The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-27
NATURAL|zEO WHEN
HUSBAND IS CITIZEN
New Court Order in the District of
Columbia Benefits Foreign Born
Women.

The, justices of the supreme court
of the District of Columbia have I'M
alterably Influenced for good the for
eign-b born residents OF this country and
their children and their children's
children.
That this may not seem to be too
strong a. statement it is necessary
only to recite certain conditions that
have tended to retard rather than to
further the progress toward citizen
ship and prosperity of the foreign
born. and then to give the provisions
OF the recent ruling aimed to remedy
those conditions.
According to- the naturalization law
as it now stands. where the applicant
| for citizenship is married. his wife
| becomes automatically naturalized by
the decree that grants the right of
citizenship to her husband. Thus she
| is not subjected to the tests applied
/, to her husband. she is not questioned
| In order to determine whether she
| is apt to prove loyal citizen to this
| country, whether she understands its
language or has any knowledge OF
| It's institutions.
| This fact. probably more than any
| other single factor in the naturaliza-
ton situation, has proved an almost
| impossible barrier to progress in
thousands of immigrant homes. The
husband has usually gained some
! knowledge OF the language and gov
eminent OF this country, has, too.
| the intention OF becoming a loyal
| citizen; usually he IL enthusiastically
! American in his emotions. The pro-
| cess of education which, he must un-
dergo often marks the turning point
| of his life: II may be the first revela-
| ton that has been made to him OF
| the ideals. principles. aspirations OF
| true Americanism, and he responds to
| them, as a rule, with extraordinary
! quickness. The contact moreover.
with a teacher who may be the hrst
| woman above the peasant class with
whom he has ever associated on terms
| OF friendly equality Is OF xreat in
| nuence. His wife, however, lacking
| the incentive OF necessity, has not,
! in an overwhelming majority OF cases.
| this training. Otter illiterate when
| she arrives in this country because
| OF the lack of opportunity In her ma
| tive land. she is so overwhelmed by
! domestic cares that WEAKNESS COM
| bines with inertia, timidity, distrust
of that which she does not understand.
! to keep her aloof from any elements
! that might otherwise contribute to
! her progress BY the compulsory
school law her children become rap
| idly Americanized: her husband. as
! has been said, by his citizenship train
! ing and by the necessities of his bust
| ness life, progresses, to some extent
at least, toward assimilation into
! American life. 1t is not too much to
say that the typical foreign born wife
and mother has been an obstruction to
| progress, often pitiably bewildered
| and sulIen one doomed to a prfyatiOn
OF the respect and authority due her
| in her own Households stumbling
block to be kicked aside--the inglor-
ious tragedy of the making OF pres
ent-day America.
The rule OF the Judges Of the SUI
preme court Of the District of Column
bia is designed to make the present
naturalization process pending. it is
hoped, a legislative reform that will
do away with this and other evils-as
great force for sane and wholesome
progress as is possible without that
legislative reform. II ia as follows:
ut appearing to the court from
previous examination OF petitioners
are unfamiliar with the English Ian
guage and the principles of our gov
eminent. and with the constitution OF
the United States and the general
laws Of the District OF Columb ta, and
their duties and responsibilities AZ
citizens:
And. II further appearing to the