Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-04-10
ADVICE TO ALIENS ON
ROAD TO CITIZENSHIP

WASHINGTON, D. c., April g.
The Secretary of Labor has prepared
q short statement Of advice to aliens
anticipating becoming American cit
liens. He has not, Of course, cover
ed all the questions which might
arise, but following are some Of the
suggestions that he makes for their
guidance:
Consult the best guides in citizen
ship matters. The Bureau of Nat
uralization furnishes them in 25 cit
les. Their services are without
charge.
Ask these Naturalization Examin-
ers for advice, or write to their head
quarters, the U. s. Department Of
Labor, Washington, D. C.
Congress intended that citizenship
should be earned, not bought. Con-
sequently in plain cases. costs have
been kept down to S.; 81 for declar-
alton of intention and 81 for petition
and certificate.
The alien who does not stay for
five years in one place must pay
more. He has to procure dispositions
and may have difficulty in getting
competent witnesses.
Do not pay q lawyer for advice
that the Government gives free.
Do not believe all you hear. Your
informant may be unreliable. Ask
at headquarters for information.
Do not wait to file petition until
the last year before declaration ex-
pires. Laws are mandatory and viii
not stretch like rubber bands. Ger
tifcate of arrival must be obtained
for you from the immigration Ser
vice or disappointment is in store.
Be accurate when you give the ex-
aminer the date on which you sailed
for America, the name of the boat
on which you came, the port at which
you were admitted, and the name used
on your steamship ticket.
Give any variations that may have
been used in spelling your name.
Remember that there are thous-
ands Of applications in ahead of
yours, that there are but few clerks
to search the records, and that un-
less you give entirely reliable infor4
nation it may be difficult to verify
your arrival.
Make allowance for perhaps as
much as three months after applica-
ton is made to port of. landing be-
fore certificate ,e arrival is receiv-
ed in Washington IS given to you, and
you are told to take it and your dec
laration and go with your witnesses
to the clerk of court to file your petit
ton. &. ~ fe-fs
Earn your citizenship. The FIVE
years of residence required of an
alien before he can become "a citizen
were intended to give him time in
which to study, think over, and &c
quire an adequate knowledge of the
Constitution, as well as to test wheth-
er he has behaved as man of good
moral character and is attached to
the principles Of the Republic.
You should learn the English Ian.
guage and American customs. As
some one puts it, can alien who
comes here need not forget his moth
er but he must cleave to his wife,
You wed America when you become
naturalized.
Learn to read the American news.
papers. Over 40 nationalities are
represented in the almost IA million
foreign-born people in the United
States. They must learn to speak
and read English or we cannot have
unified nation. Public safety de-
mands that the matter be not ne
elected.
Live peaceably with all your neigh
bors.
Obey the laws. The Eighteenth
Amendment is a part of the Consti-
tuition. 1t will be fully enforced.
Naturalization Examiners inspect
past court records and bring law vio-
lations to the attention of the judge
sitting in naturalization hearings,
that he may have full knowledge as
to how fit the applicant may be for
citizenship.
Do not take part in meetings of
anarchists. Their principles are in
conflict with the ideals and laws of
the Republic.
Do not listen to anyone who preach
es violation Of the laws or destruc-
ton of the American Government.
Tell the truth at all times. The
applicant who does not answer in
candid way the questions asked in
naturalization matters is not using
good judgment.
Make use of the public-school sys-
tenn. It is the heartbeat of the ma
ton. If there is no Americanization
school in your neighborhood ask the
Board of Education to assign tea
cher to supervise your study. If the
teacher will do so, free textbooks win
be furnished by the Bureau of Nat
uralization.
Read American history and study
the Constitution. Your witnesses
must make oath that they have per-
sonal knowledge that you are sat
tached to the principles of the Con-
stitution of the United States" and