The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-04-05
MIR. WILKINSON SPEAKS.

Mr.. Lloyd Wilkinson, the leader of the
Democrats in the House of Delegates dur
ing the extra session of the Legislature, in
an interview has reviewed the work done
at Annapolis and made strong reply to
the protest of the Republican Senators and
Delegates given out at the close of the
session. Mr.. Wilkinson says:
"When the question of calling the Legis-
lature together in extra session was first
mentioned there was general outcry from
the Republican press throughout the State,
and the charge was freely made that it
was nefarious scheme for partisan pur-
poses solely. This was followed up by re-
peated assertions that we would so change
the Ballot law as to permit all kinds of
rascality that was to inure to the benefit
of the Democratic party SO as to assure its
success at the polls for many years to
come. Editorial after editorial has been
published charging the Democratic party
managers with every crime possible to be
committed. Our motives and purposes
have been so misrepresented that it will
not seem out of place if l attempt, as brief
ly as possible, to give an account of just
what has been done.
"The Governors proclamation conven-
ing us in extra session covered three
questions:
First. A reform Of the Ballot law.
Second. A new census.
Third A sewerage system for Balti-
more city
exceedingly important no one will deny,
nor can it be disputed that if remedies are
to be applied, the sooner it is done the
better for our State. [ will endeavor to
treat these questions in the order named
'That the present Ballot law is fatally
defective in some particulars those who
understand its workings will readily ad-
nit. There has never been so much money
spent at elections in the history of the
State as has been spent while this law has
been in force. Instead of preventing
bribery it absolutely furnishes the ma
chinery by which it can be the more sue
cessfully carried on. The ballot clerks
under the present law are. in most cases
nothing less than party representatives to
witness the completion of the bargain
Our Republican friends can we'll afford to
laud it to the skies as a good law, because
it gives them many advantages over theil
opponents. They have within their party
ranks 10000 negro voters. In selecting
their ballot clerks they always get some
man who will intimidate and overawe the
voting booth, knowing what he does is
known to the clerk, he dare not vote other
wise than the straight party ticket.
anyone familiar with the treatment Of
the negroes who have the temerity to vote
other than the Republican ticket can wei
understand why so few of them do it. Fol
them it is not question of a free ballot
Every pressure is brought to bear upor
them on the outside, and it follows then
even in the booth, in the person of thu
ballot clerk
I'm addition to this the corrupt vote
can be handled more effectively under thi
law. With the unlimited supply of money
drawn from the great corporations ant
trusts that is constantly flowing into thu
Republican treasury it can readily be seer
that they have every facility for securing
this class of voters, which added to the
negro cohorts makes a number nearly suf
fcient to control elections in this State
A very few men of the better class of citi
zenship, filled with desire for politica
power and position, joining this mass o
ignorant and corrupt citizens, might readi
ly capture our State and control its gov
eminent. These are the conditions pre-
vailing to- day in this State.
There has been no purpose to legislat
against any class or race of people. TIL
sole purpose has been to give to the peopl
Of the State all absolutely secret ballo
and 10 prevent the use of money at cleo
tions. Cur Republican friends conten
that the change in the Ballot law limit
the franchise and disqualfies persons no,
having the right to vote.
Suppose that in the effort to secure tn
secrecy of the ballot and prevent briber
some ignorant people will not be able t
properly mark the ballots, in what wa
has the State been injured: Does limitin
the ballot to intelligent people of the Stat
endangcr the stability of our government
When parties are compelled to appeal t
the intelligence of the people for supper
it ought to elevate the standard of govern
ment.
but, say our opponents, this is an et
fort to keep in power a corrupt ring. Ism
it rather queer way for a corrupt ring
attempt to retain power? They are ger
orally accused of manipulating the ignc
rant and corrupt voter, and by this mean
retain control. This is the first time
have ever heard that the way for set c
ringstcrs to retain control was to elm
nate those very elements from politics tina
heretofore have generally been considere
as necessary to their existence. Th
charge is SO ludicrous that it falls of it
own weight.
"But they say if you want to limit tn
franchise you should do it by constitu
tional amendment. W lille freely admittin
the State would be better served by an in
telligent constituency, they are opposed t.
its being done in any way than by con
stitutional amendment. These people can
not lie sincere in this position. They kno,
that no constitutional amendment coul
be carried when 10000 negroes, 40, 1000 pull
chasable whites and the respectable ele
ment in the Republican party were oppos
ing it. Again, if it be good thing an
the Constitution does not prohibit our dc
ing it in this way, why complain of tn
manner in which it is done, so that it &C
complishes the result:
THE Republican press Of this and othe
States has so consistently misrepresente
the purpose and possible effect of the neN