Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-09-21


most safely be entrusted to US, for we
undoubtedly represent an overwhelming
preponderance of those who are most
deeply interested in its full performance
and who will suffer most from its neglect.
Encouraged by these obvious and con-
yincing considerations and stimulated by
the gratifying record OF our work in the
memorable campaign of 1899, there ought
not TO be any doubt as to the result of
the contest in which we are now engaged.
All we need is that the full strength
of our party shall be brought TO the
polls.
That this may be done we must first
turn our attention TO the vital task OF
making our registration books perfect
and complete.
No name not entitled to I've on these
books should be permitted To be put or
kept on them, and no name entitled TO
registration should be omitted.
Ii is absolutely certain that there are
now on the registers many thousands of
names which are wrongfully and unlaw-
fully 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
qualified voters should not be nullihed
in whole or in part by the casting of bal
lots by persons who are not bona fide
residents of the State.
/ earnestly call on our friends in each
and every precinct in the counties to
bestir themselves in this most important
matter.
Note the names Of all disqualified and
improperly registered persons.
Collect the testimony bearing on the
case of each one of these persons
Hand in lists of all these names at the
session of the registration officers on
October Sth and demand that they be
stricken off at the meeting of these
officers on October 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 leg
istration will be made and this should be
so thoroughly conducted and vigilantly
watched as to be made absolutely accur-
ate.
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 candi-
date he wishes to vote for. This OF
necessity requires each voter to act with
certain amount of independence, in
telligence and discrimination.
1t does not absolutely stop bribery.
1t does not entirely put an end to cor
ruption.
No laws can completely accomplish
these desirable 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, cor
ruption and intimidation.
1t secures individual freedom.
1t goes far to make the ballot absolute
ly secret.
With the reasonable assistance which
its provisions give to illiterate voters,
there is no man so ignorant as to be un-
able to mark his ballot as he wishes.
Every registered voter can easily learn
before 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 exceed, and as the re-
quirements ofthe law apply with absolute
equality to all voters alike-to the Hitter
ate white man and to the illiteIate
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 in every
precinct legitimate and proper instruc-
ton can be had and should be given
II, 20 l. Id Of fIn
proper mode of marking the ballot may
be readily acquired.
For the present content myself with
reminding you that the struggle in which
we are engaged is not complicated or
obscured by the sharply debated ques-
tions which devided our people in the
Presidential contests of 1896 and 1900.
We 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 eminent and patriotic services can
never be forgotten by grateful people
and whose blameless life shall stand to
the remotest ages as an example and in
spiration to all who reverence 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
discussion and settlement of the great
questions growing out of the war with
Spain, or the proper policy to be pursued
in fixing our duties and obligations to
the people of Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines, but the controlling issue in
this State campaign is, whether the
honest, intelligent, economical, conserva-
tive and successful administration of our
State affairs by the representatives of our
white people shall be displaced, or
whether it shall be continued.
Upon this plain issue which our pollti-
cal situation forces upon as and which
we ought not to evade if we could and
cannot evade if we would, appeal TO
you to stand by our organization and
vote for our candidates.
Keep the State in safe Democratic
hands and rely upon a Democratic adj
ministration for the Inauguration and
conduct of all needed measures of en-
lightened progress and reform.
REGISTRATION DAYS IN THE COUNTIES.
Tuesday, October 1st, 19O1-S .. m. to
2 p. m.