Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-06-13

Judge George G. Bingham attracted
the attention Of federal naturalization
authorities several months ago on the
stand he had taken in naturalization
matters. Especially was this true re.
garding the wife Of the newly natural
ized man. whom Judge GiRgham fig
ured sshould know what citizenship
meant as well as her husband. When
foreigner is made a citizen and voter,
that also eonfers the same right on the
wife and for this reason Judge Bing-
ham insisted upsn examining the wife
as well as the prospective citizen.
In the east there is an organization
established for the "Study of Meth
DDS Of American Citizenship" and Of
this association there is a 'sDivision Of
Naturalization and Political Life.''
This organizations which has taken
up the study Of. naturalization is Sc.
curing the opinion Of circuit Judges
throughout the country as to the best
methods Of handling naturalization, and
has submitted series Of questions. To
these questions, Judge Bingham mas
submitted his opinions as follows:
The present requirements for citizen
ship are not strict enough as to gen.
eral knowledge Of eur government and
our community life in general.
After making an application for eiti.
zenship, the applicant should not be
absent for any length of time from the
country. Judge Bingham Is Of the opin.
ion that citizenship IS for those who in.
tend to live in this country and is not
to be used to promote Individual bust
ness, nor to secure protection while liv.
ing abroad.
Witnesses for an applicant for citl.
zenship should see him often and be
familiar with his home life. It is impor-
tant, Judge Bingham says, that the wife
shoud be treated as an equal. Also inn
portant that the children of an appli-
cant for citizenship should be well
clothed and sent to school as good citis
zenship extends to the whole family.
Judge Bingham does not believe an
applicant must necessarily speak the
English language, but to exercise suf-
frage intelligently and to vote intclli.
gently, the citizen should be able to
read English and should take and read
the English newspaper.
As to specific educational test,
Judge Bingham believes that none is
necessary Honesty Of purpose is the
main@thing, he observes. He notes the
fact that the larger part of aliens who
have been giving trouble would have
no trouble in passing an educational
test.
AS to instructions to those who are
about to apply for citizenship papers
he thinks that these instructions should
be varied according to the individual
A certificate from auy special school is
not to be accepted as republication fol
citizenship as a private school might
take advantage of the aliens ignor
ance.
Judge Bingham does not favor aboll
ltion of the present first declaration OF
intention. 1t rather prepares the peti
tioner for his examination and also gives
notice to the community, as il Is the
custom Of most papers to publish the
names of those who file their first de
claration of intention. This general no
tice to the community is to some OK
tent a protection.
He does not favor permitting natur
alizaion Of a married woman, regard
less Of alienage Of the husband, or Of
his refusal or failurc 10 become n citi
zen. II woman is to become a citizen
it should be through the naturalization
Of her husband.
Nor does the Judge favor permitting
married women to retain their citizen
ship when they marry foreigners. A,
the present law now stands, when ar
American woman marriesc foreigner
she forfeits her American citizenship
and becomes n citizen Of the country
where her husband Claims citizenship