Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-01-25
ExrRa SESSION.


The qles;ion Of an extra session Of the
Legislature IS now he main question
before the people Of this STAG. 1t is
move Of Democratic politicians. and i |
one is called. the Democratic party |
alone. viii be responsible for the IN
necessary expense thereby incurred,
which viii mean an increase Of taxation
and Whatever legislation is enacted. O.
course the resi- motive is to disfrsnehist
the colored voter. but other contentious
are now beng made TO hide the re-
purpose It is eontendsd that Baltimof'
City is in need Of some legislation. and
that the accuracy Of the recent Fedora
census should be tested The first con
sention is abao ately aud unquali6edly
absurd. for but few months intervene
hsfors The assembling of new Legislature
and the Affairs Of Baltimore City, xili
not suffer before that time arrives. Tbs
re-conven,ng Of the legislature Of 900
will be 10 fact the saddling upon the
taxpayers burden without due return.
The necessity Of STATE census is like
wise untenabIe. 1t will be attended With
heavy expense. and productive Of no
practical good. There may be some in
aecurseies in the ccunt Of the population
Of the State; this will be If similar
work is done BY the State; it is impos-
sble to avoid some mistakes. bat to
Whist good purpose will State census
tend The Democrats hope that it will
reduce representation in the next Legis-
lsture, and as the Counties that have
increased in population are Republican
the representation of the latter will be
cut down. and the Democratic party
propor6onally benefited The argument
is al bosb and this the Democratic party
leaders know. II any errors were made
in the count, they were Of trihing
character and did not affect the result.
The real purpose Of calling the extrs
session. fit is done, but westill believe
il will not be done, because Governor
Smith has too much hard sense to lei
Vic Baughman, who is red hot aspir-
ant for bis gubsrnatorial shoes and the
party leadership 10 the State, to cut bis
own throat. is. to disfranshise the solored
voter. 50 lei the fact stand boldly out
before the pablo gaze, and in proof Of
lhs some. We have the best Democratic
authosiy.
The Baltimore News, one of
Tie leading Democrats papers Of the
State, bu. Journal honest in purpose
fair in dealing viii publ, matters, and
not in line With the bee hive Of Demo-
cratic political lrickisterz that the how
lers for au extra session represent.
In its issue of January 22nd it says
Toe promoters Of the extra-ssssion pro
jet are now seeking to divert attention
from the object for which the agitation
# that project was started. They are
endeavoring to create the impression
that here is urgent need for an extra
session 70 correct alleged errors in the
United States sensus; plea which will
hardly sand examination. But there
is every reason to believe that the origin
al motive is still the real motive of the
Democratic politicians who are promot-
Ing the exsra-ssssion idea, and that. if
the Legislature should be called together
BY Governor Smith, determined at
tempt would b. made to secure the dis
reinstatement Of a large part Of the
negro population.
So far as we are concerned we have
little care, outslde of the principle of be-
in opposed to DISTINGUISHING any citizen,
white or solored, who is entitled to vote
under the constitution Of the United
States. for the tendency of popular senti-
ment in this State nov is toward the
Republican party principles. DisfrAn-
.aH~
chise the illitseraie voters and the Repub-
iicsn PARTY viii suffer bus the l5ss Of some
calcred votes, but the Democratic party
will not only suffer tue loss Of many
white votes, bat the infasnee Of white
voters disfrancbissd, which will be
powerful, will be exertad against the
party that disfranchised them unquss-
li0nAbIy defs.ting il at The polls. il not
destroying it a. s political factor al
together.
So far IS this County is concerned, it
isirreirisvably republican. The repub-
iesn majority may be cut down, bat the
result will be the same. A majority Of
the white voters believe in republissn
principles, and the Republican party ha.
the best Of the leadership. The Demo-
cratic party in its short-sighsedness has
killed of its old leaders, and the
yOunges and promising party men are
handicapped By an element Of jack
sniPes too narrow minded to take in and
realize q good position when they see il.
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WiIiiln J Bry,s's gre.t-grana-