The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-15

proved Dy Une beSG Lawyers
in This and Other States.
On Monday night, after the
Census bill had been ordered to
its third reading in the House.
the Ballot bill, which is also on
its third reading, was taken up
and Mr.. Wilkinson, of Worcester.
addressed the House. He was
interrupted continually by ques.
tons from the minority. Only
once did he object, and that was
when Delegate Walbach started
to speak at length on a point
raised. Question after question
was fired at him, to all of which
he replied good naturally, sew
eral times turning the tables upon
his lnterrOgatOrs. On Mr.. Wal.
bach asking him why he sent
$40, 600 into Charles County dur
ing the last campaign which the
Democrats had not been able to
use corruptly. II cannot tell
the gentleman where the money
came from" said Mr.. Wilkinson.
''but if they could not use it in
Charles County | think it a very
strange thing indeed" All at.
tempts to break up his argument
failed, and his address made a
strong impression.
Mr.. Wilkinson said in part;
"On this bill, now upon it's third
reading and final passage, | de
sire to state briefly our position.
The Democratic party is not en-
tlrely responsible for the present
condition of affairs. For some
years there has been a feeling
among many Democrats that the
10000 negroes banded together
as they were in a solid mass. and
40, 600 illiterate whites. nine.
tenths of whom were purchasable
presented conditions that might
at any time prove disastrous to
the welfare OF the State. United
they require but few additional
votes to enable them to control
the State government.
cat the last session OF the
Legislature there was some talk
of the necessity of providing
against such contingency. but
nothing was done. At the last
election our opponents made
much capital out Of the position
which some members of our party
were supposed to occupy, and by
uniting their colored cohorts and
by the use Of money among the
llllterate whites, thus combining.
these two forces, succeeded in
carrying this State. The elec.
ton was no sooner over than.
seeing the great success of the
combination, they began to
charge in the public press and
otherwise that it was the purpose
OF the Democrats at tine next SEES
sion, or at a special session. to
law pass a DISTINGUISHING the illit.
crate, their evident purpose being
to ploce our party in the position
OF favorlng such legislotion.
hoping to drive all this class of
voters into their ranks. make
the statement here that the Re
publicans themselves forced this
issue, thinking that they could
gain advantage, and the Demo
Gratis would not have the courage
to meet it.
"The Governor issued his call
for an extra session and we have
assembled. Our law has been
introduced and is now upon its
final passage. Knowing, as we
did in the very beginning, that
tins legislation would be consid-
cred a partisan measure and that
our party would be held response
bic for its passage, no steps have
been taken without the most ser
ious consideration, and after con.
sultation with the ablest and
wlSest men of our party through,
out the State, the Democratic
members of the Senate and
House were called together for
the purpose Of considering the
provisions of this bill. A party
caucus was called and the result
of that caucus binds us as party
men to the support of that meas.
ure.
We have been subjected to
much criticism because the meas.
ure was not given to the press
earlier, but when it is considered
that this bill was not finally
passed upon until the meeting
OF the committee on the part of
the House and Senate on Tuesday,
March ., it can readily be seen
that we we were justified in so
acting. We are far more inter
ested in the constitutionality of
the bill than either the gentle.
man from Charles or the one
from Washington. Did they be-