Evening star., 1895-10-25
THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE
An Interesting Suit Brought in Rockville
by Mr.. B. q. Warner.
His Legal Residence IL III, Ken,iur
q
ton, Md, but Cannot Register
as VOter..-'iq

A suit was filed in the circuit court for
Montgomery county at Rockville Wednes-
day which promises to be OF very con-
siderable interest TO great plany people
VINO do business in this city, but make their
nome in the suburbs and are debarred from
exercising the right of Suffrage as not be-
ing legal residents of Maryland.
The suit was filed by Mr. fBrainard H.
warner OF this city against Thomas r,
Thompson officer of registration for cleo
ton district MOI 13 Of Mohtgeinery county,
and James Anderson. clerk Of the court for
the county. In his petition Mr. Warner
asks that an order he directed against
the defendants, commanding them to enter
his name as a duly qualife voter in the
duplicate resistries Of voters in that dis
trict.
His Legal Residence.
Mr.. Warner has for several years past
had home at Kensington, which he has
claimed as his legal residence, although he
mas "on occasion been absent on business
or pleasure" September IS he presented
himsef at the registration Office fer his
district and requested that his name he
entered as voter, but the officer OF regis
tration refused to enter his name, on the
GROUND that ne had not been resident Of
the state of Maryland for one year, as re-
CURED by law. In his petition Mr. Warner
states that he and his family took I'D their
resiuence at kensingson during the spring
OF le95, and since that time his dwelling
there has been, and still is his only legal
residence During the following winter he
removed temporarily to this city, but did
not close up or abandon his residence at
kensngton.
In the spring of 1893 and also of 1891 he
again removed there with his family. and
remained there. with only Temporary All
sences' until November 15. 1894. when he
IN ,-;t,
winter months. Last November he made
affidavit before the clerk of the circuit court
that, Notwithstanding his removal, he did
not intend to abandon his legal residence
at enSington. and again in April last did
go back. and has sir ce then made Kensing-
ton his home. He AYERS that he is not dis
qualified as voter under the provisions of
the second and third sections of the first
article of the constitution of the state of
Mary and
What MIR. Warner Snys.
In conversation with a Star reporter this
morning Mr.. Warner said: There are lots
of other men who have been subjected to
just the same annoyance and illegal treat
ment in this matter as have, and think
it is about time this question of our rights
was settled. We want to know whether the
state of Maryland looks ON this class OF
population only as people who are willing
to invest their money in Maryland, but who
can be debarred from exercising the rights
Of citizenship. I understand that the story
has gone around that 1 am seeking some
political office in Maryland, and, conse
quently, want to be recognized as a citizen
but I can assure you that there is not
word of truth in the story. I moved out to
Maryland solely with the purpose of having
home where my children might grow up
in a community where the rights of citi-
zenship can be enjoyed, and my only in
tention in bringing this suit is to find out
whether the state Of Maryland has a right
to debar it's citizens from their constitu-
tional rights. The circuit court has prom
ised to advance the case se as to reach a
decision before election, but what the out
say" n