The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-06
SAYS OTTO 4. KAHN
is NOT U. S. CITIZEN
Woman Calls on Government
Attorney to Have Finan-
cier's Papers Revoked.

The mystery surrounding the pres
ence at the polling place In Cold Spring
Harbor, L. l.. Tuesday OF a man and
woman. who. Il was learned were
waiting for Otto n. Kahn. banker. to
cast his vote. was explained yesterday
when lie Roy W. Ross, United States
Attorney In Brooklyn. received letter
from Mrs. Clara de Poy OF Great Neck
demanding that Mr.. Kahn's cati1enship
paper be revoked.
Mrs. de Poy said last night she had
no personal feeling IN tho matter. but
merely wished to see that mo foreign
ers voted In her letter TO Mr.. Ross
she said:
"I hereby call upon you 20 COM
mence action against Otto II. Kahn OF
Woodbury.. L. l., to rescind and de-
clare void the so-cailed naturalization
papers issued TO him on the ground
that said papers believe to be illegal
Mr. Ross asked Mrs. de Poy 20 como
TO his Office Monday with her attorney.
William Eastman OF Mineoia and reveal
tho nature OF her information. which.
ne said, ne would investigate at once.
Kahn. III, Ds6 Not Vote.
Mr.. Kahn was registered from his
Long Island summer home. AZ his town
house. 100 Fifth avenue. his secretary
said he has been III IA bed for several
days, which accounted for his absence
from the polls Mrs. Kahn voted and
watchers at Cold Spring took care TO
see that she was not inserfered with.
According to Mrs. de Poy. Mr. Kahn
made his first application for citi.en-
ship in New Jersey In 1905. He took no
further action in the matter. abe said.
until 1916, when he applied for his GER
tificate. The action was outiawed. Mrs
de Poy asserted. because ne failed 10
apply for the certificate within seven
years. but nevertheless. she said. ne
got his papers in 1917.
She went to the polls to see n he
would vote and states she WAS discour-
teousiy treated. Anna Biggs. Deputy
Sheriff. said the couple on watch at the
polling place. who were unknown TO any
one at the Cold Spring polling place.
arrived early Tuesday morning and hung
around until they closed. They were
taken for process servers.
Mr.. Kahn was born In Germany. but
became n naturaliEed British subject In
1898. After taking out his first papers
in the United States IN 1906 he consid-
cred returning to England 20 live. but
finally decided TO remain In this country.
Basis Of Citisenship Claim.
His attorney, Paul D. Cravath OF 52
william street. gave out the following
statement last night:
The American naturalization pro-
ceedings taken by Mr.. Kahn (who was
raturalized a British subject in 1880
were in charge Of an excellent New
Jersey lawyer. Mr. Kahn received his
final papers IN March, 1917. from the
Court Of Common Pleas at Morristo wn.
whore he then lived He was entitled TO
his final papers under the decisions Of
the United States Court embracing New
Jersey, notwithstanding his original APP
plcation was more than seven years old.
though different rule had been laid
down by the district courts In some
other circuits.
The whole question was set at rest
by an act of Congress enacted In May.
1918, which validated all naturalization
certificates issued upon petitions filed
prior to January. 1913. upon declara-
tions OF intention filed prior TO Septer-
her 81, 1906. That act was undoubtedly
passed. because there were many cases
like Mr.. Kahn's that were subject to
doubt because of conflicting decisions In
different circuits"