Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30
Senator McComas on the MARYLAND
Legislatures Action.
OVER 10000 VOTERS DISFRANCHISED
Effect on the Illiterate Democrats
in the State.
ACT ACTUNCONSTITUTIONAL

The Maryland legislature having ad-
journed after enacting the disfranchising
election law, the party leaders of the state
are now preparing to adjust the coming
campaigns to the new order of things The
views, hopes and intentions of the repub-
Icans are outlined by Senator McComas
OF Maryland in the following interview
with Star reporter today.
For a generation prior to 1895 Maryland
had one Of the worst election laws of
any state in the Unioa," said Senator Nc
Comas. Our elections were unfair, the
count false, force and fraud recurred BY
the reform movement in 1895 we elected
Governor Lowndes and a republican Iegis-
lature. The Reform League a body of
very able and patriotic citizens presented
and republican legislature passed a new
election law. Under It victories have been
won four times by the republicans and
once by the democrats. Election day was as
quiet as Sunday, nowhere was force or
fraud, never a suspicion of false count
We had the best election law In the United
States and the fairest
I'm the fall of 1899 we elected demo-
cratic governor and legislature. Last fall
the people reversed their verdict, gave
$4,000 majority to Mckinley and Roosevelt
and elected a solid republican delegation
to the House of Representatives.
object of Democratic Managers.
''The democratic governor yielded to the
scheme OF his managers and reluctantly re-
assembled the repudiating Legislature in ex-
traordinary session. a handful of demo-
cratic managers stood guard over each
house of the assembly until the laws were
passed which the managers dictated. The
primary purpose of the extraordinary ses-
sion was the passage Of a new election
law.
1.-The object OF the managers who domi-
mated the governor and the legislature was
to destroy the fairness of this election law
and to disfranchise iiliterate voters. These
men were afraid to submit constitu-
ticnal amendment to the people. They
sought to disfranchise 1900 voters, who
by the constitution are entitled to register
and vote. by a mere act of assembly. These
men will remain registered qualified voters
under the constitution, but the new law
has contrived to render it impossible for
citizens who cannot read to vote.
A Dishonest Election LAW.
"Our honest election law made easy the
exercise of the right to vote to each citizen
who had the right. This new and dishon-
est election law makes it difficult for many
citizens to vote. Harsh restriction will
make every citizen uncertain about the
count of his bf lot Fortunately the con-
stitution restrained this servile legislature
TO a degree. Public sentiment deferred sew
eral senators from voting for all the regu-
lations the managers pressed upon them.
This is the result: A bad mangling Of
the best election law Of any state in the
Union; an increasing indignation and alarm
among citizens of all parties.
Three of the four great newspapers in
Baltimore fought the enactment of this
law. insisting 1t was a scheme to return
Mr.. German to the Senate and intrench
Rasin, the city boss in Baltimore. The
fourth newspaper has not yet strongly
commended this election scheme.
Snu5s0oI xha na.,hIf.a.
THE legislature has adjourned. Already
the outrageous legislation has solidified the
republican party. The colored voters are
beginning to crowd the churches and night
schools. There were $4,000 white and about
$4,000 black illiterates. Two-thirds Of the
white illiterates were democrats. It is
claimed that the white illiterates. angered
and sullen when classed with negroes and
convicts, will be slow to learn to read
ballot.
'.It is believed that three-fourths of the
black voters will qualify themselves 20
vote. A great proportion of the best demo-
Gratis, the members Of the Reform League,
the members Of good government organiza-
tions, the business men, body Of indie
pendent voters; will unite with the repub-
licans to defeat the scheme Of the demo-
cratic managers at the polls.
IT am surprised at the general confidence
within the state that our opponents can
and will be beaten at the polls.
Law UNCONVENTIONAL.
1.-The law itself Is unconstitutional. and
may be so declared. In 1895 the campaign
was waged to overthrow the Gorman-Ra-
sin ring and to secure a fair election law.
In 1901 we have the same cry, the same
issue We will fight to secure the same
result. The resentment Of the working
men. the poor man suddenly disfranchised,
the feeling in the families of the people
who for generations have voted the demo-
cratic ticket, is bitter.
For every republican white illiterate
robbed Of his franchise We will gain two
democrats who would rebuke their old
party. In my state the so-called democrats
are foes of democracy. We have COM
menced our campaign. We will not rest
until we restore our fair election law to the
statute book"