xt70rx937t9n_421 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/46m4.dao.xml unknown 13.63 Cubic Feet 34 boxes, 2 folders, 3 items In safe - drawer 3 archival material 46m4 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Laura Clay papers Temperance. Women -- Political activity -- Kentucky. Women's rights -- Kentucky. Women's rights -- United States -- History. Women -- Suffrage -- Kentucky. Women -- Suffrage -- United States. Congressional Record text Congressional Record 2020 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/46m4/Box_31/Folder_3/Multipage18691.pdf 1919 1919 1919 section false xt70rx937t9n_421 xt70rx937t9n 1919.

CONGRESSKHWUQRECORD.

3193

 

ice as nurses back of the very front lines have received any
unusual consideration at the hands of our Government. This
fact prompted me to address a communication to the Secretary
of War the other day, of which the following is a COpy:
JANUARY 29, 1919.
Hon. va’rox D. BAKER,
The. Secretary of War, War Department,
Washington, D. 0.

Mr Inna SECRETARY BAKER: I observe that the War Department is
awarding to a number of officers and enlisted men, both in France and
in this country, medals of honor for meritorious services performed
during the war, all of which, in my judgment, were well earned; but
it occurs to me. that there are many women who served with the Army
in France in our hospitals who are equally entitled to conSideration
for services rendered, and if medals of honor can be awarded to these
women under the law, I trust that they will _not be overlooked.

If, however, you can not do this, I will be pleased if you. Will pre-
pare and send to me a bill that will cover the Situation. This country
has reason to be proud of Its women, particularly those who have
made such great sacrifices to take care. of the men who have been
wounded in battle.

. Yours, very truly, —- ~—-———.

This letter was published in many of the New York news-
papers, and as a result I have received a number of responses,
among them the following. which I am much pleased to bring
to the attention of the Senate as an evidence of the sympathy
existing between the boys who fought overseas and the girls
who took care of them when they were sick and wounded:

Mr. President, I now desire to read the following letter:

, UNITED STATES Ennanxa'riou IIosrrrAi. No. 3,
New Yer}: City, January 30, 1919.

Senator CALDER,

, Washington, D. 0’.

DEAR SIR: To-night I read with interest your letter to Secretary
Baker regarding medals to be issued to women war workers. Nothing
would please the overseas boys more than to see our overseas and
home girls receive the service medals so well earned. I know the
home girls have done wonderful work in supplying our overseas Army
with all the comforts possible. Here in New York they are treating
us royal, but, Senator. it brings tears to my eyes when I think of the
hardship the girls endured on the other side—the long hours they
worked. the conditions they worked under, and the miserable accom-
modations they had. God bless them. Senator; you-have got to be
there to fully appreciate what the girls have done for us. I for one
will never pass up the big drum again, and I will always honor the
Salvation Army. I have seen the Red Cross hospital raided by the
Hans and several nurses who gave silo—much more than I. I hope
the people as a whole will honor all women war workers, as they
most surely deserve it.

It is true we. left many of our boys over there, but is it not true that
we left some of our girls over there as well?

This is one subject Congress can and will agree upon, and I know
our President will be more than pleased to award the medals. .

How I wished that I commanded words to express my appreciation
of: all war workers. '

Thanking you for your interest taken on behalf of our girls—you
know, Senator, we overseas boys call all lady war workers our girls,
and we love to think of them as such—and that the honor that is
their due will soon be theirs, I am,

Yours, very truly,

Hospital. 1084914.

I am afraid, Mr. President, that in the hurry and rush of
war we have failed to pay the tribute due these wonderful
women who were willing to make every sacrifice for their
country. Thousands of our best women have been with our
Army from the beginning of the war, at times; under most diffi-
cult circumstances, and some have been under fire repeatedly.
I have in mind one Miss McDonald, a nurse, who went over
with a, unit from the Presbyterian Hospital, of New York City.
Miss McDonald was wounded at Ypres. losing an eye, and was
treated for several. months, but returned to service again. I am
informed that. she received a British decoration, but, so far as
I can learn, she has not yet been cited by her own Government.
This should not continue a day longer. These splendid women
ought not, under any circumstances, to be overlooked. They
did more than they were asked to do, not only in France but
here in this country as well.

