The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-06-05
A sham Reform.

A Sham Reform.
Under this heading viii be found on ths
first page Of this issue an article on the new
or reformf?) election lew, passed by the last
Legislature.
1t is not known, simply because the daily
press Of Baltimore has declined to furnish the
people with the information, that the oath OF
the ballot clerk, which bound him to secresy as
10 the candidate or candidates for whom any
;lliterate voter cast his bollot, and which was
provided for by the Australian ballot law OF
1890, has been omitted in the present re-
forn(?) law. That same press, bent on the
complete destruction of the Democratic party,
has withheld various other information, and
the wisdom of the action of the Maryland
Democratic Editors Association, IN appoint
ing committee TO ascertain the facts of Re-
publican legislation in this state and at Wash
iNgton, is very apparent.
That committee, too, viii do its work thor
oughly and well, and the people Of Maryland
will be given true and faithful history OF
Republican legislation and Republican rule,
in the country at large and in Maryland
That oath of secrecy which was incorpor-
ated in the Australian ballot law passed by
a Democratic Legislature was purposely
omitted in the present Republican law simply
and alone to give the Republican election
officials complete espionage and control OF
the eolored vote. When there was an en-
tirely new registration last year the Negroes
throughout the state were instructed to say
they could not read. The great bulk of them
followed instructions, and thus the most OF
them we're placed under control of the Re
publican election officials Having said they
could not read, when they we're registered,
they had to submit to the marking Of their
ballots BY election officials or be in danger Of
punishment for perjury.
The Australian system of voting was adopted
in this country to protect voters and insure
them the privilege of casting secret ballots,
free from dictatioa and annoyance. Under
the act of 1899, Democratic measure, such
right was secured. Under the Republican
act of 1896 that right was destroyed, because
the oath of seeresy of ballot clerks has been
omitted in the new law. That it was done
deliberately. in order to better control the
eoIored vote and the votes of other illiterates,
is evidenced by the very unusual number OF
eolored voters who swore, when getting regis
tered. they could not read, according to there
instructions.
The Republican success of 1895 filed the
celored voters with more JOY than it did the
white contingent. Visions of office and good
salaries filed the minds Of many of them, and
the oft-promised rewards for faithful voting
they thought would be forthcoming To put
Negrses in Office would not be a popular
move, and to control the black vote without
fulfilling promises became a matter OF con-
Germ. Then it was that the idea was con-
eeiyed of removing the cath of seeresy as to
how iIliterates voted, and the eolored voters
instructed to say they could not read, so as
TO have control of their ballots The colored
voters we're so elated at Republican success
in 1896 they were willing to obey implicitly all
orders from their white leaders, and did as
instructed in saying they could not read.
By this means the ballots of the great bulk
of the $1,000 cOlored voters of the state were
placed under the complete control of Repub-
liean election officials, and they will have to
so remain until another new registration is
had.
The law governing registration and election
was made one and is very yoluminous. 1t
was heralded as great reform measure, de-
signed to insure absolute purity in elections
and secure absolute seeresy of the ballot.
The press of Baltimore energetiealiy advo
Gated its passage, and in this way the few
Democrats of the Legislature were caught
ansuspecting. For Directing to few of the
provisions of the bin nsinuations we're thrown
out that the Democratic party was opposed to
pure ballot, and to avoid that imputation
and paeing faith in the utteranees of the
Baltimore reform(?) press they did not scan
the bill closely.
The facts brought out in the article on the
first page will be revelation to the members
of the last Legislature and will be shocking to
all persons believing in honest elections.
We ask for close reading of the article. not
withstandlng its considerable length.
When the Democratic Editors Association
made arrangements to furnish facts to the
people regarding Republican rule in this state,
the Baltimore Sun in an editorial on the mat
ter said that the people and the Democratic
press would continue to look to the SIN for
such matters, as it publishes all facts concern
ing all parties. They have looked in vain for
any hint of the destruction ofthe very essence
of the principle upon which the Australian
ballot system is based, and they will continue
to look in vain for any knowledge Of Repub-
lean misrale in Maryland or Baltimore in the
SIM. 1t seems to be full -Aedge Republican
organ.
wellington for Weyler.
While large part Of the people of Spain
-. go ba and brutal