The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-03-10
PURE AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.
What the Constitution Says in Re-
spect to Ballots.
THE PRESENT BALLOT LAW AND
A PURE BALLOT LAW.
Especial to the democratic Advocate. !


iepee~i ~ 'he pcinoeia''e Au'
n "AshiNeioN, u y, March ., isoo-
/ i"e ies'oiatio'i Va t"e ou So e'''i y
mar 'u 70 hei o'u'iiie anu aoi NM ani',"'io'
".' ."e "i',, "As - i4'''
l someiy accomplished hast iai mas been a source
5 much qualification to Democrats at the Nationa
canitai Tbs is esracia liv tr,,a of contern Da,no
>
crats' VINO, Ike their Dre'hreh IN Maryland, nave
felt the burden and the humiliation of negro dom
n.,io,
o
Your correspondent was recently thrown In COM
pany with a coterie of representative members Of
The Southern Demacnacy the conyersa lion turnins
'ie so".iei" ''o .o'' '.i"i"
upon discussion Il tse pohticzi auairs ana pros
| poets of MY Maryland" The special topic under
consid.ra,io, was The nure Australian bauot la,y
vs. $50 - ~ '
which, IL mas been currently reported here ITO the
great CONSERVATION of Maryland Republicans,) the
| Damocratic agisl.tur. of Narvlsnd co,tamniste
~ % ' ~ P
phcing upon the statute DOCKS.
There was unanimous concurrence in the opinion
that this is the proper thing for the Maryland Dem
ocrats to do, if they would eectuaiy guard against
recurrence of the costly experience of 1s956-7-s
That such a law would not conflict with the Fed
erai Constitution was regarded as settled ques-
tion; out the inquiry was mostly whe'her OF not
wonid De obnoxious 10 ihe provisions OF the Mary
lana state constitution! upon TINS iatter point
the opinion OF weiiKnown Maryland lawyer,
thoroughly conversdnt win the Stale Constitution,
| who happened 10 be within call, was invoked. The
response OF this lawyer was very prompt and clear,
for he had already, MS he said, given the subject
very thorough consideration
hs reply was as follows;
nIst n'e Moiuso vi lie har ianu constitution
answer your inquiry. section OF Article com
haI Iay,,,.. inns s,ecIarad e., s s s..s oe ~
the metnod OF Young, lhe same article goes on to
declare That al white male citizens OF the age OF
Inv crime c sbsiI he entiIi,d r., vn,e ~ haipt
oil course. But neither in the letter nor Spirit OF
the CONSTITUTION can there anywhere be found any
IIoi Sr an iiieTaa yoter nJ ,ct p s
10 vote is; for any special legislation whatever
IN respect 10 any Special class OF voters at all I'm
Inc Maryiand LeesIatnre to orovid nv law sor ,ba
pure Australian ballot. just as they have it in other
sliies Norin ana Souln without making any spe-
Upon his onestion do not tSink ibare IL any seri
| Gus division of opinion among the we'll informed
| ia"seis Oh tne oeiVe'
rs weii-khowh tnal inns same pure Austraiian
piot III" mas eAisieu Without questioh, or at least
without successful cohtrofersion ior many years IN
Northerh States- But wheh, u lew years pack, the
saie oil MISSISSIPPI adopted It, the prevalentlllier
acy among the colored voters of that State led to
the law being questioned by the Mississippi Repub-
| licans in the Fedenl Courts as being aimed espe-
ealy at the colored voters and, therefore, in con-
hict with the amendments to the Federal Constitu-
ton- the supreme Court oil the United States has,
however, IN a recent decision fuliy sustained the
validity oil the pure Australian law In Mississippi
In Maryland, as In Mississippi, the prevailing
illiteracy among the coored voters would undoubt-
eddy lead TO the practical disanchisement of many
of that class through the operation of the pure
Australian law; and it would at the same time work
similar result as to number of white illiteate
| voters in all the counties
But the question as II presents ltsen TO every falr
minded Legislator. aDNiOQS do his DUTY and
ing the courage to follow where his convictions
lead is merely one of the lesser OF two evils. Would
it not be better from every standpoint to make it
difficult for the totally iliteae class of voters 10
exercise the elective fmnchise-or practically dis
franchise that class If you will-than that the Hit
crate VOTERS as class should be put under the
complete surveillance of the partisan election Off
GERS whom the present law designates to show them
how to vote and Thereby the coIored iiterates be
made a solid and dangerous f,ctor To the good poy |
Una Of Tho ,,os, froit,o e Ella. oxoaIla,, ,r,;oas