No war was ever won by any nation without the united sup-
port of its women, and it is true, indeed. the. American women
have rendered every service in their power for their country.
I call this matter to the attention of the. members of the Mili-
tary and Naval Committees especially, and hope, if. legislation
is required to properly honor these women, that such measures
as may be. necessary be immediately brought to the attention of
the. Senate.

Mr. FRELINGIIUYSEN. Mr. President, when the joint reso-
lution was pending before the Senate last fall I offered the
following amendment to it:

On page 1, line 11, after the, word “sex," insert the following:
“but no male. person who Is not a citizen of the United States shall
exercise the right. of suffrage at an election- for Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress or for electors for President and Vice President
of the United States, and no female. person who is_not such a citizen
otherwise than by marriage, or who, hnvmg acquired citizenship by
marriage. has not complied with such requirements and conditions as
may be prescribed by the Congress shall exercise such right.

Pvt. Gnsrmvus A. Burrs.

 

At. that time, in speaking upon the. amendment, I said:

“ I am in favor of a constitutional amendment properly drawn
which will permit the worthy women of this country who are
citizens, either by birth or through the regular and orderly
processes of naturalization, to have the right of suffrage; but
I want that amendment so drawn that it will protect the worthy
women, who should vote, against the unworthy, who should not
vote, and I want it so drawn that Congress can hereafter pass
laws properly protecting this enlarged and increased electorate.
I conceive it to be our duty under our oath as Senators to pass
an amendment that will do this.

* * s 2: s >:: . at:

“Generally, married women are regarded as citizens of the
country of which their husbands are citizens. This principle is
recognized by the laws of the United States, section 1994 of the.
Revised Statutes providing that-—

“Any woman who is now or may hereafter be married to a citizen of
the United States and who might herself be lawfully naturalized shall
be deemed a citizen."

Mr. SHAFROTI—I. Mr. President——~

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from New
Jersey yield to the Senator from Colorado?

Mr. FBELINGHUYSEN. I yield. ‘ ,'

Mr. SHAFROTH. Does not the Senator recognize the fact
that this is a House joint resolution, and that if any amend-
ment, no matter what it might he, should be offered to it and
passed by the Senate it would send the resolution back to the
other House for concurrence, and, therefore, it would be, im-
possible to pass the measure during this session of Congress?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. That may be a prophecy of the
Senator from Colorado, but I am not aware that the ordinary
processes of legislation should be stopped by reason of such a
prophecy. I want to point out to the Senate, and to make it
emphatic, that either we should amend this joint resolution or
we should immediately address ourselves to amending our im<
migration laws before the proposed amendment to the Consti-
tution is ratified in the event it shall pass the two Houses of
Congress. I hope, therefore, the Senator from Colorado will
allow me to continue, inasmuch as I wish to be placed 011
record in regard to this resolution

Mr. SHAFROTH. Mr. President

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from New
Jersey decline to yield?

Mr. SHAFROTI—I. I trust the Senator will bear with me for
just a moment. ‘

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from New
Jersey yield further to the Senator from Colorado?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield further to the Senator.

Mr. SHAFROTH. The Senator from New Jersey may not
have been in the Chamber when the Vice President announced
that no amendment whatever would be in order to the joint
resolution, because in the parliamentary status of the joint
resolution it has been read a third time, which is the final
action that can be taken before the passage.

.Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I was in the Chamber when the.
Vice President announced that ruling; I am aware of it; but I
know of no ruling which will deprive me of speaking on the
joint resolution, which I am doing at the present time.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey
will proceed.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN.
ferred to I continued:

“ It is of fundamental importance that in considering this pro-
vision of law the fact shall not be overlooked that Congress, in
adopting it, was proceeding in pursuance of authority conferred
upon the Congress by Article I. section 8, paragraph 4 of the
Ceiistitution——tiie authority ‘to establish an uniform rule of
naturalization) Therefore, the marriage of a foreign woman
to an American citizen is, in its effect upon the status of the.
woman, a process of naturalization, and it must be borne in mind
that . woman who acquires citizenship in this manner is, by
virt nu ei‘ the language of section 1994 itself, as fully naturalized
as though she had gone through the court processes of naturali-
zation required in the cases of males and in the. cases of unmar-
ried females, and as completely a citizen of the United States
as though she had been born here. The Constitution ‘contein-
plates two sources of citizenship, and two only—-birth and natu-
ralization,’ said the. Supreme Court in the leading case on citi-
zenship, entitled United States T. Wong Kim Ark (169 U. S.,
64:), 702).

“ The procurement of United States citizenship by a foreign
woman through marriage to a citizen is not, of course, sur-
rounded with any of the safeguards that are, and have been
for many years, placed around the procurement of citizenship

In my remarks on the occasion 1e

 

 Ill

1 . CGNGRESSIONAL RECGRD. ' .....1U-111 10,

 

through the rcra‘ular court 11: omnws provided by law. Some of
'thor-te s.1.""11ards z1e the following:

“ A male alien desiring; to become a citizen of the United States
must make a declaration that to is not an anarchist, a poi 'e'a
mist. or a believer in the pra(.tice of polygamy, 111d that it is his
intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United Stat:
and per1na11ently to reside therein. Not less than two years and
not more than seven years 1‘t'tc1' he has made his (loch 11'1ti0n of
intention must: again petition the ctour and take an oath
that he. is not‘ a (lisbeliever in or or:1posed to ore, ani zed gov ern-
in out, o a 111(111ber of or aiiiliated w itzh 1'11) 0ra‘ani.ation or body
of persons teaching disbelief in organized government] {lllt so
on. Then he is examined by the United States examiners, and
if the court so directs he becomes a citizen, but under the lie-
vised Statutes a foreign woman who has attained herrcitizen;
ship by nun-riage to an American citizen is not held to conform
to that process of law.

* >3

“’ Is it not essential that we should write in the, Genstitution a
provision which will enable Congress to pass legislation that
will restrict the 111e11a( ce arising from this condition? "I? do not
thnk the a111end111ent drawn does this, and I believe tha
Congress should take the precautioii to lay the foundation for
protecting the country in this regard. After consultation with
the 10$ 11 advisers of the Innnigration and Naturalization Bu-
11.1111::I am iiimly of the opinion that if the amendment should
be :11( opted as drawn it will not be po :s1ble thereafter for Con—
{"1 es: to remedv the situation described by me by passing: legis-
lation. In other words, the Constitutional amendment unless it
shall be changed in some such manner as that I surgest. will
prevent the passing of any legislation to place any restriction

' with regard to the exercise of the franchise upon foreign women
who have becon‘ie citizens by marriage.

“This citizenship-by-marria‘ge provision was enacted by the
Federal Congress when women could not vote and at ”a time
when Conm‘ess had no thought of giving them the vote, its
object being to protect p1'01_1e'.'ty and (lower rights and to care
for many legal and international questions. To accomplish these
purposes Congress conferred the benefit of such citizei 1ship upon
such women. Now women are asking for the additional benefit
of the right of suffrage—too long denied them—but a changed
situation is created, which Congress should carefully consider
before passing a constitutional amendment. The vi e‘v has been
(1Y1‘11'I1ssell by some lawyers that Congress could afford pr ote ction
to the elective franchise under this constitutional ameno ment bv
here after passing statutes naturalizing foreign women Iiiarried
to citizens and worthy of the privilege of voting. Possibly a
statute could be passed that hereafte ' would protect the electo-
'ate and compel married women who have become citizens by
111arriage to be naturalized in a court proceeding before they
vote, but I do not believe it.”

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to include in the
Iii-mono at this point the entire address I delivered on that
Occasion

’i‘he PRESIDING OFFICER. W‘ithout objection, it is so
ordered. ,

The matter referred to is as follows:

~ [From the CovennssxoxAL Rnconn of-Sept. 30, 1918.]

