The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-11-14
GOLDSBoROUGH ON THE SITUATION.


Committee to the People of Maryland.
Mr.. Phillips Lee Goldsborough,
chairman of the Republican State
Central Committee, has made the fol-
lowing statement, addressed to the
citizens of Maryland, in reference to
the present political situation in this
State:
The final act in the election con-
spiracy has taken place. 1t began
with the extraordinary session of the
Legislature held in March last and
ended on November 7, when the will
ing and plant tools of the Demo
cratic bosses of this State did the bid
ding of their master and disfranchis-
ed in Maryland not less than 10000
men who had cast honest ballots
which should have been counted but
were thrown out on the fraudulent
plea that they were improperly mark
ed, or that they had upon them some
mark other than the crossmark which
should have been placed there by the
voters
And again because ballots were not
properly folded when returned by the
voter to the judges.
In great many instances hundreds
of these ballots were declared void by
reason of printers marks thereupon
and by marks having been designedly
placed upon some part of the ballot,
particularly in and around the con-
stitutional amendments, before they
reached the hands of the voter. In
other instances these ballots so re-
jected were thrown out upon the
mere pretense that one prong of the
cross extended slightly outside of the
box or square.
In 1899 there we're cast and counted
in Baltimore city, the year in which
Governor Smith was elected, 104, 1925
votes. In the presidential election of
1900 there were cast and counted in
the same city liz, 1877 votes. Under
this German election law there were
counted 81, $50 ballots. Thus it will
be seen that this law, instead of bring
ing out in full the real expression of
the will of each and every voter" as
claimed in the Democratic platform
of 1901, this law has disfranchised
many thousands of registered voters
who, under the Constitution of the
State, were entitled to the right of
suffrage. Though the citizens had
complied with all the requirements
regarding registration and had
had their names enrolled upon the
registry books, nevertheless, by rea-
son of the operation and of manipu
lation of this Ubiquitous law, these
citizens of Maryland had no voice in
the government of Maryland, and
were DISTINGUISHED ON Tuesday last
by the Legislature of this State.
The following are the steps in the
conspiracy:
First. The calling of the extra SEES
sion of the Legislature in March last.
Second. The enactment of the State
Census Law, at an expense of 10000
to the taxpayers of the State, where
by a thorough and complete political
poll of the voters of the State was
given thu Democratic managers, which
poll of roters was taken, as it was
claimed, by the officials of the State
for the express purpose of purging
the registration books of the State
and adding thereto the names of
those who were not on the books, but
entitled to registration, and though
this was claimed to be defense of
this act, nevertheless when applica-
tion was made to the Governor for a
copy thereof to be furnished without
cost to the State, and then to the SUI
perintendent of the census, both of
these distinguished officials and SER
wants of the public denied any knowl
edge of the possession of these lists,
and it required an order of the court
before access to these lists could be
had by the public.
Third. By reason of the provision
of this census act, which had no
earthly connection with the election
law of the State, thousands of the
voters of the State were compelled, at
great expense and inconvenience on
the day of revision of the registration
books of the State, to appear in per-
son and show cause why their names
should not be erased from the regis
try of voters.
Fourth. The illegal act of many of
the supervisors of election in the
counties of the State, delegating to
the president of the Board of Super
visors of Election the power to decide
upon, arrange and make up the style
of ballot and type to be used thereon,
denying to the minority member of
the board all participation and infor-
nation in the making up of the Off
cial ballot, this act being in direct
conflict with section 80 OF chaDter Q of