Speech #640123981

Newton D. Baker. has issued an order. under date of April 24. calling for the discharge of all members of certain crews who are not citizens of the United States. and inasmuch as tile Secretary of War has stated positively in that order that by citizens he means nativeborn citizens. it seems to be necessary to offer this amendment. The word "citizen" appears all through this shippurchase bill. and the word means in the United States what it has always meant until the present Secretary of War issued an order making a distinction between nativeborn and naturalized citizens. I have shown the Secretarys remarkable order to a number of Members of the House of Representatives. all of whom at first said it was Impossible that any such order could have been issued. that there had been some mistake. But there is no nistake. I have seen the order. It has resuilted. to my knowledge. in the dismissal of five citizens. naturalized. if you please. but citizens of the United States nevertheless. employed as sailors on a vessel of the United States in Puget Sound doing Government work for the War Department. The first man who signs the protest to me is John W. Carlson. born in Finland.