Speech #680087181

Moore. chief examiner of the Washington Aliens are made citizens at the rate of 15 a minute. district. I learned of one of the most interesting and graphic incidents in connection with this work. It occurred at the time These headlines appeared in the New York Times last of the naturalization of aliens in the Thirtyseventh Division. month. a division which wrote its name in history in some of the The selection of our future citizens Is a problem entitled to hardest battles along the western front. and which was comserious consideration. because it carries with it not only cer- posed of National Guard troops from Ohio. tain obligations but the right of participating in our Govern- On May 9. 1918. Congress passed an act providing for the ment and of determining its future policies as well as protec- expeditious naturalization of men who were "serving in the tion at home or abroad. It should be accompanied by a digni- United States Army during the time the country is engaged in fled ceremony to properly impress the aliens who are received the present war." War Department statistics had shown that as citizens as well as serving as a reminder to those who al- there were many thousands of aliens in the service by virtue ready have the great rights granted by our Constitution. of membership in the National Guard. in the National Army. How is citizenship in this great country acquired? and by operation of the draft. Before these men should go It is determined by Federal law only. An alien may file his overseas it was highly desirable that they be citizens. With declaration of intention on the day of his arrival. but lie must this in view. the act was passed. have resided within the United States continuously for five Of the 32 cantonments in the United States. 17 were in the years prior to tiling his petition for naturalization. the last Washington naturalization district. and there were more than year of which must have been continuously within the State 250 other military poss and camps. It became necessary to In which lie applies for citizenship. hurry the work for the naturalization of soldiers before the Prior to filing his petition a prelinilfft r application must units to which they belonged might be moved to other camps be sent In to the chief examiner for the Bureau of Naturaliza- or places of debarkation. tion. On a date named the applicant with two witnesses The first naturalization of soldiers In the camps where the appear at the office of the clerk of courts. where the Federal court. by formal order. set up its machinery inside of military examiner questions the applicant and the witnesses. The alien lines occurred in Camp Sheridan. Ala.. where the Thirtyseventh must be able to speak English and sign his name in English.