Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-08-19
why NOT BECOME
A CITIZEN NOW?
Danish People Who Want to Become
Naturalized Can Secure Neces-
sary Papers at the Clerks
Office

ohlSC
United States Naturalization Ex-
aminer A. H. Bode of Des Moines on
Wednesday examined the naturaliza-
ton records in the of1ice OF the clerk
of the district court at Audubon.
According to the examiner foreign
ers in Audubon county are somewhat
negligent in attending to their nat
uraliZation as the number of appli-
cations for citizenship filed to date
is not at all proportionate to the
number of foreigners actually resid-
ing in the county. Mr.. Bode is of
the opinion that if native and natur-
allied. citizens would take friendly
interest in their alien friends and
nejghbors, impress upon their minds
the desirability of being citizens of
the United States and that to become
naturalized is a duty they owe their
adopted country, more would apply
for final certificates of naturaliza-
ton.
The examiner states that many
aliens are permitting their declara-
ton of intention to become citizens to
expire. Under the present natural
ization law enacted June 20, 1906,
anu "DlCu DtCdIlt CllCtllNt OCpIGIu-
Der 26, 1906, the life of a declara-
ton of intention is limited to seven
years. The law provides that not
less than two years nor more than
seven years after an alien has de-
clared his intention to become citi-
zen of the United States he must file
a petition for final certificate of
naturalization. If he does not file
such petition within this prescrib
ed period his rights under the declar-
alton are lost. Apparently this pro-
vision of the law is not generally un-
derstood as the records disclose
that ~ declarations of intention,
filed in Audubon county since Sep.
TENDER 26, 1906, have already eX-
PRED The majority of the holders
of these declarations have failed to
avail themselves of the opportunity
to become citizens and have lost
their rights under sthe declarations.
The records also show that some
1875 declarations of intention will be-
come worthless in a short time un-
less the holders file petitions for full
citizenship.
Many foreigners labor under the
erroneous impression that applica-
tons for naturalization must be
made during court time. The law
permits these applications to be filed
at any time and 1t advisable to file
them at time when court is not In
session. The law requires the courts
to fix certain dates for the hearing
of petitions for naturalization. No
petition, however, can be heard un-
til at least ninety days have elapsed
since fling the same. The next nat
uraliZation hearing in the district
court of Audubon county will be held
on December 16, 1915, and all petit
tions which have been filed at least
ninety full days on that date will be
heard. 1t is not necessary for an
alien desiring naturalization to en-
ploy an attorney for this purpose.
The naturalization of aliens is in
charge of the Bureau of NaturaliZa-
ton, Department of Labor and its
services are at the disposal of appli-
cants for citizenship without cost
to them. This branch of the govern
ment service is conducted by attor-
neys who are experts in naturaliZa-
ton law and the purpose of the Bur-
eau is to insure the legal naturaliza-
ton of aliens of good moral char
acter. Any communication concern
ing naturalization matters addressed
to NJ r. Bevington, Chief Natural
ization Examiner, Custom House, st.
Louis. Mo-, will receive prompt and
careful attention.
Information concerning the steps
necessary to become naturalized may
also be obtained, free of charge,
from F. NJ. Rice, Clerk of the District
Court