The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-03-14

WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator
McComas was asked tonight if he had
examined the Election Bill and what
he thought about it. He replied he
had Just finished the examination of
it, and continued;
The bill was concealed from the
public until the legislature met. AL
ready the newspapers and citizens, by
interviews, haYe denounced its many
defects. The old ring, which carried
elections by fraud for 20 years, has re-
gained courage. This bill defies pub
lie opinion. Without success, it tries
to AVOID the prohibit ons of the Con-
stitution. 1t will arouse every free
man who prizes the freedom won in
1895.
The Reform League election law
of 1896 was charter of freedom. The
Democratic machine has not yet
learned how to cheat this law. Gov
ernor Smith excuses his call for this
extraordinary session by uttering sew
eral false pretenses.
Il regret to say it, but Governor
Smith would admit these to be false
pretenses, think. His primary OBJ
iect was to disfranchise illiterates-
white and black. He did not say so
in his call, nor in his message to the
legislature.
THE object of this bill is to disfran-
chise illiterates, but it does more. 1t
makes bribery safe, and more effec-
tive. 1t encourages fraud in variety
of forms. Section -, as amended,
favors the use of repeaters at cleo
tions. The present law hinders re-
peaters. The only result of the change
is to help them commit such crime at
the polls.
Mr.. Poe's affidavit section to re-
\ tain. citizenship retarded the growth
D. Montgomery and Prince Georges
coupties, largely reduced their taxa
BILE basis, and drove out bona tide and
valuable citizens who had built and
lived in their homes. Now it will dis
franchise our volunteer soldiers in the
Philippines; it would disfranchise our
volunteer sailors had they not re
turned home, and Admiral Schley, if
now residing in his native State,
would be DISTINGUISHED while absent
on his present cruise. The pretense
is that it excludes wandering negroes,
who are imagined to be ., 200 or 20, 900.
Compare the registry before and
after this disfranchisement by affida
Wit. You will find it does not affect
200 colored people. 1t has driven away
many hundred citizens, and deferred
Others from building their homes in
the State.
''ln section 40 it is provided that
ballots four days before election shall
be subject to the inspection of candi
dates or their agent. This provision
is stricken out in this bill. Why
Can anyone assign good motive?
Section so of the law provides a
clear, simple. uniform method for a
ballot. The amended section author
ICES "a different forms and arrange
ments for ballots, as the caprice of
the partisan supervisors may lead
them. If you couple this provision
with section 80, it is plain that the
purpose is to enable the partisan SUI
pervisors-two Democrats overruling
one Republican-to adopt expedients
to hinder disfayored citizens and to
help favored citizens
The worst section is the amended
section "a 1t takes away from the
Police Commissioners of Baltimore
and sheriffs of the counties the obi
cation to deliver all the voting ma
member, the supervisors are the only
board which contains two Democrats
and one Republican, and that in
Prince Georges county, last election,
the machinery for election was not
delivered to the judges in the Vans
vile district, and thereby 100 majo
ity was cut off from the Republicans
Supervisors are thus tempted to carry
1.-The elections in every close county in
the State for the majority party; and
the only penalty is a fine ranging
from one dollar to a thousand dollars.
In Carroll county a majority of the
supervisors might fail to deliver bal
lot boxes and pencils and books to
the election officers in the Taneytown
district. That county is close. fancy
town is largely Republican. The
failure of election there would make
Carroll surely Democratic. The cleo
ton officials would gladly pay the
supervisors fine, and the ring would