Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-09-14
DANGER
SEEN BY
JURIST

Bingham States Aliens
Can Control Polls Un-
der Existing Natural
ization Laws
Contending that it is possible
for the foreign vote in some states
and sections OF the country to con-
troll elections and that aliens who
have not become citizens OF this
country in 10 years ought to be
deported, Judge G. G. Bingham Of
department No. 2 of the circuit
court, addressed the Salem Rotary
club at its luncheon this noon in
the Marion hotel.
Danger Scented.
"The danger of the alien vote in
the United States became apparent
some years ago and an effort WAS
made to limit the right to suffrage
to full citizens" stated the speak
er. ut was within the range of
possibilities for the alien voters to
control any state, but the election
of national officers. Before our
constitution was amended, we re.
quired the aliens declaration to
be made one year prior to an cleo
tion. In some states the time was
even shorter.
1T was possible, and in some
states It is yet possible, for col
ony of Germans to locate. each
file declaration Of intention TO
become a citizen, and then after
the constitutional period of resi-
dence take part in an election, pos
sibly control results by their COM
bined votes against the vote OF
actual citizens, and yet all the
time owe allegiance to a foreign
nation.
May Control Polls.
"The filing of the declaration OF
intention alone neither makes
them citizens Of this country or re-
lieves them from allegiance to a
foreign prince. Not only have
aliens the right, under these con-
dltions, to take part in saying who
shall be elected as executive Off
GERS of the state. who shall be
members of the legislature 10
make laws for the people. but they
may actually fill any OF the offi-
ces to be voted for at the elections
1t is not beyond the range Of posi-
bility that the selection of prcsi
dent OF the United States might be
controlled by the vote of a state
which does not require its elect ori
to be full citizens of the United
States.
United States Careless.
For more than one hundred
years after the adoption of the
constitution, but little attention
was given to foreign immigration
1t seems to have been our policy
to have encouraged immigration
without considering whether the
immigrants were In harmony with
our government or not.
I'VE are a self governing ma
tion, In which the voice of the ma
jority determines what course
shall be adopted. have a number
Of times made the assertion that
no matter how fair a country
might be, how fair a country may
be, how rich its soil, how sublime
its climate, II the government Il
unstable and unable to prot t III
citizens in their rights. IL will moi
prosper"
Defines Citizenship.
The speaker mentioned The
three sources OF citizenship, birth
naturalization and conquest ant
detailed the laws OF the British
and United States which are fun
damentally the same. and related
where circumstances had made 4
possible for the government 4
grant citizenship to groups Of peo
pie collectively when this countrl
had acquired territory. In mat
ters Of citizenship where citizen
ship in other countries was looked
upon different than IN ours IL val
necessary for the government {,
make treaties with these coun
tries.
Jap Law Recommended.
"The japanese question hal
been vexing the people Of the Pa
ciffc states. and the proper metho'
OF dealing with II has not beef
found" said the Judge
you will remember that thu
18th amendment 10 the eonstitu
tion provides thai sii persons bori
or naturslizsd IN the United State
and subject 70 the Jurisdiction
thereof are citizens. A Japanesl
or Chinese born in the Unitet
States is a citizen OF the United
States and the state IN which h
lives.
AT the legislative assembly II
January, ioz0. Senator PsttersoI
secured the adoption Of senatl
" 4