The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-12-06
THE RIGHT TO VOTE, HOLD OF
FICE AND OWN PROPERTY
OUGHT TO BE RESTRICTED.


OUGHT TO BE RESTRICTED.
The following was printed in the
Spokesman Review of Sunday, Dec. /,
over the signature of Deed H. Mayar.
To the Editor of the Spokesman-Re-
view: We have learned a lot of
things from the war, not the least of
which is that we have held too cheap
ly the rights of citizenship in this
country The people have flocked
here from every quarter of the globe
because of the comparative freedom
from all kinds of restraint, and be-
cause of the opportunities here pre-
scented, for making a living and ac-
cumulating a competency.
After simply swearing allegiance to
our laws, and residing here few
years, they are entitled to vote, hold
office, own property and enjoy privi-
leges that native born children have
to wait 81 years to acquire. Under
this law we have received many very
excellent people. Themselves and
their descendants are among the most
useful and loyal citizens. They have
helped to make this country what it
is, the freest and most progressive of
nations.
Under this loosely framed law we
have also received, as we have learned
from bitter experience, lot of posi-
lively undesirable citizens. Imprac-
teal fanatics, restrained and discred
tied in the country from which they
hail; the bolshevik, the anarchists, nj
hilists and cranks, have flocked here
to spread their senseless social and re-
ligious theories with voice and pen.
Theories which they had to avow sur
reptitiously in the country from which
they came. Few of them ever produce
anything but trouble. They make con-
verts to their particular hobby, and
live off them without themselves
working.
We have been a national easy mark.
One thing we have learned from the
war, our naturalization laws need to
be further restricted and the rights of
native citizens must also be restricted
as to certain privileges if the duties
of good citizenship are to be be borne
by all alike.
Because people are alive to the need
of a change this is a good time to
rake it.
When people come here from other
lands, properly recommended, the law
should provide that they must live
here at least ten years before they can
vote, hold office or legally own prop
erty. AS prerequisite to either ma
tive or foreign citizens being endowed
with these privileges | would make
every citizen file declaration, under
oath or affirmation, that he would
bear arms in defense of this country,
within the age all citizens are subject
to call, whenever the country demands
| his services.
| know of no reason why all citi
zens should not share alike the bur-
dens and privileges of citizenship.
| suspect that if the benefit of citi-
zenship were withheld from the con-
scientious objector and the Stacker
some people would have change of
conscience.
Service to the country is insepa-
rable from the rights, benefits and
privileges guaranteed under its laws.
Our boys gave their lives to pre-
serve the rights and benefits of the
slackers in the late war. Shall we
continue to divide opportunity and
shelter them in the future?
To the criticism that such a law
would keep out some good people |
have to say: Better forego the bene-
fits of few worthy citizens to keep
out lot of very undesirable ones.
The laws should be made to keep out
those who may become a burden or a
menace even tho it prevent some con-
sidered desirable from coming here.
Wherefore | urge, we have held the
right of citizenship in the United
States too lightly. Put the premium
of equality of service on this inestima-
BILE privilege.