Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-09-20
Address to the Voters.

approaching election justi6es at the begin.
ming OF the campaign an earnest appeal to all
who desire q continuance of the good gov
eminent which we now enjoy under Demo
cratic control to interest themselves to secure
our triumph.
There can be no fair doubt that large
majority of our total population prefer tina,
there shall be no change in the administra-
ton of our State affairs, and of our white
people more than two-thirds are certainly
and with great heartness on our side.
There 10 every reason why this should be so.
The laws are vigorously enforced. Good
order and tranquility prevail. Our finances
are In healthy condition.
The duty Of dealing with the great prac-
tical questions Of taxation and education in
such way as TO make the burdens of the
one as light and the benefits of the other as
large as possible, may most safely be en-
trusted TO us, for we undoubtedly represent
an overwhelming preponderance Of those who
are most deeply interested in its full perform
ance and who will suffer most from its neg
lect.
Encouraged by these obvious and con-
vincing considerations and stimulated by the
gratifying record Of our work in the memoir
able campaign of 1899, there ought not to be
any doubt as to the result Of the contest in
"htSu We hTo uOW cuRhReu.
All we need 10 that the full strength Of our
party shall be brought to the polls. That
this may be done we must first turn our at
tention to the vital task Of making our reg
istration books perfect and complete. No
name not entitled TO be on these books should
be permitted TO be put or kept on them, and
no name entitled 10 registration should be
omitted
II is absolutely certain that there are now
on the registers many thousands of names
which are wrongfully and unlawfully there
and which should be stricken off. In the
counties no effort should be spared to purge
the lists of these names
The votes of our honestly and really quail.
fed voters should not be nulli6ed in whole
or in part by the casting of ballots by per-
sons who are not bona fide residents Of the
State.
| earnestly call on our friends in each and
every precinct in the counties to bestir them
selves in this most important matter. Note
the names Of all disqualified and improper ly
registered persons. Collect the testimony
bearing on the case Of each one OF these per-
sons. Hand in lists of all these names at
the session of the registration officers on Oc-
tober 9Th and demand that they be stricken
off at the meeting of these officers on Octo-
Der 18th, and on that day be prepared with
the evidence to sustain your demand. See to
it also that no new names be improperly
registered.
In Baltimore City an entirely new regis
tration will be made and this should be SO
thoroughly conducted and vigilantly watch
ed as to be made absolutely accurate.
In this way the registries will be what they
ought to be-complete and perfect records of
the lawful voters Of the State. The vote cast
on election day will be the vote Of our people
and we have no fear Of the result.
Our amended election law compels each
voter to put his cross mark on the official
ballot opposite the name of each candidate
he wishes to vote TOR. This OF necessity re-
quires each voter TO act with certain amount
OF independence, intelligence and discrimina-
ton. 1t does not absolutely stop bribery.
II does not entirely put a n end to corruption
No laws can completely accomplish these de-
sirable results. But by placing each voter
beyond the controlling hand and tongue Of
election clerks and by requiring each voter
to act for himself it reduces to minimum
the chances and dangers Of bribery, corruD-
ton and intimidation II secures individual
freedom. 1t goes far to make the ballot abb
soIutely secret With the reasonable assist
ance which its provisions give to illiterate
voters, there is no man 30 ignorant as to be
unable to mark his ballot as he wishes.
Every registered voter can easily learn be-
fore he goes into the voting booth the names
of those for whom he desires to vote and the
number Of cross marks which he must not ex-
ceed and as the requirements OF the law ap-
apply with absolute equality to all voters
alike-to the illiterate white man and to the
illiterate colored man on a perfect equality
there is no ground whatever for complaint of
unfair and unlawful discrimination.
We need not lose the votes OF any who
wish our party to succeed, for 10 every pre-
cinct legitimate and proper instruction can
be had and should be given whereby ade-
quate knowledge ofthe proper mode OF mark
ing the ballot may be readily acquired.
For the present content myself with re-
minding you that the struggle in which we
are engaged is not complicated or obscured
by the sharply debated questions which d.
vided our people IN the Presidential con tests
of 1896 and 1900.
We are not now dealing with the relative
advantages of Protection or Reciprocity or a
tariff framed TO produce such revenue only as
is demanded for an honest and economical
administration Of the Federal Government.
In common with our fellow-citizens all
over the Union and with the people of the
civilized world, our hearts are stirred to
their deepest depths by the awful crime
which has deprived our country Of its chief
magistrate, President Mckinley, whose EN-
inent and patriotic services can never be for
gotten by a grateful people, and whose
blameless life shall stand to the remotest ages
as an example and inspiration to all who rev.
erence purity, integrity and honor, but we
have not now under review the wisdom and
expediency of the foreign and domestic policy
of his administration.
We are not now concerned with the discus
sion and settlement Of the great questions
growing out Of the war with Spain, or the
proper policy to be pursued in fixing our
duties aud obligations to the people Of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines, but the con-
trolling issue in this State campaign Is wheth-
er the honest, intelli cent, economical, con-
seryatiye and successful administration of our
State affairs by the representatives of our
white people shall be displaced, or whether it
shall be continued.
Upou this plain issue which our political
aituation forces upon US and which we ought
not to evade il we could and cannot evade II
we would, appeal 10 you to stand by our
organization and vote for our candidates
Keep the State in safe Democratic hands
and rely upon Democratic Administrative n
for the Inauguration and conduct of all need
cd measures Of enlightened progress and re-
form.
Registration Days in the counties-Tues-
day, October LIST, 1908 A. NJ. to p. NJ;
Tuesday, October 8th-8 A. N. to Pm
Revision Day-Tuesday, October 18th.
MURRAY VANDlVER,
Chm Democratic State Central Committee