Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-02-14
BOARDS LEAD FIGHT
ON ALIEN SLACKERS
SEATTLE AND PORTLAND OFF,
GALS START CAMPAIGN TO
DEPORT THEM.

l"euly-HNo UOIu h1utA a.
countries who claimed exemption
from the draft on the basis of their
neutral citizenship. after declaring
their intention of becoming citizens
of the United States, were forever
barred from citizenship in the fed
eral district court at Seattle by Judge
jeremiah Neterer Saturday by cancel
latiOn of their declaration Of inten-
ton papers following action brought
by John Speed Smith, chief exa miner
in charge Of naturalization service.
Nine Swedes, IA NOrwegians and
one Spaniard from Seattle and points
in the state and Alaska are included
in the list. Coincident with the can
collation. proceeding a circular letter
asking for deportation OF aliens
granted draft exemption and restrict7
ed immigration has been issued by a
committee of members of the asso-
ciated local boards of Seattle and
King county.
Similar action was taken in Taco
ma Monday, when Superior Judge
CHAPMAN, on Smiths recommends.
ton, forever barred IL aliens-eight
Norwegians. one Swede and three
Swiss-who had relinquished their
first papers to escape military service
in this country.
Asserting that a country which Is
not worth fighting for is not good
enough to live in, the Seattle boards
circular repeats the argument of the
court in cancelling citizenship rights
of neutral aliens who took shelter
behind their neutral citizenship
1.-THE offensS is not merely legal, 1t
is moral" readA the draft boards let
ter. "The gravity of the offense is
not the surrender of the papers, but
it is the endeavor to escape their
moral obligation which a resident In
this country owes to the nation when
nurtures and protects him. and which
he intended to make his home when
he came into the country as an i'm
migrant. Any refined arguments that
the alien was exercising a bare legal
right, and that to deport the alien
might involve us in treaty difficulties
will carry but little weight with an
aroused American citizenry which
sees it's own good American boys 60
ing forth to make this county safe
for worthless lot of parasites"
The draft boards appeal Is almost
to arouse public sentiment to point
where it will call forth action on the
deportation question in congress. Ev'
pense has been paid by patriotic per-
sons.
Portland draft board officials have
also taken up the campaign. BY the
unanimous action of nine ocal draft
boards in Multnomah county and dis
trict board No. /, with the members
of Columbia county board for good
measure, members of the Oregon
LEGISLATURE are asked to memorabilia
congress to enact legislation thai
shall forever debar selective service
registrants, who were alien declar
ants and evaders of military service
from holding citizenship, and requir
ing their prompt deportation.
Not only does the resolution in
clude those first papers of citizenship
registrants who, under the act passed
. by congress last Juyl, forfeited thei
declaration of intention when the!
/ secured deferred classification, but !
also covers the infinitely larger mum
Der who. prior to July, claimed divi
. sion F. Of class 5, the alienage elias
lsifcation, without FORGETTING thei
|, declarations Of intention.