The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-15

ton and to obey its mandate.
NECESSITY FOR A CENSUS.
"First. The necessity of a
prompt census of our population
under State authority in view of
the palpable errors and dangerous
and unjust results in certain of
the counties under the recent
Federal census.
1.-The trainers of our present
Constitution Of 1867, wisely fol.
lowing the precedent set them by
the craftsmen of the Constitution
of 1864, made provisions in Sec
tons 3, and ) of Article 3 for
Encouragement and reapportion.
ment of the representation to
which the several counties and
Baltimore City should from time
to time be entitled, for upon the
justice and fairness of this repre-.
sentation the excellence of our
State government depends.
1.-The people Of the several
counties are manifestly inter
ested, not only that thei1 own
counties shall have all the repre-
sentation to which their popula-
ton as prescribed by the Consti-
tuition. entities them. but they
are also equally interested that
other counties shall not, as the
result of fraud or mistake in the
census, obtain an undue represen-
tation and thus an excessive and
overshadOwing share of legisla,
tive power.
express provision is therefore
made for an enumeration of our
population under State authority,
and the duty is laid upon the
Governor after each Federal cen
gus or State census to issue his
proclamation declaring the num-
Der of Delegates to which each
county is entitled.
THE FEDERAL CENSUS.
"Under the recent Federal cen
sus a result has been announced
as to some of the counties which
is so totally contrary to popular
belief that | am unwilling in a
matter of so grave concern to &C.
cept it as correct and to act upon
it until it shall be subjected to
scrutiny and verifcation under
State authority. | feel that |
ought not to officially proclaim
that to be a fact which person
ally and individually | do not be.
lieve to he trEe, nor to give my
official sanction to that which
believe to be both untrue and un.
just.
II feel that my duty forbids
my bli ndly accepting and acting
upon the figures given without
official investigation, and this
enumeration being begun, should
be made thorough and complete
and cover the whole State. so
that there can be no mistake
anywhere and no ground of com
plain. of disproportionate repre-,
Sentation from any section what
ever. The value of accuracy and
fairness in so vital a matter as
this is we'll worth the moderate
expense OF State census.
1.-The situation. iii my opinion,
clearly presents an extraordinary
occasion directly covered by the
provision of the Constitution de-
claring that the Governor shall
convene the Legislature or the
Senate alone on extraordinary
OCCASIONS But this is not all.
THE ELECTION LAW.
"SecOnd, The practical work
ing of our present election law
demonstrates the imperative ne
cessity of prompt alteration of
some Of its provisions.
sit is not possible to shut our
eyes to the fact that under the
sections relating to registration
of voters many thousands of
voters not bona tide residents of
the State are permitted to regis.
ter and go to the polls and by
their votes materially influence,
and in some quarters absolutely
control, the votes of our resident
population. This is a great and
palpable evil. No fair.minded
man can say that it ought to be
permitted to exist ; in my judg-
ment it ought to be cured and
prevented by effective legislation
before, at another election, it can
again make itself oppressively
felt.
BRIBERY.
"Third, Still further, some.
thing must be done without DELAY
to protect the suffrage from bri-
berry and to secure the secrecy of
the ballot. This certainly is an
object of the highest Importance
and no one can honestly contend
that it ought not to be accom-.