The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-05-09
Women Must Prepare For Franchise
Theodore W. Youman President Womans suffag


making application to the proper
court Gin this state the circuit court) 4,
securing first papers on declaration of
intention to become a citizen, and, af-
ter a period of two years, with two wit
resses testifying to good character and
citizenship, securing final papers. One
becomes naturalized in Wisconsin only
after five years residence in this
country, and the law provides for some
knowledge of the English language by
t. looming citizen, provision that
does + appear to be applied very strin-
gently in all cases.
In Wisconsin now for several years
only persons of full citizenship have
been permitted to vote. Previously
the foreigner who had declared his in
tention to become a citizen was as
potent voter as anyone else-and he
still is in six or eight states of the
Union. He is not subject to the draft
but he may vote, situation not only
unreasonable but, under the present
conditions, intolerable. South Dakota
will vote in November, 1918, on the
Question of limiting the franchise to full
citizens, men and women alike.
Wisconsin women foreign born have
had little incentive to secure citizen
ship, but now and then woman, not
a citizen through birth, has thought
it worth her while to become a citizen
by naturalization
An investigation as to the naturaliza-
tion of women in eleven representative
counties In Wisconsin has resulted in
the following data, in each instance
forwarded through the courtesy of the
clerk of the court.
Milwaukee County; Single women
na5uralized from January /, 1913 to.
January 10, 1916-fve; two German,
one French, one Swiss, one Welsh. Ages,
So, 45, Al, 81 and 70 years. Occupa-
ton given In only one instance-that
of teacher. Between June 1, 1916
and anuary /, 1913, one woman was ma
turalized and several took out first
papers. From April 1, 1913, to Jan
uary l, 1914, 741 men were naturalized.
Of these 519 were married, their wives
also thus becoming naturalized. Since
April, 1917, German women have asked
for first papers and been refused,
since naturalization is not permitted
enemy aliens.
Douglas County; -Four women ma
turalized from January l, 1913 to JAN
uary l, 1918-one German, one Nor
wegian, one Swedish, one Canadian.
Winnebago County: One woman ma
turalized in PAST five years, German,
aged 81.
Marinette County: One woman ma.
turahzed in past five years-Swedish,
aged 90.
sheboygan County: None fully ma
turalized. TWenty-seven women have
taken out first paper.
Waukesha County: Two naturalized
in five years, one German, teacher; one
Norwegian, domestic. One started to
take out papers and got married -,
Found it cheaper that way" Three
took out first papers in 1917, one since
January, 1918; one Canadian, aged 35,
nurse; one German, rs, domestic; one
English, widow, At; one German, nurse,
AZ. During 1917, lat men took out
first papers in Waukesha County.
Marquette, Kenosha, Walworth,
Brown, Marathon, Racine Counties-no
women naturalized in past five years.
Thus in eleven counties of Wisconsin
having population of upwards of a
million with at least $3.50 foreign born,
not more than so women have been ma
tnralized since January l, 1913, or are
now in process of naturalization.
Foreign born women who believe IN
democracy as exemplifed in these Uni
ted States and anticipate using their
votes to support democracy and these
United States may well find ,1aturaliza-
ton of great personal Importance.