I suppose it was the hope and expectation of the Naval Affairs Committee that after four years of honorable service. and on the presentation of the certificate. that would be sufficient proof to the court that the alien seaman was entitled to citizenship and might receive his naturalization papers. There is. as I believe. no special provision for the sailor who enlists In the naval service today. Strange to sayand rather surprising. too. in view of this request of the coimnitteewe passed a law some years ago. which is operative today. granting the right of application for citizenship to the sailor who does not engage in the service of the United States. who does not take up arms in defense of this country. but who serves three years as a seaman ol board a merchant vessel. To that man we say: "If you engage in the merchant marine service of the United Statesif you. an alien. will help to build up our coastwise trade. if you will come under the American flag and serve in a merchant vessel. not a war vessel. where your life is at stakethen. on the mere certificate of the captain of your vessel that you have been on board that vessel for three years and that you have been honorably discharged. the court shall consider your application for naturalization." So that we are in this position today. With a possible war on hand to the south of us. with the demand for young men to go to the front. with many men offering for enlistment who can not be naturalized because of the crowded condition of the courts. we say to an alien who enlists for service in the Army of the United States that lie may become a citizen if it is shown that he has served in the Army for one year. or if it is shown that he has engaged with the merchant marine service of the United Statesthat is to say. if he engages with some private employer who sends forth a ship floating the American ilag and has served in that service three years. he is qualified .for naturalization. and the court is authorized te grant him papers. But if the alien goes down to one of our navy yards or to one of our navy recruiting stations and offers his services to the United States. puts the musket on his shoulder. and goes into service in Vera Cruz or Tampico or the interior of Mexico. fighting for this country. there is no way that he can obtain naturalization unless lie comes back and lives out his five years residence and takes his chances in the courts. If we have given a preference to the alien who serves In the Army and we let him in after one year. or as to the merchant marine service. we let him apply after three years honorable service. then tell me why we should not reduce the period of the residence of the alien who enlists upon the battleship and takes his life in his hands for this country? Why. after an honorable service of three years. should he not be put on equal terms with an alien who serves on the merchant vessel or in the Army?
Keywords matched
naturalized naturalization