The herald., 1898-04-08
UNDER TWO FLAGS
JOHN C. STEELE Is UNCERTAIN
OF HIS BIRTHPLACE
The Former Postmaster of Santa
Monica Was an Alien When He
Accepted Office

John Corbett Steele, the predecessor OF
the present postmaster of Santa Monica,
casts a peculiar ray upon the poiltlcai
horizon of that seaside resort. 1t is only
the tickle and ambiguous wording of our
statutes that saves Mr.. Steele from having
the momentous charge of perjury brought
against him.
Time was when the eX-postmaster was
content to acknowledge himself an honest
English blacksmith, for that the registra-
ton books affirm to have been his trade.
But politics lured him, and soon he had
little following in Santa Monica. And. as
the wears passed. his retainers and his in
f1uence kept apace. Soon he was man
politically powerful enough to gossip with
United States senators and other dignitar-
les. and subsequently it was thought that
his efforts were deserving of a government
position.
He was accordingly appointed postmast-
er of Santa Monica by President Cleveland.
At the time of his acceptance of this office,
however, Mr.. Steele was an alien, as pub
lie records will verify-a subject of the
queen of England. He had acted in his
official capacity a year and a half when
an old resident of Santa Monica, who be-
directly, sent statement of his informa
ton to the postoffice department at Waah-
ington
The matter was called to the attention
of Senator White, who saw to the naturali-
cation of Steele in Judge Ross court under
section 2167. revised statutes, which permits
of the naturalization of an alien who has
been a resident of this country for five
ha f0,
who disclaims further allegiance to the
ruler of his native country. This ceremony
Steele went through September 7, 1895.
On February "a, 1892. John Corbett Steele
of Santa Monica secured a marriage license
giving his birthplace as England. Yet on
August l. 1S92-but perchance it was for
getfulness-John Corbett Steele registered,
giving the place of his nativity as Vermont
United States District Attorney Flint was
seen in reference to the matter. He said:
'I do not see that Mr.. Steele is liable for
perjury or any other charge. according TO
the statutes of the United States-in fact,
cases of this kind are so rare that laws
have as yet not been formulated to gov
ern them. If the president of the United
States chooses to confer postmastersh
on any one he has right to do so, and
regardless OF whether the man is citizen
of this country or not.
s'If l were to go to Canada to reside and
an office was there conferred upon me,
would be eligible for it by merely disavow-
ing further allegiance to this country and
to the president of it. And so it is with Mr.
Steele. In accepting the oath of office he
swore to do what lay in his power toward
the protection of this country from foreign
foes, to respect the country and the people
he is about to serve, and to invest with hon
or and dignity the office that has been con-
ferred upon him. You will see that what is
sworn to upon accepting office does not
refer in any way to citizenship, because, I
suppose, it is presumed that one is citi-
zen of this country if office is offered him.
Nevertheless, this is peculiar case and
involves rational point of law that law
yers and lawmakers should investigate