The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-03-25
PHONE 262
WHAT IS AN ALIEN?

WHAT IS AN ALIEN:
 Samuel Hopkins Adams one of Ameri ca's foremost writers, in the March number of Everybody's, asks this pertinent question: What Is An Alien? He also requests that you do not take the definition of peace times as set forth in Webster's but the question is Is an alien one who is for us? against us :: or neutral?
 The American people as a whole are waking up to the menace of aliens who have refused to amalgamate with the other atoms in Americas Melting Pot," either through design or because they have not been edu- cated up to their responsibilities. Some of them have taken out naturalization papers and pose as American citizens, but in their hearts they have never been weaned from the sovereign to whom they first owed al egiance; others have failed in every respect to grasp the ideas of democratic form of government and refuse to try to do SO. Do you think that there is an American citizen in the German empire today who IS not in an internment camp: Do you think that the German government would employ Americans in their intuition plants? Do yot. think that sedtious utterances which we pun iSh with jail sentence in America are in vogue in the central allied countries? As Billy Sunday would express it, Not by a dam sight" The firing squad would be work ing overtime, and the American with red blood in his veins, mayhap with a son or the firing line whose very existence depends on loyalty at home, is demanding that tllc congress of the United States pass drastic laws for the punishment of the enemy allie that he be deprived of the right to vote Is only a small thing; that he be informed and fed and housed in comfort is small punish ment for the basest crime which can be com nitted against our people-the people are de manding punishment commensurate with the crime punishment which will act as deter rent to the every day violation of our princi- pies and which are endangering the very life of our nation.
 The red-blooded judges on our benches are bitter in their denunciation of the lax laws and punishments covering sedition and sabotage. The man who openly deflles the Flag can receive punishment of Is months in jail-rnind you, not even hard labor goes with it-he can damn the country and its chief executive and get a year under the same conditions of easy living-and we won der why our munition plants and grain ele- vators are being destroyed; why the l. w.. w. are increasing in number; why we are approaching state of feeling where the usu- ally placid, easy-going American is beginning to see red, and sooner or later will feel com pelled to take the law in his own hands.
 The fire insurance companies of the world have voiced their feelings most strong ly regarding the acts of wailton destruction which can only be laid at the door of the ! alien-a bomb in the hands of one of these starts the fire which destroys millions of dol lars worth of valuable foodstuffs to say notf- ing of the cash value of the property thereby reducing the food reserves and add ing to the financial burden of the entire coun- try-do you think confinement in prison a sufficient punishment for such as this?
 The Wake Up America" movement is on. Look over your local held-isn't there room for improvement right in our midst :: Are we not playing with a situation whicl should be taken in hand noz0?
 Don't De afraid 10 sholv yow Anerican isn,. Your loyalty may be unquestioned- sel that the other fellows is attended to--and 1 if you can't convince him or are satisfied that he is a menace report the matter to the proper authorities and see that they act QHicf BE A STAMP SAVER