Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
RUSH OF Aliens FOR
CITIZENSHIP NOTED
Bureau of Naturalization Tells
of Impulse Preceding and
Following Declaration.
100000 FILE INTENTIONS

A sudden and marked impulse on the
part of aliens to seek American citizen
ship Immediately preceding and fol-
lowing the declaration of war was
noted by the bureau of naturalization.
according to the annual report of Com
missioner Richard K. Campbell.
The fling of approximately 100000
declarations of intention represents an
increase of Ill per cent over the pre-
ceding year. while the $4,000. in round
numbers. of petitions for naturaliza-
ton. or second papers. so-called. show
an increase Of % per cent over 1916.
These figures indicate q remarkable
increase in naturalization work last
year, it is stated but war conditions
are not alone responsible for this sur
prising growth, for 1t has become more
and more apparent that this country's
enormous foreign population IS peing
slowly aroused to the desirabilfty OF
American citizenship.
Statement of Bureau.
A statement made public by the bu-
reau today says. In part:
Many millions of aliens have come TO
this country from all sources. induced
IN the main by tSair materiai cons
dition. They know nothing OF our run :
damental principles of human liberty:
The urge Of making the necessar1es OF
existence left no time, even II the means
had been supplied. Of learning that
America, the land of opportunity Tor
material advancement. Is still more the
country of opportunity for spiritual ad-
vancement.
Unfortunately upon their. arrival
here they often fall into the hands OF
Under these Circumstances. how can
they reasonably be expected to distfn-
suish any other difference than perhaps
higher wages for services from those
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 pro-
ductive energy only?
Measure of Justice.
rs it not then equally a measure of
justice which we owe to them, If we are
genuine Americans ourselves. to teach
them the principles upon which our
government is established and Of secur-
fly to ourselves? This will hardly admit
of question.
bureau is only in its fourth year, but
it's expansion since it's inception has
been remarkable. This year the pub
lie schools in approximately 1900 cities
and towns have been thrown open to
work has gone forward-work of re-
juyenating, 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 off
by the barrier Of foreign tongue and
foreign traditions. The greatest at
tention 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
peals of this bureau.
Foreign Settlement Known.
The report points out that wherever
an alien population the distinctly for;
eign settlement Is we'll known. No
spirit Of community fellowship or com
munity fraternalism Is to be found. and
the resident aliens are isolated from all
influences American. They are as dis
tinctly under the sway of foreign in
fiuences Of government as though they
were distinct group sent out from the
fatherland for colonization purposes. to
implant and perpetuate upon this new
soil the autocratic institutions of gov
eminent under which they, were born.
This colonization results in the domin-
alton of the group by superstitions.
prejudices and fears all of which are
groundless. but nevertheless deep-root-
ed All thoughtful citizens of the COM
munity realize this, but few have virile
Americanism sufficient to cause them to
see the menace of this condition or see
ing it to adopt the means Immediately
at hand for overcoming, peacefully and
quietly. this abnormal condition.
"A catastrophe Of some kind is needed,
generally. to awaken the public con-
seriousness to the state of activity
World events have been turning people
more and more to thoughtful action.
The great alien problem has more and
more been brought home by the in