Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-30

Universal regret Is expressed that,
through technicalities in the immigra-
ton laws, delay Is threatened in the
naturalization of Bernt Balcnen and
John Buys Of the Byrd Antarctic
Expedition. Should their stay in Lit
tie America" with Admiral Byrd post
pone their official recognition by Amer
lea itself, is the question raised.
"Balchen Is just the type that most
Americans would welcome" says the
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, with the con-
viction that, "for naturalization pur-.
poses, America and Little America
should certainly be viewed as one" The
Roanoke Times maintains that so
brave and daring pilot as Bernt Bal
chen, who has assisted in carrying the
American flag to the far ends OF the
earth, should not be penalized In his
desire to become citizen" that
America should be proud to call sucn
man one Of its own and to assist him
in every way" The Detroit Free Press
holds that "as far as the spirit OF
things is concerned, he was no more
outside the Jurisdiction OF the United
States than the member OF miiltary
expeditionary force Is. :,
Representative Bloom Of New York, y
says the Springfield Republican, last
May introduced bill provldlng tnaI
the term of absence of an alien under
emnlovnnent by or contract with the
Government of the United States or an
American institution Of research" ana
actually engaged in the work required
of him, shall be included in the nVe
years term of continuous residence re-
uuired for naturalization. Inc oLlly
question regarding the merit of this
PROPOSAL Is whether the terms ought
not to be made still more liberal.
"rhere should be q disposition" adj
yises the Columbus Ohio State journal,
ito help worthwhile men TO become
American citizens. Iecnnica :,
experts forget the spirit OF the statute:
THE Hartford Times suggests that our
mariners who left their homes on voy-
ages of sometimes more than two years
duration to foreign ports and seas olo
not lose their legal residence on that
account" In support OF Balchens
citizenship, the Times states: 1T Is
the peoples wish. 1t is justice ana
right. and we believe 1t is the law.
Admission to citizenship in the
United States" explains the Schenec-
tady Gazette, sis hedged about by serious
restrictions. Were these relaxed TO any
extent, there would be an tnfiux OF un-
desirable foreigners. But were these
undesirables not clamoring to enter this
country, we could open our doors freely
To Others whom we could readily &C
cept as citizens. The case OF Bernt
Balchen, pilot of the Byrd expedition,
is in point with this situation" The
New London Day sees in the present
application another of those cases in
which technicalities of the law prevent
a working of the spirit of the law.
I'VE are rather proud" AYERS the
Seattle Daily Times, that Bernt Bal
chen selected this country as his future
home. 1t goes without saying that he
would be a good American If permitted
TO take the oath of allegiance. Haggling
over inconsequential provisions of the
law, however, may discourage him. ="
The Milwaukee Journal asks, who Is
more entitled TO citizenship than those
who go forth under Americas flag to
discover and claim for her new soil?"
This Norwegian pilot" 1t Is pointed
out by the Indianapolis Star, was one
of the heroes of the Byrd Polar Ex-
petition. The admiral praised him
highly as a true, capable, dependable
man. whose ability lifted the expedi-
tons huge airplane against confused
air currents through q treacherous gorge
IN the Polar plateau. Balchen took out
his firgt papers in 1927. It would be
nothing less than outrageous to penalize
him for the period spent with Admiral
Byrd, bringing new glory to what he
hopes VIII be his adopted country"