ton and at the same time retain aileg-
lance to his native land have taken
on a. new seriousness because OF the
strained relations Of the two nations
and the fear that unless the Lusitanta
tangle is satisfactorily settled the
United States may be dragged into
war.
Early in the present war, the state
Department was asked by the Frencn
embassy to consider the alleged double
citizenship plan of Germany. The state
department was unwilling to do 1t lest
il might be regarded as taking an UNI
neutral position toward Germany.
However, it is known that officials OK
the state department and OF the bureau
of naturalization of the department OF
labor have given some investigation 10
the situation.
They profess to believe that II there
are Germans who are retaining alleg-
lance to their government while pro-
Tossing allegiance. to this government
the number Is llHlleeu.
Passport Frauds Revived.
Recent passport frauds against this
government ard attempted frauds are
interesting In this connection. How
ever, the passport frauds as rule
have been attempted by persons VINO
We're not really naturalized but who
were attempting fradulently to palm
themselves off as naturalized Ameri-
no himself
in London, left n6te saying he was
a soldier. of rank he did not wish to
state. that he was not dying as spy.
but that what he had done he had done
for his country.
What have done was for my coun-
try" ran his last note.
In this instance II is apparent that
Kuepferle, tho sworn as an American
citizen, was yet loyal to Germany.
In section 25 of the German law OF
nationality. which was the subject OF
a recent article by Maurice Leon, there
is a provision that citizenship Is not
lost by one who before acquiring for
eign citizenship has secured on appli-
cation the written consent OF compe-
tent authorities Of the nation"
No question exists about the lam
guage of the law. 1t is quoted In an
article by Richard W. Flournoy, Jr. In
the American Journal of International
Law. Mr.. F1ournoy is chief Of the
bureau of citizenship Of the state de-
partment The article was written last
July, before the European war and had
no reference whatever to the war.
However. the view taken by Mr.. Flour
noy and the view which has been taken
by naturalization officials is that this
can have no legal application to citi-
zenship in this country since by oath
a person who becomes a citizen OF
America swears to renounce allegiance
to every foreign state.
But against this opinion Of the offic- |
ia1s, there stands the dying testimony
Of Kuepferle, who tho he had taken
this oath was yet ready to die for
GERMANY