Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-24
RUSH MADE BY ALIENS
TO SEEK CITIZENSHIP
Bureau Of Naturalization Tells OF
Impulse Preceding and Fol
lowing Declaration.
10000 FILE THEIR INTENTIONS
represents Increase of III Per Cent
Over Preceding Year-War Con-
ditions Not Alone Responsible.
AmcricaniZatiOn Goes Steadily On.

AmcricaIIiZatiOn Goes Steadily On.
WASHiNGTOE, December ga sud
den and marked impulse on the part
Of aliens TO seek American citizenship
Immediately preceding and following
tho declaration Of war was noted by
The Eurcau OF naturalization. according
TO the annual report OF Commiss oncr
Nichard *. Campbell.
Tho Ming OF approximately 10000
declarations OF intention represents an
Increase OF Ill per cent over the pre-
ccding year. while the $4,000. in round
numbers. OF petitions for naturaliza-
ton. or second papers, so-callcd. show
an increase of 81 per cent over 1916.
These figures Indicate a remarkable
increase In naturalization work last
year IT is stated. But war conditions
are not alone responsible for this sur
prisinE growth. for 1t has become more
and moro apparent that this coun,ry's
enormous foreign population is being
slowly aroused TO tho desirability of
American citizenship.
statement made public by the bu-
rcau to-day says. in part:
Many millions Of aliens have come
to this country from all sources in
duccd in tho main by practical con-
sidcrations OF the bcttcrmcn. Of their
material condition. They know moth
ing OF our fundamental principles OF
human liberty. The urge of making
tho ncccssarics of existence left no
time. even If tho means had been Sup
nicd. OF learning that America. the
land OF opportunity for material
advancement, Is still more tho coun-
try OF opportunity for spiritual ad-
vanccmcnt
unfortunately. upon their arrival
hero they often fall into the hands Of
tho enemies OF our own household
Under these circumstances, how can
they reasonably be expected TO distin-
ruish any other difference than perhap s
higher wages for services from those
they left behind them? How can we
reasonably ask them TO love principles
which have never been identified to
them either by instruction or IN the
practice of those Americans whose es-
innate OF them is made in terms Of
productive energy only"
MEASURE OF JUSTICE
Is DUE TO FOREIGNERS
justice which VIC owe to them, ~ we
are genuine Americans ourselves, to
teach them the principles upon which
our government is established and Of
security TO ourselves This will hardly
admit OF question.
The Americanization work Of the
bureau is only in its fourth year. but
its expansion since its inception has
lie schools in approximately $500 cities
and towns have been thrown open to
alien instruction. In all OF these the
work has gone forward-work OF re-
juvenatins. rebuilding and placing
within the reach of the adult immi-
grant candidate for citizenship those
opportunities which exist on every
hand. but from which he Is shut of
by the barrier Of foreign tongue and
foreign traditions. The greatest at
,ent!on has been given TO the declarant.
and emphasis placed upon the impor-
lance of his attendance upon one OF the
public night schools that are opening
their doors by the thousands all over
the land in direct response TO the APP
pcals OF this bureau.
The report points out that wherever
one enters a large community having
an alien population the distinctly for
eign settlement is well known. No
spirit OF community fellowship or COM
munity fraternalism Is to be found
and tho resident aliens are isola ted
from all influences American. They are
as distinctly under the sway OF for
Ign influences OF government as though
they were a distinct group sent out
from the fatherland for colonization
purposes. TO implant and perpetuate
upon this new soil the autocrat!c in
xtitutions OF government under which
they were born. This colonization re-
suits in the domination OF the group
by superstitions, prejudices and fears.
all of which are ground!ess, but never
thelcss dccp-rooted. All thoughtful
citizens of the community realize this.
but few have virile Americanism SUM-
cent to cause them to see the menace
OF this condition, or seeing ii to adopt
the means Immediately at hand for
overcoming, peacefully and quietly.
this abnormal condition.
~ catastrophe OF some kind Is need
ed generally to awaken the public
consciousness to the state OF activity.
World events have been turning peo-
pie more and more to thoughtful ac-
ton. The great alien problem has more
and more been brought home by the
incidents OF the European war, and