Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-08-03

OF our late state census.
"Whatever doubts may once have ex-
listed upon this subject have been
thoroughly dispelled, and the result
| attained, viz, an absolutely fair and
| proper representation of the counties in
the House of Delegates is well worth
the money which il cost.
| ''In taking the important step of call
| ing the extra session the Governor was
simply exercising the express power
conferred and performing the special
| duty imposed upon him by the Consti-
tuition. Had he omitted the perform
ance of his duty the results of the
| iagrant frauds in the Federal census
which judicial investigation has so fully
exposed would have been fastened
upon us for 10 years without possibility
of redress.
Indeed, the alternative presented to
the Governor of accepting as true
false and fraudulent enumeration of our
population, deliberately made to serve
dishonest political purposes, or of put
ting the State TO the expense of an extra
session of the Legislature to Illustrate so
disrepuiable conspiracy, was one as TO
which there was no room for serious
hesitation, and we confidently appeal to
the people to indorse his action in this
important matter and TO approve by
their votes the prompt response of the
Legislature to his call.
Election And Registration Law.
"The experience of 10 years having
demonstrated that changes in our Aus
tralian ballot system were necessary to
put an end to the intimidation, bribery
and fraud for which, as enacted in
Maryland, it has been found to afford
such ample facilities, and, the demands
for these reforms being great and urgent,
the Governor felt it TO be his imperative
duty TO give to the people an opportun-
lty for relief, and, although the calling
of an extra session necessarily involved
considerable expenditure of money,
yet the cost was not to be weighed
against the benefits of free, honest and
enlightened suffrage.
1--WE stand by the emphatic utterance
of the State Central Committee on this
subject at its meeting in Annapolis on
the 10th day of March last and approve
of the amendments to our Election law
made at the extra session, believing that
they are free from valid constitutional
objections, in all respects impartial,
fair and just; that they will do much to
purify and elevate the suffrage and
make the voters cast what for many
y
preston of the will of each and every
voter
'We believe that our elections should
be controlled by the votes of our own
people exclusively and that persons who
permanently reside outside the limits eff
the State should not be permitted to
register and vote. We therefore declare
our hearty approval of the amendment
passed at the special session covering
this important subject.
Indeed the startling revelation
made by our recent State census that
our registration books contain many
thousands of names of voters who could
not be found is of itself complete vim
dication of the necessity of this amend
ment and an effectual answer to those
who are now asking for its repeal.
Primary Elections.
owe favor the passage of a general
law relating to primary elections and APP
plicable to the whole State, so drawn as
to reform abuses wherever complained
of and to secure to all political parties
the selection of candidates chosen by
methods beyond objection or reproach.
''We pledge our party to the continu-
ance of an economical administration of
our State finances and to such legislation
as will keep down to the lowest proper
limit the burdens of taxation.
white Men To Control.
''The Democratic party represents
more than 40, 900 majority of the white
people of Maryland. They in common
with their brethren of other States into
which large masses of .colored voters
have been injected into the body polite
recognize that the peace, good order,
personal safety and proper development
of our material interests depend upon
the control of the Commonwealth by its
intelligent white residents. Without
the aid of the $4,000 colored voters the
Republican party in Maryland would be
a hopeless minority.
eve therefore without hesitation pro-
claim that the success of the Democratic
party will mean that while we shall
deal with perfect fairness in securing all
the benefits of good government and
full and free opportunities for education
to all classes, such action must be taken
as to prevent the control of the State
government from passing in to the hands
of those who have neither the ability
nor the interest to manage public affairs
wisely and well.
''To secure this most desirable result
we earnestly call on all Democrats to
lay aside all their differences and to
unite in an enthusiastic and patriotic
effort to maintain our Democratic
g, Ma-.,lo,I