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


THERE sit to-day. high in the
councils OF the Federal govern
meRt, fifteen men who-no mat
ter how popular. how useful. how in
dispensahle they may prove themselves
to be in the eyes of the American peo-
ple--can never hope to attain the pres
idency OFF the vice-presidency of the
United States They may perform such
lofty services, make such great sacri-
fees as will make them idols of the
multitude. and yet the highest honors
in the gift of the populace Will be
forever beyond their reach, simply be-
cause the Co . rtion of these United
States of ours oars from the presi-
dency and the vice presidency all citi-
Gems who are not natural born"
Cabinet Officers Barred.
Two of these high officials are mem.
hers of the Cabinet-Franllin knight
Lane, Secretary of the Interior. ana
William Bauchop Wilson. Secretary OF
Labor.
Accident might possibly place Secre-
tary Lane in the presidential chair
within the next four years. were 1t not
for the fact that he is native OF Can
ada, born under the flag OF John Bull
In old times the Speaker of the House
and president pro tempore of the Sen
ate were in line of succession to the
presidency in the event of the death
or disability of both the President and
Vice President, but a generation ago
the law of succession was changed and
the officers then comprising the Cabinet
Notwithstanding with the Secretary OF
State and ending with the Secretary of
the Interior-placed in the line OF pro-
motion. In the stead of the Speaker and
president pro tempore.
While President Tyler and his entire
Cabinet were aboard the war steamer
Princeton. in 1915. the explosion Of a
gun killed Secretary of State Upshur
and Secretary of the Navy Gilmer.
Were there during this administra ton
similar accident killing the President,
Vice President and those Cabinet mem
bers ahead of Mr. Lane In the line OF
succession, he would have to stand
aside and see conferred upon another
the great prize which, were II not for
his nativity. would be indisputably his
Born In Canada and Scotland.
Prince Edward Island was the birth
place of Mr. Lane. That smallest
province of the Dominion OF Canada
lies. as YOU probably know. In the Cult
Of st. Lawrence. off Nova Scotia. The
secretary's native heath is pic
turesque spot near Charlottetown, the
capital OF the province. His father
a physician, brought the family &c
California during the childhood of the
future Cabinet officer. who. while at
tending the university of his adopted
State, engaged in journalism, a pro-
nj
New York. There he served as cor
respondent Of several Western paper.
before his RETURN to the Pacihc Coas,
TO enter UPON title political career
which brought him TO Washington.
The presidency is beyond the reacl
Secretary OF Labor Wilson, be
cause dixie the former Secretary viii
son, who so long held the portfolio o
Agriculture under the Mckinley
Roosevelt and Taft administrations
he is a native Scot. The present Sec
rotary Wilson shares with tho grea
African explorer. David Livingstone
the honor of having been born a
Biantyre, cotton manufacturing cen
ire upon the beautiful River Clyde, II
1anarkshire, near Glasgow Near-b b.
are the ancient ruins of Boutwell,
within whose shadow the Covenanter;
were routed by Monmouth in 1879.
A boy Dcbnter.
Much intelligent interest was fel
by the Villagers in all public questions
and they furnished proof that tn
possession of the means OF educatio,
did not render them an unsafe portion
of the population" wrote Livingston
OF Blantyre's sturdy folk. among whor
he and our Secretary OF Labor wer
born. This Intelligent interest Il
call public questions" was. indeed
shared with his neighbors by Secre
tary Wilson'S father and inherited p
the son. whose appetite for poltica
controversy, whetted by the parenta
eloquence about the home hearth "cul
minated In the boys organization o
debating society IN the Pennsylvani
mining town, 10 which he had bee
brought from Scotland when "A la
of eight William was fourteen whe
this forum began It's first meetings /
a cohbler's shop where, ne tells M
was kept question box into whic
the youthful dcbaters dropped querie
on public questions upon which the
craved further light This was the be
ginning of the public ambition OF In;
poor mine boy who. at the age
eleven, began 10 shovel upon cars II
coal which his father dug out OF II
black heart OF the Willamsport di
trict. and who. in less than gener,
ton, was to take his seat in the Amer
can Congress.
Another Lanarkshire Man.
Indeen. Lanarkshire has contribut
two men to our Congress within
very brief period. Four years aft
William 3. Wilson sailed thence. tn
shire gave birth to Robert Cross,
who has Just taken his seat az HApr
sentative at-laTge from Ohio.
ut was no doubt the love OF Anne,
can freedom that led my father
emigrate from Scotland and make
home for us In this country" said y
Crosser, yesterday II think, howe,
that in a Scotchman's heart there
Implanted e love for the old count
that never dies out. Though ma
never been back, have always TAX
an interest in things relating to
and my boyhood recollections are c,