The Washington times., 1915-12-29
MANY NOW ACTUALLY VOTE.

Finally, there are a number OF States
In which an alien may actually vote. II
he has taken out his first papers; that
| Is, declared his intention OF becoming
/ citizen. This seems n remarkable
state of affairs, but IL Is a fact that
many thousands OF people vote regular
1y who are not eligible TO serve in the
army or on jurieR because they are not
citizens The injustice Of this condition
has caused several States to amend
their laws in this regard In recent
times Nevertheless holders Of first
papers. though not citizens at all. may
vote in Missouri. Kansas. Nebraska,
Texas, Indiana. and Arkansas. They
could vote also in Oregon till last year.
when the law was changed. to take
effect after this years election. Until
very lately they could also vote In Min
nesota, Michigan, and Nebraska hut
, those States have taken away the priv
ilege. st
Advantages Largely Sentimental.
Thus it appears that the advantages
of being an American citizen are pretty
largely sentimental and sentiment does
not appeal much to the vast majority OF
migrants of the classes that are now
|
| Alienism is lately attracting much at
tention, and one of the bills introduced
In the early days of the present Con-
gress proposes drastic treatment. 1t
| requires that aliens coming here to live
shall declare, before admittance, their
Intention TO become citizens. ana ~ithn
three months shall take out their hlst
parers. Further. all aliens now in the
country must take nvt papers within
three months after the measure sh2ll
become law. and pursue the matter dili-
gently. IL they don't. they are to DE
summarily deported.
OF course. such a measure has no
present chance to become law. II IL DO
liticalIy impossible But the work OF the
Bureau Of Naturalization is making II
increasingly certain that Some measure
sduinting strongly In thls direcuoh Is
going to be law before long.
The alarming tendency OF aliens In
this country to remain aliens is found TO
he prevalent In all sections and states.
/ likewise the tendency to illiteracS
among the aliens who DO noi pecothe me
citizens Is 80 marked as TO Justify the
conclusion that those who do not be-
come citizens arc the ones least disposed
\ generally to better their condition and
become desirable citizens.
Encouraged by Governments.
Since the war I'm Europe started 1t has
become known that some foreign gov
ernments take measures to encourage
their citizens emigratinR TO America not
to become citizens here. Some OF them
have not even vet come 10 the point OF
| recognizing the right of their people to
expatriate themselves. "Once an Eng
lishman, always an Englishman." was
the slogan even Of British citizenship
until about a generation ago. when the
privilege OF expatriation was granted In
| fullest measure.
Kansas city, Mo, is one of the most
! American OF large American critics: II
has only 25.327 foreign-born white in a
total population of 24S.SS. Cleveland
on the other hand, has l9S.70S foreign
born white in a population of 56O663.
phat Is. Kansas City has less than one
alien-born in six of population. while
Cleveland has more than one I'm three;
Yet when the two towns are compared
| as to the tendency OF aliens to remain
such, II is found that there Is little to
choose. Kansas City Is in Missouri
| which lets the foreigner vote without
waiting to perfect his citizenship. Ohio
allows no such privilege. Neverthe'