New-York tribune., 1901-03-31
MARHAND'.S ELECTION LAW.
SENATOR MCOMAS DENOUNCES THE
DEMOCRATIC DISFRANCHISE-
MENT SCHEME.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUSE.I


Washington, March Ex-senator Louis z. Nc
Comas of Maryland, who is in town for a few
days had this to say this afternoon about the
effect and purpose of the German dsfranchise-
ment scheme just enacted into law by the Demo-
cratic majority in the Maryland Legislature:
For a generation prior TO 1895 Maryland had one
OF the worst election laws in the Union Our cleo
fions We're unfair the count was false force and and
We elected governor Lowndes and Republican
able and patriotic citizens. passed 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 a Sunday; nowhere
was force or fraud; never suspicion Of false
count We had the best election law in the United
elected a Democratic Governor and legislature.
gave 1900 majority to Mckinley and Roosevelt.
House of Representatives. The Democratic Gov
ernor yielded to the scheme of his managers, and
In extraordinary session. a handful of Democratic
managers stood guard over each house of the AS
extraordinary session was the MASSAGE of a new
election law. The object of the managers who
dominated the Governor and the legislature was TO
disfranchise illiterate voters. These men We're
afraid to submit a constitutional amendment to the
people. They sought to disfranchise $1,000 voters,
who by the constitution entitled to register and
remain registered quallhed voters under the con-
sutution, but the new law contrived to render
- Hohest electoh law maze easy the exercise OF
the right to vote TO each citizen who had the right
cult for many citizens to vote. Harsh restriction
will make every citizen uncertain about the count
of his ballot. Fortunately, the constitution
strained this servile Iegisatqre to degree. Pub
for all the regulations the managers pressed upon
them.
This is the result: A bad mangling OF the best
election law of any State in the Union: inCreaS-
Ing Indignation and alarm among citizens of all
parties
Three of the four great newspapers in Baltimore
fought the enactment Of this law. insisting 1t
a scheme to return Mr.. German to the Senate and
intrench Rasn, the city boss in Baltimore The
fourth newspaper has not yet strongly commended
these election schemes.
The legislature has adjourned Already the out
rageOus legislation has solidited the Republican
the churches and night schools. There $4,000
white and about $4,000 black illiterates. Two-thirds
OF the white iliterates were Democrats 1t is
claimed that the white illiterates, angered and sui
len when cassed with negroes and convicts will be
slow to learn to read a ballot. II is believed that
threefourths of the black voters will qualify them
selves to vote A great proportion of the best
Democrats, the members of the Reform League.
the business men, body Of independent voters.
Will unite with the Republicans to defeat the
scheme of the Democratic managers at the polls.
I surprised at the general confidence within
the State that our opponents can and Will be beaten
the polls. The law itself is unconstitutional,
and may be declared. In 1895 the campaign was
waGed 10 overthrow the Corman-Rasin ring and
secure a fair election law. In 1901 we have the
cry, the same issue We will hght 10 secure
the same results. The resentment Of the working
men. the poor man suddenly disfranchised, the
feeling in the families of the people who for gener-
ations have voted the Democratic ticket are htter
For every Republican white tliterate roooed or
his franchise will gain two Democrats VINO
would rebuke their old party. We have begun our
campaign. We will not rest until We restore our
fair election law to the statute books