Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-04-18
Maryland'S State Census May Dis
franchise Republicans.
DEEP SCHEME BY DEMOCRATS.
They Are Playing a Bold Game And Are
EndeavOring to Legislate Away
Republican Prospects For
Future Success.

Baltimore, Ma, April lO'-1he hoP"O
lican State leaders have discovered Dem
ocratic scheme to disfranchise Republican
voters by the new State census enumera-
ton as we'll as by the German election
law just enacted 10y the Democratic legls-
lature in extra session.
When Senator McComas said that the
election law passed by the legislature was
very different from that which Mr. Cor
man wanted he made statement OF fact.
The Democratic leader undoubtedly pre-
ferred law which would have given his
people complete control of the machinery
and practically debarred the Republicans
from the window.
At the same time, however, he was con-
cocting another scheme by which he could
accomplish bis purpose indirectly, and In
this he was aided materially by the dis
closures made by the Federal Census
Bureau with reference to frauds In st.
Mary's county. The programme could
not have been better arranged or more
successfully carried out.
Section 25A of the new election law re-
enacts the old law of 1892 as to voters liv'
ing out of State being required to return
within thirty DAYS after the passage OF the
law, and make affidavit "that they intend
to keep their residence at the place from
which they removed" and also "that they
will actually take up their residence at
that place on or before May next"
The same provision also applies to per-
sons who leave the State after the passage
of the act. Just at this point comes the
dovetailing.
The census law, Section Z, provides that
the enumerators shall return on separate
blanks the names of all regular registered
voters who can not be found in their re-
spective precincts and also a list OF all
male persons above the age of twenty one
actually residing in any precinct whose
names are not on the registration books.
1t is also provided that unless the per-
sons making affidavit as to their residence
shall actually return to the precinct where
they are registered on or before May /
or, to be accurate, on the day six months
preceding the day of election-they shall
be conclusiyely presumed to have lost
their residence, and their names shall be
marked off without any application, com
plaint or other forlnality. The voter may
return or9 day too late and continue to
live in his precinct ever afterward, but
that will avail him nothing at the next
election.
1t is plain that the partisan enumerator
could easily find all Democrats at home on
MAY 1 actually residing there, while Re-
publican might not have taken up his
actual residence, domicile, place OF habita
ton or abode unless he was sitting on bis
front door step.
The effect of this plan will operate
harshly against the Republican party Oh
the Eastern Shore and in Southern ano
Western Maryland. The proximity o.
those sections to other States will make Il
difficult for tie Republicans TO get all thell
voters who may be engaged 10 the Distrlc
of Columbia, in Pennsylvania and in Del
aware to return and take up their habita
ton on May in this State. All the cen
sus machinery being IN the hands Of Dem
ocrats, they will be able to secure larg'
amount of information that will not be &C
cessible to Republicans.
Senator McComas has instructed hi
lieutenants throughout the State to be ol
Their guard. Every man now without tn
State who can be reached will be brough
to bis home, SO as 10 be on hand when th
enumerator calls. Republican leader
agree that unless this is done there will b
wholesale Acknowledgement of Reput
licaus.