The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-11-04
Democratic Party And Elections.

For many years up to and including
, 1879, elections in Maryland were IL shame
and reproach to the State. Fraud rcigncd
supreme. Respectable citizens were chased
from the polls. knocked down. beaten and
/ shot at, and there was no guarantee that
the verdict announced as that Of the PEG.
| pie was n true index to public opinion.
! vt last the people, indignant at these dis
graceful rcpcttionS, demanded Of the dom
| inAnt party an honest and decent election
law. That party, as is its habit. gibly
, made its promises of reform. but year
after year those promises remained I'M
/ kept.
| As early as 1884 the Reform League of
Baltimore city presented II bill to the Gen
eral Assembly. but the measure WAS not
even considered.
| Again, in 1856 the same association adj
vocated Il bill similar to the law now in
| force. Gentlemen of the highest standing
appeared before the committee OF the Gen
eral Assembly, bnt the bill was reported
adversely.
In 1888 still another effort was made.
| bur the measure was rejected without any
| consideration whatever. Just prior to the
| session Of 1880 the press of Baltimore took
| up the matter of ballot reform. and made
Il strong fight in favor of the Reform
| League bill. The day before the opening
Of the session Senator German and other
Democratic leaders gave the Democratic
county editors dinner ut Renncrt's, ana
there these editors were urged by the
Senator to oppose the passage of the pro-
posed bill. 1t was on that occasion that
Senator German made his famous argu-
ment against the Australian ballot law,
in which he said it ought to be labeled,
"A bill to relegatc the Democratic party
to the rear" The editors took the cue;
most of them opposed til" bill.
A so-caled reform measure was passed.
/ but under 1t. while the expenses of the
Democratic campaign managers We're re-
duced, the opportunities for fraudulent
practices were increased. Two Of the can
didatcs on the Democratic State ticket
Colonel Smith and Mr.. Rnyncr-w were mem
/ bers Of several Assemblies. yet never raised
| their voices in favor Of ballot reform, or
cNerted their influence in behalf of the
/ passage of any measure 10 provid" for
/ honest elections.
/ In 1895. when the results Of the Reform
| Leagues examination Of the registration
I lists disclosed wholesale fraud, it WAS de
tcrmincd to show til" fictitious character
of these registrations by sending such
/ persons as were suspected registered let
! tiers. out Of 152 sent to the residences of
suspected persons, who's" names appeared
upon the registration lists. only 1870 were
rcccipted for and of those fully 100 be
/ trayed evidence which indicated that they
/ were given by persons other than to whom
/ the letters were addressed.
/ The newspapers of Baltimore city on
election day, 1895, said that hundreds of
repeaters had been brought here To aid the
ring in its desperate effort to save it
self from defeat. Many of the rcpeatrrS
wore Republicans buttons. purchased III
. tp
| tate their business. The out-of-tOwncrs de-
mandcd that their original bargain of SO
| for each vote be increased to 81. This de
mand was accedCd to, and caused much
/ dissatisfaction on the part of the local
| leaders. Their protests were ST. Strcnu-
Gus that the managers placed all hands Oh
an equal footing.