Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 288, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1912 — CHARLES MALCHOW FULL-PLEDGED CITIZEN [ARTICLE]

CHARLES MALCHOW FULL-PLEDGED CITIZEN

Aged Herman Resident Who Has Been a Voter for Half a Century Took - Oath of Allegiance. Charles Malchow, an aged and well known German citizen and resident of Jasper county for the past forty years, was never a full-fledged American citizen of the United States until Monday afternoon, when he subscribed to the oath of allegiance required by the United States of all foreign-born persons who seek to become American citizens. In 1859, while living in Laporte county, Mr. Malchow took out his first papers and was thus entitled to vote. He had bsen in the United States only two years at the time. He was told that that was all that was necessary and he has been of the impression all along that he was a bona fide citizen. About two monthß ago he saw in a newspaper that it was necessary for a foreign-born person to take out second papers and to subscribe to the constitution. He at once got out the papers issued to him 53 years ago in Laporte and examined them and found that they referred to second papers. He talked the matter over with his wife and daughter, Miss Tillie, and decided that be would lose no time 1n completing the naturalization started more than a half century ago. Accordingly, he saw Qhas. G. Spitler and the proper notice was filed with the clerk. Last week he received notice that he should appear at the court house on Monday, Dec. 2nd, with his witnesses and make proof of his qualities for citizenship. When he arrived at the court house he found that there were two others who were there for the same purpose. Also C. R. Thompson, a naturalization examiner, from the bureau of naturalization of the Department of Commerce and Labor, was on hand to examine the applicants before Judge Hanley. The others were Alex, Bleitstetn, a Russian Jew who lives at Newland, and Harold Wikstam, who works for D. S. Makeever. Mr. Malchow was the only one of the three that was finally passed and he subscribed to the oath of citizenship and immediately afterward was shaking bands with a number of fellow citizens Who happened to be in the court room. “I wanted to have everything right and to be a citizen of this country in every way,” remarked Mr.Malchow. Alex. Bleitstein did not fare so well. The naturalization examiner asked him a number of questions which he could not answer. He did not know who the first president of the United States was, had never heard, of Abraham Lincoln, did not know who the governor of Indiana was nor how he was chosen. Neither did he know how, many bars or stars there wese in the American flag, nor what the bars and stars mean. He can read the English language, but when bis first papers

were taken out he signed by mark. Now he signs his name in English. The examiner recommended to tha court that Bleitstein’s case be continued until he learns something about our country. The court agreed with the examiner and Mr. BleßeteAn will be given a little book printed in several languages which will furnish him some information that is regarded essential before an applicant is finally passed. is a bright young Swede. He knew most of the questions asked, and promptly said that Lincoln was one of the presidents. Asked what was going on when he waa president, he replied "I doant know, I doant bane here then.” iMr. Wikstam would have been passed but only one of his witnesses was here, viz. D. S. Makeever. Shelby Comer was the other witness and was not able to get into town. His case was continued until Mr. Comer cap be asked a few questions. It costs $4 to take out the final papers.