The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-06-15
IglELLan MAY NOT Be ELIGIBLE.
Question of His Foreign Birth
again is Raised, But Doesn't
Amount to Much.

Washington, June s.-The rapid
growth Of the Mcclellan Presidential
boom has revived discussion Of the
eligibility OF Mr.. Mcclellan for the
Residential Office. The contention
arises over the fact that Mr.. Mcclellan
Mas born abroad, while his parents
were on q tour, and that the constitu
ton of the United States provides that
the President of the United States
must be natural-born citizen of
the United States
Lawyers give differing constructions
so the terms "natural-born citizen,
and there is much argument as to its
application to the Mcclellan case.
Some Of the greatest legal minds in
She country, as we'll as experts upon
international law, hold opposing opin
ieEs upon She subject.
The most startling feature Of the
situation is the political posi- billties
iayoIved in the question Of Mr.. Nc
Cleilan's eligibility. The New York
phia Press depicts somewhat appalling
prospects as enc Of the possibilities
He does not go to the length of ex
pressing the opinion that any party in
Sais country would dare to perpetrats
such a preversion of the popular will,
bus points ont that it could be done. -
In brief the monster conjured up by
this writer is that if Mr.. Mcclellan
were elected it would be possible for
the House and Senate to refuse to
count the electoral vote, on the score
that he is ineligible by birth, throw
the election into the House, AID the
Republicans being In control, choose
the man having the next highest num-
her Of votes. Theodore Roosevelt.
OF course, the writer does not go
on to say what the American people,
having some slight knowledge of the
use ofarms, would do to M. Rocse-
welt and the men who played that lit
tie game, and leaves that to the i'm
agination, as one of the dire possibil-
ties of the nomination of Mr. McClel-
Han and the raising of the moot ques-
Sion.
Another interesting phase of the
situation is the suggestion that if Mr..
McCfelaln were elected it would be
possible for the candidate having the
aexs highest number of votes to go to
the Supreme Court for writ of quo
Warranto and raise the issue that Mr..
Mcclellan was not eligible, and there
foce should not exercise the Office and
duties of President. but that those
functions should deyolye on the man
having the next highest number of
vptes. The prospect Of the Supreme
Court passing upon the subject has
little less revolutionary favor than
the first suggestion but if Mr.. Nc
Ciellan should have had anything like
good majority, and the courts de-
clsion should be adverse, it would
probably put the obedience OF the
people 80 the courts mandates to the
most severe test.
It is not thought that the Demo
cratic convention will bother itself
very much over the eligibility propo-
sasion. At any rate, the Mcclellan
backers are willing to take their
chances ON sustaining his eligibility
iE the convention will nominate him.
Democrats by and large express the
zmost abiding confidence in their
abiity to defeat President Roosevelt |
with either MT. Mcclellan or Judge |
Parker, given conservative plat |
form. The wayfarer can rot bus re-
marx upon the enthusiastic hopeful |
nsss of the Democrats everywhere.
Ihey are looking to the national con-
vention with the utmost anxiety and |
solicituie, lest some slip should be |
made there, but every man of them
will say that once past the perils of |
the Convention, with satisfactory |
candidate and platform, they hoaest |
ay believe they can give the Eepubli- /
rsu party drrbbing it will remember
Sar a decade.
- Ca:neGfats seem to have the idea
that Mr.. Mcclellan would make the
ncst magnetic candidate and arouse
the most enthusiasm among "the
boys - Ca the other hand, they ad-
gait Juose Parker would appeal to the !,
conservative element of the country,
and many DEMOCRATS think that Judge
Parker wo1ld draw The votes of some
ultra conservative R pu6licans who
profess to take alarm at the alleged
radical tedencies Of their party. I
Tie Democratic leaders are count
Jag on q good deal of apathy among
the Republicans They say that the
cut-and.dried nomination OF Mr..
Rooserelt will have a tendency to
lessen enthusiasn., and that the gen
eral and widespread popularity Of the !,
President may give rise to overcon1 !
dence and large stay -at-Lome indiffer- |
.ent vote. This, taken in connection t
vith the factional quarrels in many |
States, may cut down the heavy plur- !
aaities which Mckinley rolled up for !
liis party, the Democrats say.
Shackipn Accident