The Pacific Commercial Advertiser

Lawyer's Claim That They Belong to Neither Army Nor Navy and Are Eligible. MR. MOTT-SMITH SAYS "NO" Attorney Now Working on Point to Get Around Tabu of Organic Act.

An earnest effort is being made to determine the political status of the enlisted men of the marine corps stationed at the marine barracks. A well known lawyer of the city has been engaged by several of the politicians engaged actively in the present campaign to define as far as possible the limitations on the citizenship of the men and whether or not they are entitled to vote. Despite the general law that forbids soldiers and sailors from taking part as electors in any election in the United States, investigation of the subject, according to statements made yesterday, lead to the belief that there is a chance that the restriction can be taken from the two hundred men or so of the marine barracks who have been stationed here for two years and thus met the residence requirements. This statement was made after consideration of the Organic Act itself, which expressly forbids it. Secretary Mott-Smith yesterday stated that no man here by reason of military service could vote and quoted section 63 of the Organic Act, which says: "That no person shall be allowed to vote who is in the Territory by reason of being in the army or navy or by reason of being attached to troops in the service of the United States." The Organic Act is conclusive enough, all amendments which Hawaii has secured to it having been made only by congress. The one point which seems to be the hope of the politician who is after two hundred "half-wet" votes, and of the lawyer who has been engaged to inquire into the matter, is that marines are neither of the army nor navy. From the favorable statements made it seems as if some technicality in some departmental order or rule has been found that bears out this claim. At any rate the fighting chance looks good enough to warrant the expenditure of cold, hard cash, and it might yet be that the politicians will have to get busy down at the marine barracks and that the seventh of the fourth will swell out into being the most important precinct of the island.