The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-10-22


course, as ninety days must elapse in
any case following the filing of q Pc
tition before it can be heard, this
period being given the Government
In which to investigate the character.
ETC., of the candidate, and his wit
nesses.
The naturalization Of aliens is by
law placed under the jurisdiction of
the Bureau of Naturalization, U. 8.
Department of Labor, Washington,
ID. c. For convenience OF admins
tration, the United States is divided
into districts. each of which is placed
under the supervision of chief ex-
aminer. Kansas is In the st. Louis,
Mo-, district. The officers OF the Blu
reau and field stations are attorneys
who have highly specialized In the
naturalization law. The Bureau
places the services of these skilled at
torneys at the disposal of all candi-
dates for citizenship, without cost to
them. 1t is therefore wholly unnec-
essary for applicants for naturaliza-
ton to employ local counsel to rep
resent them. 1t is also the province
of the Bureau to see that those who
seek citizenship are what they rep
resent themselves to be, 1. e., persons
of good moral character, having the
requisite United States and State
residence, and that when once nat
uralized such candidates secure what
they have actually paid for, that is,
unimpeachable citizenship.
The matter of citizenship is one
of increasing Importance, particular
ly where those of foreign birth are
concerned. For instance, in case OF
war between the United States and
a foreign power, the subjects Of that
| country resident In the United States
at the time, would under our laws
be debarred from naturalization dur
ing the period OF such war. Again,
property. as we'll as civic rights, de-
pend very often wholly on the citi-
zenship status Of the person con-
cerned. The children of those who
are foreign-born are especially con-
cerned, as the naturalization of the
parent confers citizenship upon his
minor children who may at the time
be dwelling within the United States.
An American woman who marries an
alien thereby becomes an alien. and
she is dependent upon her husband
becoming naturallzed to regain her
citizenship. The laws OF the United
States, in the protection accorded by
them to the individual, and his prop
erty, recognize no distinction be-
tween the native-born and the natur-
allied citizen. Declarations OF inten-
ton, however, do not confer the
benefits and privileges OF United
States citizenship, and accord their
holders little voice in the AFFAIRS of
state and nation.
The number of aliens who have
filed their declarations OF intention
in this county is out of all proper
ton to those that have actually ap-
piled for naturalization. 1t is be-
lleved that IL the native, as we'll as
naturalized, citizens of the county
would take a friendly interest In
their alien friends and neighbors, i'm
pressing upon those alien friends and
neighbOrs the duty they owe them
selves, their families, and adopted
country to complete their citizenship,
that the condition of AFFAIRS above
referred to would be speedily rem
edied. 1t is possible also that those
who have taken no steps at all to
secure citizenship, though making
this country their home, and deriv-
ing their sustenance therefrOm,
would be moved to declare their in
tention, and later petition for nat
uralization thereon, becoming by this
step responsible citizens of the Uni
ted States and State Of Kansas.
Any communications concerning
naturalization matters addressed to
NJ. r. Bevington, ESQ.,, Chief Nat
uralization Examiner. Custom House,
st. Louis, Mo-, will receive prompt
and careful attention.