Page Eight
THE UNITED AMERICAN
wasted in lengthy questioning and hearing of friendly
witnesses who draw elaborate pictures of the appli
cants’ good character, in the hope of persuading the
judge to grant the illiterate applicant his citizenship.
A Commission or Advisory Board consisting of five
citizens having had experience in Americanization
work will be a dynamic force for effective organization
and the carrying out of well studied plans of Ameri
canization. The board will safeguard the public
interest and protect the immigrant people against any
wrong practices and guarantee full co-operation by the
State Department with all agencies having done
Americanization work or engaging in such activities.
By the provisions of this bill the State is not
at this time being asked for any specific appropriation
neither for the Department nor for the Board,
except, perhaps, a small additional allowance for in
creased educational work placed in the hands of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction. The expense
of this branch of public education will be optional with
the educational boards in each community, but the
work that is carried on and being planned will then
become standardized and a tremendous impetus for
intelligent Americanization in Oregon will have been
created.
OREGON’S COMMERCIAL FISHING LAW
W HEN PUBLIC sentiment in Oregon, a few
years ago, caused the enactment of an amend
ment to the state fishing law, making it unlawful
for aliens to fish in the rivers and waters over which
the state has jurisdiction, the average citizen had
in mind the large number of aliens who, from ten to
forty years, have been permanent residents of Oregon,
yet never sought to become American citizens.
The enactment of the citizen clause, as a license
qualification, was not intended as a permanent in
jury to these fishermen, it was rather intended to act
as a remedy against the common practice among the
immigrant fishermen in Oregon, to live and die as
aliens and never concern themselves about citizen
ship. It is in this connection to be deplored that
those who caused this law to be enacted, made no
distinction between those aliens who have been here
FIVE YEARS or more and those who have NOT
been in America five years. The first' and most es
sential citizenship applicants’ qualification, according
to federal provisions, is that he shall have lived in
America continuously for five years. The intent
back of the federal provision is clearly that for FIVE
YEARS the immigrant SHALL have the right and
opportunity to make his livelihood at a vocation or
trade he knows. As long as the gates of America
are open to immigrants, no matter how limited the
number admitted, the federal government and
Congress, the very spirit of our Constitution and
all our laws, stand definitely against any attempt
by any commonwealth to legislate away from any im
migrant, during his residential qualification period, his
right to earn an independent living.
The Oregon fishing code, on this point, operates
in contravention of the federal laws and regulations.
Section 131 and 132 of the Oregon Commercial
Fishing Code, under the .sub division, “License
Schedules and Regulations, of the General Laws of
JANUARY, 1925
Oregon for 1921, should be amended so that its re
strictions apply only to aliens having lived in the
United States FIVE YEARS or more.
In the amendment of this law, as it applies to
the salmon fishing industry on the Columbia River,
where the newcomers under the present conditions
cannot even be engaged as boat-pullers, provisions
might be made, limiting newcomers, or those who
have been in America less than five years, to em
ployment only as boat^pullers or assistants. This
would prevent new immigrants from obtaining
licenses, in their own light, to operate boats and
gears, if such legislation is desired.
Limitation and regulation can stand defense, but
the sweeping exclusion that is now on our statute
books is reacting unfavorably to the state. It is an in
sult to the intelligence of the people of Oregon and j
is a direct economic loss, which is effecting the state
as a whole, but particularly Astoria and the lower
Columbia River districts. Under present conditions
two citizens, each the owner of a boat and gear, in-1
variably have to leave one gear and boat ashore I
and go out fishing together, because they cannot I
obtain boat-pullers among native Americans. As I
the operating fishermen, in the past, have obtained I
their boat-pullers almost exclusively from among the]
newcomers, the new law has caused a needless loss, I
and inasmuch as it is doubtful that it was so intended, I
tho 1925 Legislature .should, before the session is I
over, remedy this mistake, made by the legislature]
of 1921.
Never borrow trouble for the purpose of lending it to others.
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