The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-08-22
POLITICIANS, TAKE HEED.
Judge Mcsherry on the New Elec-
ton Law.

In his charge to the grand jury at Freder-
lex, Judge McSherry, on Monday called at
tention to a number of laws enacted by the
Legislature at its late session, and said
'But among all the acts of Assembly passed
by the Legislature Of 1896 perhaps the most
important is the new election law, and it is
the most important because it deals with a
subject that lies at the foundation of popular
government.
Recognizing the vital necessity of pro-
tecting the absolute freedom of the voter
against every sinister and improper influence,
from whatever quarter it may come, the Leg,
islature of 1896, by section SO of chapter 202.
enacted: ''If at any election hereafter held
in any city or county any person shall, by
force, threat, menace. intimidation, bribery
or reward, or offer or promise thereof, or
otherwise unlawfully, either directly or in
directly influence, or attempt to influence,
any voter in giving his vote, or prevent or
hinder, or attempt to prevent or hinder, any
qualified voter from freely exercising the
right of suffrage or by any such means IN
duce or attempt to induce, any such voter to
exercise any such right, every such person
shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished
by imprisonment in Jail or in the penitentiary
for not less than six months nor more than
FIVE years.
''fhis is the literal transcript of section 81
of article SO of the code except as to the pun
ishment. Under the code fine and impris-
onment in jail were imposed, while under the
act of 1896 the fine is omitted, but the i'm.
prisonment may be in the penitentiary or the
Jail.
1.-THE terms of this statute are broad and
sweeping. They cover, and were intended tc
cover, every case that can possibly arise, and
IL .xf,
dation which cunning ingenuity could invent
| 1t makes no difference in what disguise the
intimidation, the threat or other unlawfu
means resorted to be clothed, and it matter
not how indirectly the attempt to hinder the
voter from freely exercising the right of suf'
frage' be exerted; every device is within the
statute, and a resort to any scheme will incui
the severest penalty prescribed.
"If q creditor threatens to call in his mort
gage debt or to demand payment of prom
issory note or other claim unless the debtor
shall vote as the creditor wishes, the creditor
| thereby makes himself amenable to the law
If an employer threatens to dismiss or dis
| charge his employe or to cut down his wages
unless the employee shall vote as the employer
requires, the employer, by that threat, nj
matter how coyertly or indirectly made OIL
communicated, renders himself liable, upon
| conviction, to serve term OF hve years II
the penitentiary, and it make no difference
who the employer may be. He may be a pr
vate individual or an officer, agent, superin
tendent or boss or corporation or firm
These instances are sufficient to illustrate the
scope of the law, though others might be
given. If resort be had to any means of in
timidation, the guilty party will be answera
BILE under the law.
whether since the passage of this law any
of the things prohibited by it have been done
or not am unable to say, but that the Legis
lature believed these things might be done OIL
attempted is evident from the fact that they
are forbidden to be done, and that heavy
penalty has been denounced against thos,
persons who shall be guilty of dong them. i
is hoped this statute will not be violated. Blu
if it should be, as is altogether possible il
times of great political excitement, this CRANE
Jury, which viii not be finally discharged un
til the second Monday of December, will bt
promptly convened and will be given the mat
ter in charge, to the end that the guilty par
ties may be brought speedily 30 trial AM
swiftly subjected to certain punishment.