The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-01
JOHN H. M'GRAW NOT AN ALIEN.
Ridiculous Story Manufactured Out Of
Whole Cloth by His Enemics.

Ridiculous Story Manufactured Out Of
Whole Cloth by His Enemies.
The ridiculously false story that John
II. McGraw is an alien, which was first
printed in the Olympia tribune while the
Republican state convention was in SEES
sion. was revived by the Tacoma Ledger
yesterday, that paper printing the follow
ing dispatch and giving it credence by
heading it, "McGraw Is an Alien"
OLYMPIA, Aug. 3o.-Very interesting ipforma-
ton has been received in this city from DAN
forth, Me-, near the Barker farm, which is said
to be the birthplace of John II. McGraw, candi-
date for governor on the Republican ticket, that
he (McGraw) was born ia the province of New
Brunswick, and 10 not a naturalized citizen of
the United States. 1t 10 also stated that within
recent years McGraw went to Washington
county. in Maine, where the Barker farm is sit
uated. and endeavored to get the court there
to naturalize him on account of his
father having been naturalized before
he John) Ind attained his majority,
but the court refused to naturaliz, him, insist
ing that the law gave 1t no such authority. 1t was
the intention of the parties in Maine to keep
this matter entirely quiet until certain birth
records could be furnished. but Tribune re-
porter overheard enough today to lay the above
before the public, which has. il is said, more
stable foothod than that OF mere rumor.
The story is so ridiculous that it needs
no denial, but the following statement
made by Mr.. McGraw to reporter Of the
Press Times yesterday gives it the lie in
very explicit terms:
This is simply absurd. am a native of Bar
ker plantation, Pcnobscot county. Maine, and I
was born there on October 4, 1850 My parents
never lived in New Brunswick. The dispatch
bears on the face OF il evidence that 1t was
manufactured in Olympia out of whole CLOTH
On Friday, August r. there appeared in the
PosT-INTELLt6ENcER a sketch of my iife In
this dispatch the fact is mentioned that l was
born at Barker plantation. The writer has evil
IDENTIFY COMPOUNDED Barker farm in WASH
ington county with Barker plantation in
Penobscot county. In Maine there are
township organizations and also plantation Or
CARNATIONS. The latter form OF organization IS
used where the population Is too sparse for
township organization. The Barker planta-
ton, where l was born, is one of the plantation
organizations II Is located in the timber re-
gions OF Maine, where the population is still
sparse. This mistake, as / said before, leads me
To believe that the dispatch was made up of
whole cloth in Olympia. 1 am confident that
no information has been received from Dan
forth, Me-, as there are number of persons
there who know OF my birth and life up to the
time left there.
Now as to the statement that went to Barker
farm, Washington county, to get the court there
To naturaiize me. i left Maine on the 9TH of
July, 1876, and have never been nearer to
Maine than the city of New York since that
time.
As to my fathers naturalization know moth.
ing about that My father died when was %
years of age, and l therefore do not know
whether he was naturaized or not
Before left Maine / voted and held Office l
was appointed justice of the peace and quorum
by the governor and my commission was for
seven years II had not run out at the time |
left Maine II had not been q citizen could
scarcely have done this In place where Was
SO well known / was sheriff OF King county for
eight years and my citizenship was never cues
toned II is ridiculous to have it even cues.
toned at this late day