Mr. Chairman. this bill may be deemed divided into two paits. one referring to the right of woman to be an American citizen in her own right and the other referring to the citizenship of the woman who has become such by virtue of naturalization of her husband. As to the right of the woman to be an independent American citizen in her own right there can be no controversy. because the nineteenth anmendment to the Constitution has settled that for all time. In regard to the first part of the bill there was considerable doubt at first in my mind as to whether it was the ideal way of reaching that which we are all striving to attain. nanely. full American citizenship both for the husabnd and the wife. with a full recognition of its responsibility. The big problem which has confronted men and women who have been studying the question of the children of the immigrant has always been how to instill into the children who were brought over here respect for the father who becomes an American citizen and also for the mother. My conclusion after studying the whole question for a long number of years has been that we have been giving too much attention to the father )ecoming Americanized and too little to the mother. who is engaged daily in looking after the home. with its heavy burden of work. I feel that through this bill being enacted into law the mother will commence to take a keener interest in American affairs. learn more about our Government than before. and through being required to go to the courts and obtain her separate citizenship she will be in a position to bridge the chasm which has been growing up on account of her lack of knowledge of English and civics.
Keywords matched
naturalization immigrant