The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-18


tion in the very vftals the national fabric and
consists in the work of making citizens out Of the
material of the resident foreigner who has
been coming this country all of the nations
of Europe since its discovery and in vast and
increasing numbers during the past three genera
tons
The making of a citizen in so far as the require
ments OF the law are concerned is difficult mat
ter but to make citizen in spirit sympathy, and
loyalty, imbued with all of the essentials of
love of country, is a vastly different matter. For
over a century the nation quietly and persistently
slept upon this most important duty and per
mitted anyone, the most INSCRIPTIONS, to vfo
late the naturalization laws and to add hundreds
OF thousands annually to the enjoyment the priv
Ieges of the franchise, the holding of Office and
all of the other rights, held in ancient Rome to
be sacred to the natural-born citizen.
Congress, however, aroused by the report
of the commissioners of naturalization, appointed
by the president, and on June 20, 1906 passed the
current naturalization law. By this law, al of the
courts, both state and federal. and the officials of
these courts, in their ministerial relationship
placed under the supervision of the United States
government. This administrative authority rests
with the bureau of naturalization of the depart
ment of labor
With the creation of this federal control, all
of the lawlessness ceased, except in sporadic
cases which arise because of the ignorance of
particular candidate for citizenship his in
born fear of the government and the law, which
make him the prey of the unprincipled, willing
to win few dollars by quick rather than honest
methods
Almost two and one-half million foreigners have
asked for citizenship during the first eight and
three-fourths years of federal supervision of the
naturalization law. Almost and three-quarters
million of these have declared their intention, or
taken out their first papers. Something
three-quarters of a million have asked for final
papers, and of these about 100000 have been ad-
mitted to citizenship during that time
During the time, there have been upwards
of $4,000 foreigners who have been refused ad-
mission to citizenship. Over onehalf of these
have been denied because of mental and moral
unftness. The bureau has kept a close supervi
sion this phase of its work and early
1907, through its activities. the public mind
directed to the necessity for providing
means to enable these unfortunate candidates
from the vast foreign populace not only to
complsh the act of admission to citizenship, but
to equip them better to carry on the daily fight
for their livelihood. For it is among these that
the fight for their existence is carried on under
the most adverse circumstances.
While the above figures indicate large
Der among the foreign element of this country
coming forward for citizenship, the number does
not appear relatively very large when it is known
that in 1910 there were nearly 100000 foreign
ers in this country, that of this number 9,0OOOO0
not citizens and that the foreign body has
been increased nearly 100000 annually since
then. By far the larger portion of the foreign
residents Of this country have retained their al
Iegiance the sovereignty of their birth. Re
cent reports in the public press have shown
many of these ready to respond to the be-
hest of these soveregnties. 1t is well known that
large numbers returned Immediately upon the
call of the country OF their nativity, leaving the
ties. personal, family industrial, and others
which have grown up in this country, for the
stronger call of allegiance to the foreign
ereignty. This the prior to the great
of Europe, the lesser among the Bal
kan states. Many have gone back to the old
countries who have declared their intention Some
of these afterwards returned to this country and
presented themselves before the courts of citizen
ship for admission Judges of the naturalization
courts have held that such absence from this
country in the armies and fighting under their
native allegiance broke the continuity of resi-
dence for naturalization purposes. and denied
their applications.
Among the approximately 100000 foreign
alien residents, 1,650361 classed iIliterate
These iliterates the natural prey of the de-
signing and scheming foreigners and natives.
WELL at every turn. They compel them to pay
tribute, both in cash and blood. for every service
both real and imagined, and in the qualification
OF their desires. however INSCRIPTIONS
natural.
For years this conditions has been studied by
the bureau OF naturalization in its application to