New-York tribune., 1901-05-06
POLITICS IN MARYLAND.
INTEREST IN THE BALTIMORE ELEC-
TION NEXT WEEK-DEMOCRATIC
LAW TINKERING To DISFRAN-
CHISE NEGROES

Baltimore. May (speciaD.-Arthur Pue German.
United States Senator McCoras and the o,,a.
state leaders of both parties are as deepIv ,nt.r
ested in the election Of City CounciImen on Tues
Gay as they would be IL party supremacy were al
stake 1t Will be the first real test OF the nsv
election law, under which the Democrats hone n,
disfranchise thousands of negroes The result NAV
foceshadow the defeat of Gorman's great political
scheme to have himself again elected to the Senate
Many Republicans predict that the DISTINGUISHING
law viii prove a Democratic boomerang The
Democrats while not confident of greatly reduc-
ing the negro they were at first still he
lieve that in the election for members Of the egfs-
lature the new law will give them the supremacy.
Careful figuring the illiJeIate of Baltimore
City places the total 10 l57. of which 4O2O are
whites and 6S7 colored- In nine wards OF the city
the number OF white iliterates exceeds the number
OF coOred. the aggregate figures being White 21OS;
colored. s02. With exception these wards are
regarded Democratic. In the case of the ex-
eepted one the Republican majority two years ago
was us but IL happens that of the iterate vote
S0s are white Democrats and only % Republican
coiored men, SC that the Republican majority is not
imperilled. In the other five wards the uIiterats
white vote, almost sodly Democratic is enough IN
cause the Democratic candidates anxierv That
the Democrats in a fair way 10 lose 4 large
proportion of their illterate vote Is demonstrated
oS the reluctance with which white consent to
accepE instruction. and The fact that little or no
effort has been made by the Democratic organiza-
tion to instruct its Iliterate contingent. On the
other hand, nearly every Republican precinct and
ward club in town has been conducting night
schools for the instruction the colored voters
No regular method has been employed in pre-
pairing the iterate blacks for the city election but
the State leaders in arranging for the instruction
IN the counties as well in the city for State
election, intend to ascertain the name and address
OF each Republican illiterate. He is be supplied
with 4 simple spe linen ballot containing tho
names of candidates followed by the word ''Repub-
lican and its abbreviatOns. This will be the first
lesson. The second lesson will be contained in
other specimen ballot. having the names of
didates, followed separately by the word "Republi-
can and its abD"eviatiOns Democrat Prohibi-
ton etc The illiterate viii be taught to pick
the word Republican from the list submitted
He will also be requested after the second lesson
to mark unaided a specimen ballot If his ballot
shows a lack of comprehension of the method OF
marking. he will receive further instruction by
teacher, and this instruction will not cease until
the voter demonstrates his ability to pick out OF
the list of candidates on the ballot those for whom
he desires to vote.
The Republicans fully appreciate the difficulties
before them in the fight for control OF the next
legislature. State Senator Putzel. Republican
MIR. Germans purpose is evidently get the ad-
slight margin that exists IN mary Of the counties
to get control of the legislature and to have him
self elected TO the United States Senate In the
close counties especially the number Of hiterate
shows that a little than 10 per Of the
registered voters did not attempt to vote at all.
thrown out being improperly marked In total
vote of 1875 this is large percentage sgnif-
cant feature of the ballOting the number OF
voters who failed for aldermen In the third
illiteTateS live So failed mark the ticket
for aldermen The total vote in that precinct
6l1 This is important part of Mr.. Germans
plan He calculates that while iliterates vote
for the head of the ticket they will be afraid to
the entire ticket. and thus the Democratic
candidates for the House of Delegates IN the sew
eral counties where the vote is close can be
elected"
General l.. Victor Baughman. the Democratic
chief of Western Maryland. who ran the Frederick
City election and who is Germans chief Heuten-
said that he was I'm favor of a new constitutional
amendment which Will give the control Of the State
into the hands of the Write of the State.
This he favOrs such radical changes in
suppression of the cOOred vote than is possible by
the election law.
Ex-senator German has been represented as being
favorable a constitutional convention, and
General BaUghman'S utteranCe would seem to
firm this. To the former Senator a amendment
affecting the cOlOred vote would mean much One
of the chief criticisms directed against him by his
own party in connection with the election law
has been that II did go far enough.
Mr.. Germans interest in new convention
stitutiOnal amendments theI efOre becomes ap-
parent But he has another object in view He IS
already leader of his party. He desires to
turn United States Senate and strengthen
that leadership. This movement against the Hit
crate vote Is a favorable opportunity for him. 1t
Is in line with the Democratic methods in North
and South Carolina and Mississippi. In this new
Mr.. German mas two purposes: First, to re-
gain control of Maryland. and second put him
self at the head of the Southern Democracy as q
Senate and resume his place as Democratic leader
there. in order that he may be in a position to
shape The Democratic campaign for President
m 1904