The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-04-05

| bcllcNlHS IL WAS llllle tuc NotSlS VI eHiS
State had ceased voting for such dead
statesmen as Jackson and Lincoln, we
have eliminated the party emblem and the
names of the living candidates are ar
ranged in alphabetical order on the ticket,
| giving no advantage to any party. Just
ia this connection, as great deal has been
said about this arrangement being agreed
to because public sentiment demanded it,
l want to state that this was exactly the
order in which they were to come when
this law was first considered in the con-
ference of Democratic Senators at the
Rennert
| "The new law does away with the assist
ance of ballot clerks and the voter can re-
ceive no assistance unless blind or physic
ally disabled That this change is in the
| interest of honest voting no one can deny
who is familiar with the bribery and in
| timidation practiced under the old system.
1t may in its practical effect bar out some
| good men, whose exercise of the right Of
suffrage is helpful to the State, but if at
the same time it prohibits that traffic in
votes and the intimidation of the ignorant
before alluded to it will have acc emphasized
great good.
| "Section 25A simply re-enacts the law
of 1890 and purges our registration books
of all voters who are not bona fide resi-
dents of the State. Any mark outside the
square or for more names than candidates
on the ticket compels the judges to refuse
to count it as giving prima facie evidence
of bribery.
| "The other changes in the law are mat
tiers of detail only. There is no provision
anywhere in it that gives the Democratic
party any advantage over other parties,
except it be in the elimination ofignorance
and bribery as deciding factors in an cleo
ton. Both the intent and effect of the
law have been greatly exaggerated and
misunderstood.
| "Recent developments show the absolute
necessity of new State census. The ar
rest of prominent officials connected with
the taking of the Federal census and the
statement of Director Merriam admitting
that the lists have been extensively pad
ded in St. Marys county furnish ample
justification for the call of the Governor.
There can be no doubt a careful and sys-
tematic examination will disclose still
greater frauds.
"The passage Of the Sewerage bill giving
to Baltimore city the right to decide at
the polls what they will do with it should
meet the approval of everyone
"In addition to the three measures above
alluded to, which were mentioned special
ly in the Governors proclamation, there
were few other bills either relating to
the measures above referred to or having
some special reason for action at the extra
session. The bill appropriating money
for the Charleston Exposition was mat
ter that had to be attended to at the special
session or not at all.
THE EVANSVILLE and Laurel Water
works bills were simply correcting errors
made at the last session, which prevented
these towns from floating their bonds and
completing their public Improvements.
The redistricting of the wards of Bal
timore city corrected the gerrymander
made in 1898, when it slipped through in
the City Charter.
The bill allowing supervisors to divide
districts with over 600 registered voters
was made necessary by the new law, which
allowed longer time to vote.
II believe that the new Election law
should have been accompanied with good
primary election law, and am exceedingly
sorry that this measure failed to pass
When we consider, however, that the solid
Republican vote of both House and Sen
ate was opposed to it, together with the
feeling that in many counties it is thought
to be entirely unnecessary and in Balti-
more city will be very expensive, it is not
surprising the measure was lost.
"Considering the many important meas
ures passed upon, it must be admitted
that the Legislature just closed is entitled
to credit for dispatching business eXpe.
ditiously.
1--WE did not expect to please our politi-
cal opponents, and are therefore not sur.
prised at the wall of despair from theil
representatives in both Senate and House
at the close of the session. They prophesy
much evil for the future and complain
greatly of the lack of consideration shown
them during the session. When we re
member that they began the session by re
fusing to appear in answer to the Cover
nor's call, and, although in the State House
at the time, refusing to go to the Senate
chamber, believing their presence was alb
solutely necessary to the organization o
that body, they certainly have no specia
claim upon the maj ority when they started
out with the express purpose of blocking
all legislation if possible. They intro
duced over fifty amendments to the Elec
ton bill, both in the Senate and the House
and made speeches on number of them
In the Senate it will be remembered tina
e Senator Wilkinson talked over two hour:
and Senator Dick over three hours in on,
, speech alone, and each Republican Scna
tor was on the floor repeatedly. Notwith
3 standing their manner of beginning tn
t session entitled them to no consideration
from the Democrats, they were ALLOWED
D every facility for expressing Their views
On the House side they were given grea
: latitude. The previous question Wa
called on them only after they had giveI
: every Indication of a purpose to simpl
I delay and retard legislation. When tn
. viva-voce vote on the adoption of amend
: ments disclosed large majority agains
: them they would have the roll call OF
every amendment, which consumed
l great deal of time.
"Subjecting their protest to the siftin
process we find that about the only thin!
| substantial in it is Il fear upon their par
! that the new Election law will proven
some of the ignorant people in the Stat
from properly casting their ballots. Jus
how this is to prove calamity to the Stat
q LII. ! -l 80,