The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-10-03
THE VITAL ISSUE.

The paramount issue with our people is
whether they shall have fair elections. For
many years previous to 1895 the Democratic
party had been practically supreme in our
State. Elections, especially in the city of
Baltimore, were largely fraudulent, the will OF
the voters was suppressed, the wishes of the
active managers of the party were carried out
with no regard to the voice of the people.
This is not campaign assertion. 1t is history
history confirmed by competent witnesses,
open and known of all men. Nominations
for Office were made by pecuniary returns, the
seating, if not the election, of the candidates,
being as it were. guaranteed. At Annapolis
legislation was for sale-and was sold, more or
less openly. Crime was protected, violations
of law condoned-for a consideration. The
very honor of the State was tainted.
In 1895 this was changed. The Republican
party, aided by thousands of independent
Democrats, overturned the old order of things
and put in control a new Governor and
Legislature, resulting in one of the most
successful, efficient and wise administrations
under Governor Lowndes which Maryland has
ever had.
An election law, fair and just was enacted.
A new assessment law passed. The free book
law put into operation. The character of the
appointments to public place was raised, and
every official was required to do his duty.
Efficiency and economy were the keynotes of
the public service.
Beguiled by false promises the people
recommitted the State government in 1899 to
the Democrats The story of the extra session
of 1901 is too recent to need retelling. By the
election law then enacted thousands of voters
lost their rights. This was, indeed, its object,
the chief beneficiary of this shameless scheme
being Mr.. German, the head OF the ring, who
was chosen Senator by the Legislature elected
under this law.
Both parties now approve the amendment
of this law and the question is to which one
this duty shall be committed. The obvious
purpose of the Democrats is to diminish the
negro vote, aiming to secure such preponderence
in the State thereby that when new consti-
tuition is framed that race shall be suppressed
entirely after the fashion of some of the
Southern States.
Accomplishing its reduction or humiliation
will make the independent vote powerless.
To cut off the negro vote from the Republican
strength means the restoration of the entire
political control of the State to the ring
which brought discredit and dishonor on the
Commonwealth, and is still in full power.
Are our people prepared to do this?
IT MAY not be out of place to again call at
tention to the fact-as showing the desire of the
Republicans of the Third Judicial District to
keep the judiciary out of politics-that they
have not nominated candidate for Associate
Judge against Mr.. George L. Van Bibber, the
Democratic nominee. Among the Republican
lawyers of the circuit there are a number who
are in every way the peer of Mr.. Van Bibber,
but in order that there should be no hot politi-
cal contest over this office it properly seems
to have been thought best to leave clean field
for Mr.. Van Bibber and it is likely that his is
the only name that will appear on the official
ballot for this place. The Democrats give no
credit to the Republicans for the position they
occupy in this matter, yet the party is entitled
to commentator and we do not propose
that it shall pass unnoticed. If the judiciary
can be kept clean and free from bias and par
tisanship, then the rights of the people will be
safe. The Republican voters of Baltimore
county, who will find the name of Mr.. Van
Bibber on the official ballot, will make no
mistake in putting a cross mark opposite
it, notwithstanding the fact that he is a
Democrat and nominated by Democratic
convention.