Evening star., 1901-02-19
AROUSES RESENTMENT.
Proposed Disfranc h hisement of Voters
! Meets With Democratic OppOsition.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

/ Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
! ROCKVILLE, Md, February IS 1901.
| The recent call of Governor Smith for an
extra session of the legislature has aroused
considerable resentment among certain
democrats and their relatives in Mont gom-
cry county, who declare it's principal OBJ
| jeCt to be to gain party advantage by en-
acting law disfranchising the illiterates
Such a law would deprive about LOO blacks
and over 800 whites in Montgomery county
of the right of suffrage. OF the whites
that would be disfranchised fully ninety
five per cent are democrats, and many of
| these do not hesitate TO state that in the
event of the passage Of such a law they
will their influence among their rela-
tives and friends to rebuke the democratic
party at next falls election for making
them the victims of political scheme
The democrats who would lose their votes
have 1t In their power to cause a political
revolution in Montgomery county, and
there is every reason to believe that they
will do their utmost in this direction If
the democratic plans are carried out at
the extra session of the legislature. This,
taken in connection with the fact that
a considerable number of other democrats
in the county are certain to register their
diSapprOVal of a return to the old ring
methods, is causing the democratic mana
gers little uneasiness, although they
.
the extra session plans will perpetuate the
party i'll power in the county and state
The effect in Montgomery county of the
proposed change III the ballot law IS said
to be far from certain, and some interest
ing developments may result.
Another circumstance which is causing
the present members of the legislature
from this county little perturbation is
the effect the enactment of q diSfrac chiSing
law will have upon the approaching demo-
cratic primaries. 1t is stated that the
senator from this county IS anxious for
& denomination. and that one or more of
! the members of the lower house also de-
sire TO be returned. If the proposed
change i'll the ballot law should be made
it LOOKS very much as If the chances Of
these gentlemen to have their wishes graf
flied are slim, provided they support the
measure that will be presented at the ex-
ira session.
The law that will govern the coming
democratic primaries will be the same that
has been In use In the county for number
of years and al democrats will be allowed
u vote. including the 500 and more classed
as illiterateS. Some of this latter class
have already declared their intention of
getting even with those of the present
Montgomery county legislators who support
the disfrancEising bill and will undoubtcd-
ly wage vigorous war against any that
might seek Il denomination. The vote OF
these. together with that of their relatives
and friends whom they can influence, will,
1t IS believed, be sufficient TO encompass
the defeat Of whatever candidate or candi-
dates they make set against. This Is
why those of this countyS legislators who
expect to seek denominations are uneasy.
1t is stated that several representatives
are at heart opposed to the proposed legis-
| lation, but that, obedient TO the party de-
mand. and In the hope of aiding the return
of Mr. German to the United States Sen
ate they will support the measure. II
looks, however. as if it means their polit-
zeal destruction.
The republicans of the county, while
Violently opposed to the disfranchising
scheme are saying very little, but are hop
ing that it will, after all. inure to their
political benefit, and there seems to be ex-
cellent reasons to believe that their hopes
will be realized.