“Mr. FR‘ELINGIL ' YSIIN.1\I1‘.. President, a few days ago I pro-
posed an amendment to the pending joint resolution. While
I realize that the Senate is fatigued, I shall be forced to be
away to-morrow if I 'an a "once a proper pair, and I would
like to speak briefly upon .1113 amendment. I ask that the Sec-
retary may read the a111endment.

“ The PRESIDING OFFICER. It will be read.

“The Srcnn’ranv. At the end of the joint resolution add the
followi1,, I" '
but no male person who is not a citizen of the. United States shall exer-
cise the right of suffrage at an election for Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress or for electors for President and Vice President of
the United States, and no female person who is not such a ciiiz:n
otherwise than by marriage, or who having acquired citizenship by
mz'uriage, has not. complied with such requirements and conditions as

may be prescribed by the Congress shall exercise such riI'ht.

“Mr. FEELINGHUYSEN. Mr. President, the avowed and the
obvious'object of the. resolution now pending: before the Sen-
ate is to place women who aie citizens of the UnitedStates
upon an equalitv w ith men who are such citi: ens in the matter
of the exercise of the right to vote; to confer suit‘rm e upon fe-
male citizens of this country throng :hout the length: 111d b1 (.1dth
thereof. My object in propo 'inc‘ :111 amendment to that resolu—
tion is to make it possible, in 1111.11 seems to me the best, way
open to 11s,,‘i0r the lesolution actually to acconmlish that oh-
vious purpose and to avoid what seems to 1111: to be the very
serious danger that. in the very act of c.onf(-31'1'in,I,r the right to
.Vote upon women and 0f abolishing the inequalities in that re-

1111

Iiv

:1: :1: 2?. :2», :1:

A I"
.113

portance

 

.,. rd which have 11(11 etofo11
increase evils already

existed we shall perpetuate and
(1:-;istin::~ and create new ones that: will
prove a constant and i11c1'casi11g‘ source oi? e111l):1rr1.ss111ent to us
in the future administration of :.:,'o\I.11.-111(111;'al affairs,

“At the 011t:-:et I desire to make it. 111-1'i’cctly plain that I am
not opposed to the adoption oi." the woma11-sut't’r:1;.-io amemhnent—
011 the cont'1'11v, I am (listimtly in l'z"11or of its adopti()11———1)ut my
attention has been a tractor] to the situation 1.1 hich I :hall 11ow‘
endeavor to exp! ain to the bth oi: my ability. and I have felt
that this situation is so Serious that I
performance of my duty as a
or neglect to call its dangers
Member of the Senate. ,

“ With this by way 01”: preface I shall proceed to. at late the pur-
poses of and reasons for the additions to the 111 opo sod constitu-
tional amendment which I have oii’erml in the form of an
amendment to the resolution. My first object is this: To place
in the Constitution itself a prmision which will sa‘t'eC-‘uard the
country at, ainst the exercise of the rie‘ht of franchise in l«‘1ei-
eral matters by aliens residing or soiomning within 0111 midst.
And it has seemed to me that 11 at 0111\" is this of such great im-
to justifye ft’orts toward the .1ccon.1plislnnent of the
reformat any and all times, but the pendency before the Senate
of the resolution under discussion affords an opportunity for
its accmnpl‘ishment in an appropr'ato and eiiicient manner that
01 ght not- by any means'to be overlooked.

“ Under the constitutions of seven States of this Union aliens
now exerc'ise the right of franchise in connection with every
elective office 'andidatos for which are ordinarily voted for in
the other States, to wit, Indiana, Ixiissouri, Hans s, Arkansas,
Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas. Recognizing; the 111-,11ace.
to the safety of government of such a policy as this, a number
of States have 1ece11tlv amended their constitutions so as to
allow only native born persons and persons who are fully
naturalized under the regular legal process to vote thnr1i1‘1
to wit, Alabama. Minnesota, Michigan, W‘isconsin, and others
that I can not recollect. .

