The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-08-18
NATURALIZATION
EXAMINER HERE
A. n. eodel, Of Des Moines Completes
Examination of Records in Clerks
Office at Court House.
SIXTY DECLARATIONS EXPIRED
Regrets That Many Have Failed To
Avail Themselves Privilege of
Being Naturalized.


United States Naturalization Elk.
aminer A. II. Bode, OF Des Moines, has
just completed an examination of the
naturalization records in the Office OF
the clerk of. the district court for
Crawford county.
On June 20, 1906, congress passed an
act to provide for uniform rule for
the naturalization of aliens through
out the United States. Congress also
established the bureau of naturaliza.
ton in the department OF labor. This
branch of the government service is
conducted by attorneys who are eX
perts in naturalization laws and the
purpose of the bureau is to insure the
legal naturalization of aliens of good
moral character.
Mr.. BOde states tn:.t large mum
Der of aliens. who have declared their
intention to become citizens of the
United States, are permitting theil
declarations to expire. The naturali
cation law provides that not less than
two years nor more than seven years
after an alien has declared his inten
l
a petition for final certificate OF
naturalization. If lie does not file
such a petition within this prescribed
period, his rights under the declara
ton are lost, and he must make a new
declaration of intention, waiting two
more years before he,is again eligible
to apply for final naturalization. This
seven year limitation, however, does
not apply to declarations of intention
made prior to Sept. 256, 1906.
According to the examiner 60 decla
rations, filed in Crawford county un.
der the new law. have already expired
AMI that large number of the hold.
ers of these papers have failed to avail
themselves of the opportunity to be.
come naturalized. About twice that
number Of declarations will become
worthless in short time unless the
holders file applications for full citi-
zenship.
The records further show that nu-
merous aliens have taken the initial
steps toward securing full citizenship.
that is, filed first papers, fifteen and
twenty years ago. For some unknown
reason they have, however, never COM
pleted their naturalization. AS no
rights, of citizenship attach to first pa
pers, it is surprising that so many
foreigners neglect to take the neces-
sary steps to acquire the great boon
of citizenship. OF the United states
These aliens apparently, do not appre-
ciate the value of American citizen
Ship. IA number aof, cases in this state
have come to the attention of the ex-
aminer where aliens were visiting
their native countries at the outbreak
of the EurOpeanfiwar. In many in
stances these men had only declared
their intention to become citizens OF
the United States. Those Of military.
age were, of course, refused permiss7
ion to leave and were drafted in the
armies of their respective countries.
The fact that they had declared their
intention to become citizens OF the
United States availed them nothing
and they sought the protection of the
Stars and Stripes in vain. Their en-
treaties to the military authorities of
their governments for permission to
return to loved ones in America fell
OH ueul elTS uIlu lhcy ttAC Az" P'y ahe'
dearly, many with their lives, for their
lack of foresight in securing American
citizenship before leaving their homes
in Iowa. This is not fiction, but cold
facts and should serve as warning
to all aliens, residing in this county.
who are eligible for naturalization, to
complete their citizenship status. if
they really intend to remain here and
live life OF peace and prosperity in
the greatest of all nations.
Any aliens desiring naturalization
may. by applying to J. w. Monaghan.
clerk of the district court, obtain full
information concerning the steps he
must take to become naturalized. The
services OF the bureau OF naturalization
are also at the disposal of the appli-
cants for naturalization without cost
to them. Any communication concern
ing naturalization matters addressed to
NJ. r. Bevington, Chief Naturalization
Examiner, Custom House, st. Louis,
Mo-, will receive prompt and careful
attention.