Evening journal., 1901-04-03
MoCoMAs, pENuNoIATIoN

McC0MAS' DENUN0IATI0N
United States Senator Louis e. Nc
Comas. Of Maryland, is bitter in his
denunciation OF the outrageous Cor
man Acknowledgement law passed by
the Maryland Legislature at its recent
extra session and approved by Cover
nor Smith. He says:
For generation prior to 1895 Mary
land had one Of the worst election laws
m the Union. Our elections were un-
fair, the coun~ was false force and
fraud required. BY the reform move
mcnt in 1895 we elected Governor
Lowndes and a Republican Legislature.
The Reform League, a body OF very
able and patriotic citizens, passed q
new election law. Under It victories
have been won four times by the Re-
publloans and once by the Democrats.
Election day was as quiet as Sunday;
nowhere was force or fraud; never a
suspicion OF a false count We had To
best election law in the United States
J and tie fairest In the Fall Of 1899 we
elected a Democratic governor and
Legislature. Last Fall the people ne
versed their verdict, gave $4,000 ma
icrity TO Mckinley and Roosevelt, and
elected sold Republican delegation
TO the House OF Representatives. The
Democratic governor yielded to the
scheme OF his managers, and reluct-
antly reassembled the repudiated Leg
islature in extraordinary session. A
handful OF Democratic managers stood
guard over each house of the Assembly
until the laws were passed which the
managers dictated. The primary pur-
pose OF the extraordinary session was
the passage Of q new election law. The
object Of the managers who dominated
the governor and the Legislature was
10 destroy the fairness of this election
law and TO disfranchise i,literate vot
ers. These men were afraid to submit
a constitutional amendment to ths
people They sought to disfranchis'
43 900 voters. who by the Constitution
arc entitled to register and vote, by Z
more act Of Assembly These men vii
remain registered qualified voter
under the Constitution, but the new
l. was contrived TO render Il impos
sihle foI citizens who cannut read Z
vote
our honest election law made cas-
\ the exercise of the right to vote TO cacl
citizen who had the right This ne'
and dishonest election law makes
difficult for many citizens 10 vote
Harsh restriction will make every cit
I zen uncertain about the count OF hi
b ballot. Fortunately. the COnstitutio
/, restrained this servile Legislature TO
degree. Public sentiment deferred se'
i, eral senators from voting for all u
regulations the managers pressed upo
y them.
e This Is the result: a bad manglin
e % the best election law Of any sta
o In the Union; an increasing indignl
ton and alarm among citizens OF q
parties.
- Three OF the four great newspape
In Baltimore fought the enactment
's this law. insisting II was a scheme
l. return Mr.. German to the Senate al
IT lntrench Rasin. the city boss in Bali
" more. The fourth newspaper has n
n yet strongly commended these electh
rs schemes.
The Legislature has adjourned.
- rcads the on ~ag,ons leg slaull
ir solilhsd the Sepubli,an party. n
m III -red 1oters .-a 'fginn'ng TO cr.'
the churches and night schools. 1he
wcr; $1,000 white and about 25(
n. black illitcrates. TwO-thirds OF
A.. white illiterates were Democrats. II
~ claimed that the white illiterates, Z
H. gered and sullen when classed W
er negroes and convicts. will he slow
an learn to read a ballot. It is beieN
,rf that three- fourths of the black vOt
~ will qualify themselves 10 vote.
i. great proportion of the best Democr;
- the members of the Reform Leag
lls the members Of good government
he CARNATIONS. the business men.a body
IN independent voters. viii unite with
raj Republicans to defeat the scheme
70 the Democratic managers at the pc
I am surprised at the general co
1he dence within the State that our OPP
Ter ents can and will be beaten at
'polls. The law itself IS unconst
tlonal. and may be so declared.
au- 1895 the campaign was waged TO o.
en- throw the Gorman-Rasin ring anS
obtain a fair election law. In 1901
have the same cry. the same issue.
MS will fight to obtain the same res
attic The resentment OF the workingmen
Ac- poor man suddenly disfranchised,