The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-02-21

/ OF the grounds upon which | deem II
my duty to exercise the power con-
| ferred on me by the Constitution and
! TO obey its mandate.
"First-The necessity of prompt
census of our population under State
authority in view of the palpable err
rors and dangerous and unjust results
in certain of the counties under the
recent Federal census.
The trainers of our present COnsti-
tuition of 1867, wisely following the
precedent sent them by the craftsmen
of the Constitution of 1864, made pro-
vision in Sections 3, and 3 of Article
for a Encouragement and reappor-
tionment of the representation to
which the several counties and Balti-
more city should from time TO time be
entitled, for upon the justice and fair
ness of this representation the excel
/ lence of our State government de-
/ ponds The people of the several
counties are manifestly Interested.
not only that their own counties shall
! have all the representation TO which
/ their population, as prescribed by the
Constitution, entities them, but they
/ are also equally interested that other
counties shall not, as the result of
fraud or mistake in the census. OBJ
tain an undue representation and
! thus an excessive and overshadowing
share of legislative power.
Express provision *, therefore,
made for an enumeration OF our pop
ulation under State authority. and
the duty is laid upon the Governor,
after each Federal census or State
census, to issue his proclamation de
claring the number of delegates TO
which each county is entitled.
Under the recent Federal census
result has been announced as to some
of the counties which is so totally
contrary to popular belief that | am
unwilling, in a matter of so grave
concern, to accept it as correct and to
act upon it until it shall be subjected
| to scrutiny and verification under
State authority. feel that | ought
not to officially proclaim that to be a
fact which personally and individu-
/ ally | do not believe to be true, nor
| to give my official sanction to that
which believe to be both untrue and
unjust.
Il feel that my duty forbids my
| blindly accepting and acting upon
! the figures given out without official
! investigation, and this enumeration,
! being begun, should be made thorough
and complete and cover the whole
| State, so that there can be no mistake
anywhere and no ground for com
! plant of disproportionate representa-
ton from any section whatever The
/ value of accuracy and fairness in so
vital matter as this is well worth
/ the moderate expense of a State cen
sus.
The situation, in my opinion,
clearly presents an extraordinary oc
sasion,' directly covered by the pro-
vision of the Constitution declaring
that the Governor shall convene the
Legislature or the Senate alone on
extraordinary occasions. But this is
not all.
"Second-Our election law.
The practical working of our pres
ent election law demonstrates the i'm
perative necessity of = prompt altera-
ton of some of its provisions.
1T is not possible to shut our eyes
to the fact that under the sections re-
lating to registration of voters many
thousands of voters not bona fide res
idents of the State are permitted to
register and go TO the polls, and by
their votes materially influence, and
in some quarters absolutely control,
the votes of our resident population.
This is a great and palpable evil. No
falr-minded man can say that it ought
to be permitted to exist. In my judg-
ment it ought to be cured and pre-
vented by effective legislation before,
at another election, it can again make
itself oppressively felt.
"Third - Bribery. Still further
Something must be done without de-
lay to protect the suffrage from brib-
cry and to secure the secrecy of the
ballot. This certainly is an object of
the highest Importance, and no one
can honestly contend that it ought
not to be accomplished, if possible, at
the earliest moment.
II believe it can be accomplished
without interference of the legal
rights of any voter by some amend
ments of our existing law wholly free
from constitutional objection
1.-The necessity for the prompt pas
sage of an enabling act authorizing
the city of Baltimore to provide, with
out further delay, an adequate sew
erage system is urgent, and the spe-
Cldl SesSlOu may also cOuSluer anu ulS-
pose of this most important subject.
1.-The expense of a special session
cannot be great, for the session will
necessarily be brief, and will not be
expected to take up miscellaneous
matters of legislation, which can well
await the next regular session.
calling the special session only for
special purposes of great Importance
and urgency, wish it to be distinct
ly understood in advance that my ex-
ecutive approval will not be given to
any matters of ordinary current leg
islation.
with this emphatic announce
ment there need be no fear that any
legislation will be enacted outside of
those measures for the passage of
which the special session is called.
Il fully realize the responsibility of
the call which have decided to issue,
but upon the best consideration which
| am able to give to the whole situa-
ton, feel that the conclusion which
| have reached is right and will be
approved by the great body of the
people"
Although the call for the extra SEES
sion had been expected every day fo1
some time, the issuance of the proc
lamation came as a surprise.
No intimation that the call was to