VOTER'S DUTY AS A CITIZEN.
To vote is an expression of choice for this man or woman for an
office. The ballot is the only efficient way to express public opinion
and should be regarded as a sacred trust.
Every person in the state is either a citizen or alien.
"An alien is a person born in a foreign country who lives here, but is
still a subject of some other country."
An alien may become a citizen of the United States after he has lived
in this country for five years and in the state one year. He must be
able to read and write his name, to speak English and be of moral
character.
Only white persons and negroes may become naturalized.
"Chinese, Japanese and East Indians cannot become citizens unless born
in the United States."
Unmarried women can become citizens like the men.
A married woman is a citizen if her husband is a citizen. She cannot
become naturalized by herself. A woman born in the United States who
marries an alien ceases to be an American citizen and becomes a
subject of the country to which her husband belongs.
The wife of a man not a citizen of the United States cannot vote in
this country.
If a resident of the United States she resumes her citizenship at the
death of her husband, or if she is divorced.
A foreign born woman who marries a citizen becomes a citizen.
An American born may live abroad for many years and not lose his or
her citizenship.
An alien enjoys the same protection of the law as does the citizen.
CITIZEN.
A citizen is a person born in the United States and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof.
We are living in a democratic government which is a priceless heritage
and a great blessing to mankind.
Democracy demands a sense of responsibility, personal interest in the
affairs of government and respect for human rights.
As citizens we must become more conscious and appreciative of the
inheritance our forefathers left us. This great inheritance is a
wonderful land of opportunity and freedom.
To be an intelligent and desirable citizen we must have a knowledge of
our Constitution, and know by whom and how our country is governed.
The man or woman who does not possess some knowledge of how the
country is governed--as has been said--may easily become a prey of
persons who are anxious to advance their own interests at the expense
of the people.
The things needed for the use and protection of the people are
provided by the people through their government.
As a part of the community you enjoy the good roads, streets, schools,
libraries and many other things; therefore, you have no right to shirk
your duty in not helping to maintain your government. If we enjoy the
good things in this life without doing our part to have them we are
cowards.
To live in a country and enjoy its freedom, peace and comforts and not
do our part toward maintaining such peace and comforts we have failed
to do our duty toward our fellowman and government, and may be called
a sponger, a coward and a shirker if we fail to vote and do our part
toward maintaining our government.
It is not only our duty to vote but we should study and understand
public questions so that we can vote intelligently on the issues of
the day. We should be interested in the ballot for it is one way in
which public opinion may be expressed.
Every man or woman under the protection of our government should feel
obligated to give his or her best to make our government one of high
ideals.
Plato said: "Only that state is healthy and can thrive which
unceasingly endeavors to help the individuals who constitute it."
The United States is both a democracy and a republic.
A democracy means a government by the people.
A republic is a democracy in which the people elect representatives to
carry on the government for them.
UNITED STATES.
The United States is a great republic composed of more than
100,000,000 citizens under the protection of one flag with forty-eight
stars which represent the forty-eight states of the union.
"A citizen might be termed a member of a large society called the
United States."
Every man, woman and child is a member of this society, unless an
alien, an idiot, or convicted of some infamous crime.
The members of this great society when they reach the age of
twenty-one have a duty to perform which should be a sacred one. In
this society citizenship is defined in the national Constitution in
the fourteenth amendment. "All persons born or naturalized in the
United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of
the United States and of the state wherein they reside."
One of the first duties of a citizen is to vote. If we fail to vote we
have no right to complain of the condition of affairs, and how our
government is managed.
It is a privilege to be a citizen of this great country and a member
of this great "society called the United States." It should be a
greater privilege to cast our vote in every election and know we are
doing our part to keep up the government.
There are four ways which we, as citizens, can help maintain our
government:
"First: Vote at every election, read and be interested in public
affairs.
"Second: Help to manage public affairs and be ready to hold an office,
if you are the choice of the people.
"Third: Try to understand public questions, so you can vote
intelligently and criticize justly.
"Fourth: Remember to pay your share of the expense of doing the work."
There are now over 27,011,330 voting women in the United States, soon
to take part in all elections, and share the responsibility as well as
the privilege of suffrage.
In maintaining this great government of ours two parties are necessary
to keep the wheels moving. As has been said, the two dominant parties
now in existence are the Democratic party and Republican party.
We have learned that parties are means of securing united action among
the voters who think alike. It was Washington who said: "The spirit of
party unfortunately is inseparable from our nature, having its root in
the strongest passions of the human mind."
There must be organization under the direction of leaders to secure
united action.
Let the women of our country come forward and identify themselves with
the party of their choice and organize under competent leaders,
showing to the world we not only deem it a great privilege to vote,
but are willing to share the responsibility of making our government
the best in the world.
Will you do your bit to keep this great machinery moving onward and
upward?