“ To show the abuses w .ich arise under such a policy, w”-11 ' ch is
contra 'y to the verv spirit of the Ft—‘det‘dl 11at11r:1li.'I1‘1ti011 lav's
attention might be directed to the fact that the f't')ll()\‘.lll{_‘;
methods have recently been applied in a certain Western State
where the declarations of int-31‘1tion made by aliens in the course
of a year would hardly approximate two dozen and the declara-
tions made within 30 days preceding and including-1' election
day—made under the influence of vote Inanufacturers—h:zve
approximated a thousand or more in seve'al of the courts
eXercising naturalization jurisdiction in the State. The am-
bitious candit .‘ate has his hcnchi ‘1en line up all the foreigners
in the district whom he can enlist. He nakes his: drive throuah
the industrial plants, foregathers with the aliens in their club
organizations, extols the virtues of his candidate—and this
applies regardless of party and by various inducements and
blandishments prevails upon the foreianers to assemble at con-
venient places and in the (lav and night time the accouu nodating
clerk of the court: supplies the necessary blank form. and ac-
cepts the statuhg'y foes coming: from an appropriz-ite source.
Up to and including election day this business continues. All.
(in 'I 10111,, in the presence of Governmei‘it officials. the stream of
aliens has been seen to enter the room where. the clerk of the
court is 10' ated and to leave that room with statements from
the clerk shov. 'ine that the aliens have declared their intention
to become citizens of the United States, and, in the light of the
provision of the State constitution. showing also by innilication
that such aliens have become clothed by the mere act of (le-
clarin;r an intention to becmne (:7iti: ens with such character,
intelligence. and 1111 derstanding of our institutions that that are
entitled to xercise the franchise' in the same way and with the
same effect as a person born in our midst.

“Under the resolution pe1‘1ding beforethe Senate, unless the
part of my amendment directed to this situation, or some
similar a111eudment, should be adopt-1d, the evils and abuses to
\Vhlth I am calling attention will not only be peipetuated but
will, pei naps, be pract1c1llydoubled for it and 11 he the: unend—
ment propocd in the resolution is 1'1: iii-(l by the requisite
1111111ber of States, each and every foreign woman now living in
the seven States I have 111cntioned and (1:1:l1 and every one who
shall take 111) residence there later who has attained the statu-
tory age will be .able to declare her intention. if she is 1.111111111'-
ried, and by that simple act will be clothed with the right to
vote alongside of the man.

“With this situation eflstir , anv unmarriel \\ (1'11 11 coming
from the most .111a1'(-,hi.,:t1(~ s(( ti(11 of 1.11' s1... from the fast
nesses ot 'Bolshevikism. from the I. ‘1'1‘ ‘1‘111',anks or from any
other sour(e inimicr l to 0111' 111““me or 01011 believing in the
utter destruction of 0111' Government—any 111111.111'1ed woman,

should be derelict in the
..I(:111l be: of this body should I fail
and every

to the notice (11' each

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(1S

 

 CONGRE SSIONAL RECORD.

”3 “a 5"
it) 1:29?)

 

matter what her character may be, might be induced in the.

ates mentioned to declare her intention to becomea citizen,
whereupon she could proceed to stamp the impreSS of her views
and of her clmracter, through the exercise of her right to vote,
upon the laws of this country. This is an illust 'ation none too
extreme: but even if it should be rigarded as extreme, the an-
swer is that we must think through to the very depths of the
possibility of an. evil if we are correctly to measure the extent
of such evil. . . . '

“ Is it desi nine or wise to lay a foundation in a constitutiom’il
amendment- for the perpetuation of such a situation as this,
especially when it may be so. easily guarded against? I think
not, and because of that view I have inserted in my proposed
amendment the pi'ovision~-— -

“ But no male person who is not a citizen of the United States shall
exercise the right of suffrage at an election for Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress or for electors for President and Vice President
of the United States.

“And have, in addition. so worded the remainder of my pro-
posed annuulment, the direct purpose of which is to meet an-
other situation, to the description of which I am about to pro-
ceed, that the same result wil—l-be‘a‘CEOmplished with regard to
females.

