The Washington herald., 1915-08-15
uncle SAM AIDS
ALIENS LNU. 5.
Naturalization Bureau Makes
Valuable Citizens of
Foreigners.
HELPS IN EDUCATION
Courts Refuse Citizenship to Appi-
cants. Who Have Returned to Ma
tive Land to Fight.
HELPS IN EDUCATION

| Inc making OF q CITIZEN. In 30 Tar as
law is concerned. is no difficult matter,
but to make a citizen in spirit sympathy
and loyalty. imbued with love of country.
is different matter. For over a century
the nation slept upon this duty and per-
mitted any one to violate naturalizatio..
laws and to add hundreds of thousands
annually to the enjoyment of privileges
of the franchise. the holding Of once and
all other rights sacred to the natural
| born citizen
Congress was aroused by .the report OF
the Commissioner OF Naturalization anu
| on June %. 1906. passed the current natu-
| ralization law. By this law all courts.
State and Federal. and officials of these
| courts. were placed under the supervi-
sion Of the United States government.
This administrative authority rests with
| the Bureau of Naturalization.
100000 Seek Citizenship.
Almost 100000 foreigners have asked
for citizenship during the first eight and
| three-quarter years OF Federal supervi-
sion. Almost 10000 Of these have de-
ciared their intention. or taken out frst
papers. Something over 10000 have
asked for final papers. and of these about
| $4,000 have been admitted to citizenship
during that time.
| During the same time there have been
| S, 0o0 foreigners refused admission to citi-
| Zenship. Over one-half of these have
| been denied because Of mental and moral
| unftness. The bureau has kept close su-
| pervision over this phase, and through its
activities the public mind was directed
| to the necessity for providing means to
| accomplish the act of admission. but to
| equip them better to carry on the daily
| fight for a livelihood.
| In 1910 there were nearly $4,000, 900
| foreigners in this country. OF this
! number 100000 were not citizens The
| foreign body has been increased nearly
| 100000 annually since then. By far
| the larger portion of the foreign resi-
dents of this country have retained
| their allegiance to the sovereignty of
| their birth Recently, reports in the
| public press have shown many of these
are ready to respond to the behest of
these sovereignties.
1t is well known that large numbers
returned upon call of the country Of
their nativity. leaving the ties. per-
sonal. family. Industrial and others.
which have grown up in this country.
This was the case prior to the war Of
Europe and in the lesser wars among
the Balkan states. Many have gone
| back to the old countries who have de-
clared their intention. Some OF these
afterward returned to this country and
presented themselves before the courts
OF citizenship 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. 1,65o,3e1 are
classed is illiterate.
Although $1,000 foreigners have been
refused citizenship because of mental
and moral unfitness. at least that many
have been admitted to citizenship. In
spite of these deficiencies, during the
period of Federal supervision The
courts have been reluctant to refuse
citizenship to candidate. even though
he be ignorant of our institutions or Of
the privileges conferred upon him. Es-.
pecially is this so where there are no
facilities offered by the cities and
towns where the petitioners live Tor
overcoming these defects
IN many places the public schools
have under the inspiration of the Bu-
reau of naturalization, opened their
doors to the foreigner and have taught
him tie duties Of American citizenship.
and in these places. the courts have
readily responded to the new order of
things and refused citizenship unless
higher standard which has been
brought about by the Federal SUPER
vision. This system the bureau has
tried out for years, and with success
in various localities throughout the
country There Is scarcely a state IN
the whole country that does not now
have citizenship classes. carried on
either by the public schools or under
the direction of private agencies.
City Honors Immigrants.
In MANY localities where there are hun
dreds. and indeed thousands. Of citizens
admitted annually. no cosnizance had
been given this important proceeding by
the general public. municipal ofhcfaldom.
public school, or other authorities until
brought back to their attention by the
representatives of the Bureau OF Nat
uralization. This was SO evident. that
the bureau. through Its Officers, brought |
to the attention of the mayor OF the
City Of Philadelphia. last winter, the |
fact that about 1000 petitions for natu- |
ralization would be heard during the
spring months, and. a result of this, |
approximately $500 new citizens would |
be made at that time in the persons OF
the candidates and their wives and chill |
dren, born abroad This resulted IN the
first reception extended by any munich |
zens of foreign birth.
This reception was but one OF the ac- |
tivities of the Bureau Of Naturalization |
to bring the attention of the entire na-
ton this most vital activity Of citizen
ship In the press Of the day preceding |
the reception, there was published
the United States an an
of the nationwide move
ment for the education of the resident
alien body through the candidates for
Heretofdfe the activities Of the schools
have been directed almost wholly to the
candidate for final papers, while the
foreigner possessing his FIRST papers, or
who has Just declared his intention to
become a citizen at some future time. /
has been largely neglected. The bureau I
has recognized. however. that there has
been . constant and steady, though 81
lent appeal coming annually from the
hearts OF hundreds Of Thousands Of for
eisners holding first papers. for relief.
help. and assistance to the attainment Of Il
their hopes and desires In this country. Il
During the last year over $4,000 for L
eigners declared their intention and Pc
titioned for naturalization. This IL the
high water mark since Federal supervi.
sion. The Federal census records for
the United States show that the foreign L
10 many times greater than
the number who came forward for citi-
Eenship. In many States the proportion
of candidates for cit.ssnship to the en-. 1,
tire foreisn-bofn white population u a
he lowest possible ebb. In - ekats j.