The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-10-29
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
n summary of Its Record in this
Ntate as Shown by the Demo-
cratic Editors Association.
INCOMPETENCE, HYPOCRISY AND CORRUp-
TON THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.
The Sham Reform Election Law
THE UNFAIR ASSESSMENT LAW,
CORRUPTION IN TODGCCO WAREHOUSES;.
''ubished by Authority of the Maryland Democratic
Editors Association.)

''uplished by Authority OF the Maryland Democratic
Editors Association.)
The Democratic Editors Association
during the past five months have been
showing up the Republican record in
this state. IL has been a record of in
competency, hypocrisy and corruption
Those against whom incompetency and
corruption have been charged have
not even attempted any defence. and
the Republican press of the State. as
a rule. have passed the Association Ar
tlcles by in silence. for no defense or
plausible explanation was possible
Those papers that did come to the de-
renee of the party record made miser-
able failures. and soon stopped follow
ing the Association Articles.
In 1895. during a season of excite.
ment aroused by the miSrepresenta-
tons. falsehood and hypocrisy of Bal
timore papers Incorporating as lin.
dependents" and claiming to hold to
democratic principles. the whole State
government was turned over to the Re
publican party.
~ Is true the Senate was nominallv
Democratic but the continued assaults
by this independent" press during the
session of the Legislature of 1896 upon
the Democrats of that body when
amendments We're proposed to the al
legged reform measures. and the still
diSordered public sentiment. so ham
pered the Democrats that for all prac-
tiral purposes the General Assembly
was Republican in both branches.
The Democratic Editors Association
regarded all the important acts of the
Legislature Of 1896 as Republican leg
islation, and the Republican party
holds to the same conclusion. Every
Republican County Convention of 1896
that passed any resolutions at all
pointed to the record of the General
Assembly rs a fullillment of the party
promises of 1895. The same was done
this year, ana the Republican State
platform adopted in Baltimore on Sep
TENDER 10, opened as follows:
The Republicans of Maryland. in con
| yentiOn assembled view with the utmost
| satisfaction the heneticent results so lately
| achieved under Republican administration
IN State and nation, and we regard con
| tinuauon of the Republican party in power
as essential for still further enlarged pubic
service and greater public benefit"
The fourth plank of the platform
| tGdO4S oS lOllOWSs
Fourth, That, the elecSon and assess
| ment laws passed during the session of the
| last Legislature are great improvements
| upon former acts. and should be strength
| ned ard perfected as experience may show
il to be wise"
The Republican party, therefore,
views with satisfaction Republican
administration in this State, and par
ucularly mentions the election and as
SesSment laws as legislation it views
with satisfaction.
AS to the responsibility for the Iegis-
lation of 1896 there is no controversy.
The Republicans claim credit for it all,
and the Democrats concede it to them.
In closing the campaign the Editors
Association will briefly review the Re
publican record as it has been dis.
closed in the past five months, and
ask careful perusal of it by the
voters of this State, so that they may
the more intelligently cast their bal
lots next Tuesday.
REGISTRATION AND ELECTION
LAW.
One Of the acts of the Republican
Legislature was the repeal of the very
fair registration and election laws of
the State, whereby all persons entitled
to register could do so and could vote
secret ballot and be sure it was
counted. AS an evidence of the safe
guards in the laws to insure fair reg
istration and honest election, the Re
pulican party, aided by misled Demo-
Gratis, overwhelmingly defeated the
Democratic party that had been sue
cessful in every campaign for nearly
thirty consecutive years.
In the place of these laws one act
was passed covering both registration
and elections. 1t is a voluminous act,
full of Inconsistencies, and was made
to cover both registration and cleo
tions. so that the repeal of the very
essence of the Australian system of
voting-the secrecy of the ballot
might escape detection. 1t did escape
detection, and the honest people of the
State. particularly those Democrats
who made Republican success possible,
were startled when the fact was
brought to light by the Democratic
Editors Association. Under the Demo-
cratic law an illiterate voter could cast
a secret ballot. Under the Republican
law he can not, for the ballot clerk is
not sworn to secresy, and all illiterates
are subject to espionage and con-
troll. The design of the omission of
the oath of secresy was the control OF
the thousands of illiterate colored vot-
ers. some of whom were growing
weary of voting for "scalawag" whites,
as Wellington designated them, in the
counties where the negro vote con-
stituted the bulk of the Republican
strength. In order to better control
the negro vote the colored voters
everywhere were instructed to say
they could not read when registering
under this reform law, and instructions
were usually obeyed, thus giving Re
publican election officials control of
their ballots in marking them.
This law also provided for an ell
tirely new registration throughout the
State, very unnecessary provision.
and one that cost the people over
100000 in taxation, besides subjecting
the voters of the counties to much in
convenience, loss of time and personal
expense. The law provides for an
nual registration in Baltimore city
and every eight years in the counties.
The original provision for the coun-
ties was a new registration every -four
years, but the Senate protested, and
the law was amended so as to have
new registration every eight years. In
fact. the Democrats protested against
new registration in 1896, and for do
ing so were charged with being OPP
posed to honest elections. There was
no fraud in registration in the coun-