“The second object which I have in view is this: To insure
that, in conferring the- right to vote upon women who are citi-
Zens, we do not create a legal situation in which foreign women
might. through the operation of the almost universally recog-
nized 1n-inciple that a-‘i-na-rried woman’s citizenship follows that
of her husband, qualify: to exercise the franchise in Federal
elections, altl'iough wholly unfitted by character, education, resi-
dence within the country, and knowledge of and rega 'd for its
institutions, or otherwise, to have a voice in public affairs. My
Second olxiect, in other words, is so to change the wording of
the resolution before us that it shall be made actually to confer
upon women rights equal to those enjoyed in this regard by
men, and not greater than those enjoyed by men.

“Mr. CALDER. Mr. President:

“The Pinesunne OFFICER (Mr. KmBY in the chair). Does the
Senator from New Jersey yield to the Senator from New Yor c?

“ Mr. FREUNGHUYSEN. If the Senator rises to ask me a ques-
tion, I would be very glad to answer it after I conclude. I
know the Senate wants to adjourn, and I hope the Senator will
not interrupt me now.

“Mr. CALDER. Very well.

“Mr. FEELINGIIUYSEN. As I have already remarked, the ob-
ject of the pending resolution is to place women on the same
footing as men so fa ' as the right of franchise is concerned. I
am in favor of a constitutional amendment properly drawn which
will permit the worthy women of this country \\ 110 are citizens,
either by birth or through the regular and orderly processes of
naturalization, to have the right of suffrz‘igc; but I want that
amendment so drawn that it will protect the worthy women,
who should vote, against the unworthy, who should not vote,
. and I want it so drawn that Congress can hereafter pass laws
properly protectii g this enlarged and increased electorate. I
conceive it to be our duty, under our oath as Senators, to pass an
amei'idment that will do this.

“I do not know who prepared the pending constitutional
amendment, but I believe it has been drawn without proper con-
sideration or study of the Constitution and conditions that exist
- under our naturalization statutes, the careless disr gard of
them, the abuses that have crept into the making of citizens, and
the apparent indifference of some authorities to the grave menace
to the institutions of popular govermnent that thus arise.

“ In giving to this subjeCt that careful study which its gravity
demands, my attention has been attracted to two circumstances
in particular. The pz'lssage of a resolution of this kind is closely
related to the precarious situation in r .gard to aliens which has
been brought about by the war and our participation in it.
Congress has been forced to pass drastic laws at the eleventh
hour to protect this country against sedition, treason, and deep-
seated disloyalty, arising from the fact that so many foreigners
reside amongst us and that Germany has carried on a surrepti-
tious propaganda here’ever since the war and evidently, from
latter-(lay developments, even for many years before the war.
It is not necessary for me to recite the many outrages, bombing ',
dynamitings, murders, committed by the disloyal foreigners‘re-
siding here. The consideration of this amendment conferring
upon female citizens the right to vote necessarily brings up at
this critical time the grave question of our immigration and
naturalization laws and policies, especially in their relation to
and effect upon women of alien birth alreadyhere or who may
hereafter come. .

“ The other particular circumstance was not fully appreciated
by, me, in its relation to the constitutional amendment as drawn,

 

until I conferred with officials of the Bureau of Immigration
and learned its extent: and seriousness. It arises from the
abuses that exist in connection with the traffic in women for ini-
moral purposes. While our immigrathm laws have been. framed-
with the object of protecting society against this traflic, neverthe-
less many women become citizens of the Uni-ted States through
pro forma marriages contracted simply for the purpose of giving
the poor, unfortunate women a status of citizenship under our
laws and preventing them from being deported. The pimp, the
procurer, these vice scavengers of humanity, products of the
swill barrel of foreign Iain S, Véarry on their immoral, unspeak«
able practices almost: within the shadow of Ellis Island, ther
women being brought in from Europe, from the Orient, and from
the Latin countries, and, except in the cases of Chinese and
Japanese, :1 pro forma marriage contract can be entered into and
these women become citizens of the United States and can not
be deported unless the Government can show—under the most:
recent amendment to section 19 of the immigration act—that the
marriagl was contracted after the woman became liable to de-
portation under the law; and heretofore the enforcement of the
act has been seriously impeded through the fact that a foreign
Woman, no matter what her character, ‘an secure citizenship
simply by going through with a marriage ceremony, the other
parity to which is an American citizen.

