The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-01

rep. ftODert SrOHser, Ohio.
would necessarily bar him from presi-
Dental or vice presidential honors.
AS indicated. his birth in British Hon
duras occurred during only temper
airy stay In that colony by his Ameri-
can parents, who were citizens OF
Florida.
The question OF whether a child thus
born to American parents temporar-
lily abroad is eligible to the presi-
dercy was quite thoroughly threshed
out several years ago when George
B. Mcclellan. then Mayor OF New York,
was known to have ambitions for the
highest Office despite the fact that he
had first seen the light in Dresden,
while his parents were visiting that
city. Constitutional lawyers partici-
pating in that controversy gave quite
opposite constructions 10 the term
natural born" citizenship mentioned
in the Constitution as qualification
FOR the presidency. While some au-
thorities held with emphasis Mat a
child born under the circumstances
mentioned was in all legal respects a
natural born citizen" others not only
denied this view, but went SO far as
TO point out certain complications
which might follow the apparent cleo
ton Of suoh person. One OF these
suggested sequels was the refusal or
Congress. then Republican 10 count
the electoral vote IL given to McClel-
Ian. a Democrat, which action would
have thrown the election into the
House. Another prediction was that
the candidate having the next highest
vote would apply to the Supreme Court
for a writ of quo warranto" and
thus throw the issue OF eligibility into
that august tribunal for fnal settle
, ment.
Among Older Members.
Among our older Federal legislators
OF the class fated to keep off the presi-
dental and vice presidential chairs are
Senator Knute Nelson. OF Minnesota.
who was horn in Norway, and after
being brought TO America at the age
of six. began his career as newsboy
on the streets OF Chicago; Senator
George Sutherland, OF Utah. who was
born a "bloomin' Britisher" In Buck
linghamshire. and who came in early
youth 10 Michigan, where he entered
college and studied law, and Senator
Gallinger. of New Hampshire. who. al
though OF German ancestry, was born
on farm in Cornwall. Ontario, Canada,
which he left TO learn the printers
trade, and later the profession OF medi-
! cine, which he practiced after he came
/ 10 the States, Senator Gallinger can,
! however, boast of American ancestry
on both sides, for his mother. horn
Catherine Cook, was of our native
stock. while his grandfather,
Michael Gallnger although born in
Germany. settled in New York State
and lived there for more than quar-
/ ter OF century previous to his emil
grafton to Canada at the close of our
| Revolutionary War.
nf hirfh
George T. Oliver, OF Pennsylvania, con-
corning whose eligibility TO the presi-
dency exists the same doubt noted in
the case Of Representative Emmett
Wilson, of Florida, for il was during
a temporary visit of his American pa
! rents to Ireland that he was born in
| that isle in ls4s.
Lose Little Sleep Over II.
Among the older members of the
House who share this political handi-
cap although. like the others men
toned, they lose little sleep over it)
are Julius Kahn. OF San Francisco, who
was born of Jewish parents at Kup-
penheim, grand duchy OF Baden. and
who, after having been brought to
California at the age of five, began his
public career az an actor, playing with
Booth, Jefferson ana Salvini; Adolph
SABBATH, of Chicago, native OF Bo-
hemia, where he attended grammar and
high school before emigrating to the
United States at the age of fifteen;
Philip Campbell. of Kansas. who, when
four, emigrated to that State from his
native Nova Scotia. Richard Bartholdt,
of st. Louis. German born, who came
to America when boy. and Micha el
Donohoe, OF Philadelphia, whose ma
tivity is just what his name implies.
Mr.. Donohoe attended the national
schools and a private classical insti-
tute in his birthplace. Killeshundra,
and taught as principal Of a national
school for two years prior to his emf
grafton to Philadelphia when twenty
two.
Although no American citizen OF for
eign birth can hope to become Presi-
dent or Vice-President Of the United
States now or hereafter there was a
period of our history extending until
long after the Constitution was adopt
ed when an emigrant could have at
tanned these honors. The Constitution
made eligible to these Offices only "a
natural born citizen, or a citizen OF
the United States at the time Of the
adoption of this Constitution" The
latter qualification was inserted solely
to admit to the presidency Alexander
Hamilton, who was a native of the
Island of Nevis, West Indies. Needless
to remark. neither Hamilton or any
other emigrant ever took advantage OF
: this exception while 1t lasted.
ii Copyright, 1913, by John Elfreth
Watkins.)