The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-12-19
ELECTION LAW CHANGE
Republicans Propose to Have
Ballots Properly Pro-
tected Hereafter.
TO HAVE FAIR PRIMARY ELECTION LAW
Senator Putzell Will Introduce Number
OF Bills, Including One Looking to Fair
Primaries-Progrsm Mapped Out Re-
Garding Contests

While the Democratic leaders are
| bluffing and criticising one another
the Republicans are moving along
without interference,
They will adhere to the program
they have mapped out, regardless of
the opponents. The committee on
contests having determined to bring
the election frauds to the attention
of the judiciary, the counsel engaged
to prepare the cases will proceed
without unnecessary delay.
Little difficulty is apprehended in
the courts, where plenty of opportu-
nifty will be had to submit evidence,
but in the Legislature no considera-
ton is expected unless there should
be enough independent voters on the
Democratic side to guarantee fair
play.
1t was ascertained during last week
that some of the ballot boxes in Bal
timore had been retained in the Office
of supervisors of elections, and not
| delivered, as the law directs, to the
police. While the number withheld
was small, the Republican leaders
claim there were enough to have been
tempered with SO as to have materi-
| ally change the results. The expla-
nation given is that these were the
ballots in dispute, and that they
were handed over to the police as
soon as practicable.
Another query put and as yet I'M
answered is, what became of the re-
jected ballots? They were surely not
placed in the boxes which were seal
| ed, and if left without and at the
mercy of irresponsible employees, how
easy it would be to manipulate them.
The law does not provide adequate
protection, and this defect Senator
Putzel intends to remedy. He says
| he will offer an amendment to the
law, which, if enforced, will protect
the minority. The provision con-
templated authorizes the minority
member of the Board of Supervisors
! to place a guard over the boxes until
/ they shall have been delivered TO the
| proper custodians.
Where the majority is oyerwhelm-
/ ing there is, of course, no danger
said the Senator; but in case the
minority wins only by scant major
ity the temptation to tamper with
the ballots may be too strong to be
resisted, and there is no telling what
might happen. | think ample safe
guards should be thrown about the
ballots, even though some additional
expense is entailed.'
Mr.. Putzel contemplates the intro
duction of the measures, one of the
most important being an amendment
of the general Incorporation law
The Legislature should not be called
upon to pass upon every request to
establish some trust company. A
number Of such bills are introduced
by persons not at all interested in
such a venture, but for the purpose
of selling the grant to anyone choos-
ing to buy it. The more sweeping
the powers granted the more valua-
BILE the charter. Lobbyists and 9TH
ers trading in legislation continually
flood the General Assembly with
measures of this character and keep
members busy watching for the snaky
provisions. 1t is not right. The
Legislature should pass general in
corporation act stating the conditions
under which trust companies and
others can do business, and SO place
all on the same footing
! Another bill Mr.. Putzel will intro
duce is that providing for fair prima-
ry elections. 1t will contain all of
the basic features Incorporated in the
measure prepared by the Crescent
Club, although not the bill of that
organization. AT the special session
of the General Assembly the Repub-
licans opposed the primary election
bill introduced by Mr.. Bryan, for the
reason that it conformed to the new
election law which disfranchised illit-
crate voters. Now that this law has
come to stay, it is the intention of
the minority to withdraw opposition
| for this reason and advocate the pas
| sage of measure which will be in
line with the general law.
II the Democrats intend to carry
out the pledges set forth in the State
Platform with reference to fair pri.
maries, they will have abundant OPP
portunity to make good their prom
ises. The Republicans to a man will
vote for just such bill. Indeed they
will support every measure which
would improve the condition. If
any bills of this character are beaten
it will be with Democratic votes.
1t has been definitely decided to give
Mr.. Walbach, of Charles, the compli-
mentary nomination of speaker of
the House. 1t is probable that Mr..
Putzel will be similarly honored in