“ The foregoing are the two respects in which, it seems to me,
the inmortance of the second part of my proposed amendment
is made especially apparent at this time. I desire now to pro-
ceed to a more detailed discussion of the matter in its legal as
well as its practical aspects.

“ }e11e1':illy, married women are r garded as citizens of the
country of which their husbands are citizens. This principle is .
recognized by the laws of the United States, section 199:1 of the
Revised Statutes providing that—

“Any woman who is now or may hereafter be married to a citizen of
the United States and who might herself be lawfully naturalized shall
be deemed a citizen.

“It is of fundamental importance that in considering this
provision of law the fact shall not be overlooked that Congress,
in adopting it, was proceeding in pursuance of authority con-
ferred upon the Congress by Article I, section 8, par"c graph 4-, of
the Constitution—the authority ‘to establish an uniform rule of
naturalization.’ Therefore the marriage of a foreign woman
to an American citizen is, in its effect upon the status of the
woman. a process of naturalization, and it must be borne in
mind that the woman who acquires citizenship in this manner
is, by virtue of the langrmge of section 199-1: itself, as fully nat- ,
uralized as though she had gone through the court processes of
naturalization required in the tases of males and in the cases of
unmarried females, and as completely a citizen of the United
States as though she had been born here. The Constitution
‘contemplat‘es two sources of citizenship, and two only—birth
and natu 'alization,’ said the Supreme Court in the leading case
on citizenship, entitled United States 'v. Wong Kim Ark (169
U. 8.. 049, 70:2). g,

“ The 1.)1'()c111'enient of United States citizenship by a foreign
woman through marriage to a citizen is not, of course, sur-
rounded with any of the safeguards that are, and have been for
many years, placed round the procurement of citizenship
through the regular court precesses provided by law. Some of
those safeguards are the following:

“A male alien desiring to become a citizen of the United
States must make a declaration that he is not an anarchist, a,
polygamist, o' a believer in the practice of polygamy, and that
it is his intention in good faith to become a citizen of the
United States and permanently to reside therein. Not less
than two years and not more than seven years after he has
made his declaration of intention he must again petition the
court and take an oath that he is not “a disbeliever in or
opposed to organized government, or a member of or affiliated .
with any organization or body of persons teaching disbelief in
organized government,’ and so on. Then he is examined by the
United States examiners; and if the court so directs, he becomes
a citizen, but under the Revised Statutes a foreign woinan who
has attained her citizenship by marriage to an American citizen
is not held to conform to that process of law.

“ What is the object of the resolution? It is to, give men and
women the same rights under the Constitution, to place them
upon an equality in regard to the elective f'a‘nchise. Does it;
do that? Will it attain its object? ' '

“ Under the Federal statute already quoted an alien woman‘
who marries a man who is a citizen of the United States by
birth or naturalization becomes a citizen, and under this. i'agolu-v
tion, as drawn, she would be entitled to vote; but a male alien
or a female alien not married must be naturalized in a regular.

 

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court proceeding under our naturalization laws before he or she
becomes a citizen qualified under this proposed resolution, as
d ‘awn, to vote.‘ Is that equal rights?

“A male alien—a German, for instance—marries an American
woman, but he does not thereby become a citizen, and under
this constitutional amendment he could not vote by reason of
that marriage relation. But a female alien—a German woman,
for IllStilllC'e—llltll‘l'ies an American citizen, perhaps a German
who has been naturalized. Shethereby, ipso facto, becames :
citizen, and under this constitutional amendment could vote.
Is that equal rights? Certainly not. It is conferring upon mar-
ried women rights not conferred upon unmarried woman 01' upon
any man—rights which ought not to be conferred upon either
women or men in any such haphazard, unregulated fashion. .

“Again, the foreign man or unmarried foreign woman must
reside here continuously for at least five years before the boon
of citizenship will be conferred; but the foreign woman may
by marrying a citizen become i