White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1920-09-26
SERVICE RECORD
SHOULD COUNT
IN CITIZENSHIP


II is deplorable fact that em-
ployees of the government often in
terpret the regulations of its differ
ent departments according to Their
individual standard which may be
broad or narrow according to the
Individual.
The recent naturalization hearing
held in Ely at which five ex-service
men holding honorable discharges
from the army were denied the Ger
tifieate OF citizenship for the reason
given by the examiner that they had
not read the Constitution OF the
United States. Although the regula
tions of the department OF natural
ization requires a preliminary exam
ination OF honorably discharged
soldiers and il is necessary for the
examiner to certify that he has made
such examination, 1t does not specify
what that examination should be
and 1t would naturally be supposed
that the examiner is expected to use
his own judgment and consider the
conditions surrounding the appli-
cants. The record on the discharge
papers OF the ex-service man should
be considered; the witnesses identi-
flying the man and recommending
him for citizenship are worthy Of
consideration and the size of the
community where the application is
made. There is no doubt a chance
that citizenship papers might be OBJ
tanned on an honorable discharge
from the service Through fraud. The
man presenting the discharge may
not be the man entitled to it. but
this chance is slight in a small COM
munity and even this fraud would
not be discovered by an examination
of the Constitution. II any appli-
cants witnesses are satisfactory and
their oath is not questioned in court,
there is little chance of fraud IN
presenting an applicants discharge
Now the question arises who Is
the better qualified man for citizen
ship rights, the man who has fought
for the Constitution or the man
who has read it? There Is nothing
on record to show that the men who
entered the service at the time OF
greatest need were examined as to
the reading of the Constitution, they
N0r ura IN nd na IN. hi nh faeaf
fitness for it, The definition of that
greatest of all human documents Is
left to the courts, but the defense of
Ii falls on the men of red blood
1t is proper for the safe guarding
of the rights of citizenship to know
mans attitude toward the govern
ment, but in few cases will map
seek citizenship in. country unless
the fundamental principals OF that
government are to his liking If nc
does seek such citizenship as z means
of carrying ont some plot against IL.
he will be well equipped to pass any
examination as the failure to do 80
might arouse suspicion The honest
man who has served his time fight
ing for a government and country
would never dream that a suspicion
of his LOYALTY would be held against
him.
The administration is not behind
any such narrow minded ideas of ex-
animation OF honorably discharged
soldiers. Men who were sworn TO al
legiance before going overseas and
who received their citizenship papers
from Washington. In every case have
received letter showing the apprec-
iation of the government and extend
ing a welcome to the applicant with
out the examination question aris-
ing
The following is copy of the
letter sent 10 each man with his
certificate of citizenship.
Your Government takes greai
pleasure In placing in your hands as
an honorably discharged citizen
soldier YOUR certificate of naturalizn
tion as an American citizen. u vel
comes you into the citizenship of the
nation. Because you patrioticalls
responded TO the call to arms vsher
the services of millions OF men were
needed TO safeguard Democracy, tn
Congress arranged through thu
courts and the Bureau of Naturaiiza
tion to have Immediately granted t.
you the highest privilege that an
government can confer upen men
American citizenship. No declars
tion of intention. f'frst citizenshi
paper) was required OF you. If yo,
had not been In the military service
a first paper and wait nf over tw