Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-10-09
Bryan on the Ballot Law.

In political speech delivered at Elkton,
Md, on Monday evening last, Mr.. W. Shep.
ard Bryan, Democratic nominee for Attor.
ney General, spoke in part as follows:
1.-THE Republicans claim that fair elections
is the issue. No truthful, decent man can
claim, or will claim, that Mr.. Warfeld is
not in favor of fair elections, or that he
would lend himself, directly or indirectly, in
any degree, to any attack on the purity of
the ballot.
"The Republicans denounce the present
election law in general terms, and have
several times asked them to specify the par
tculars in which they claim the law should
be changed, but 80 far as | have been able
to learn no one of them has ever specified
in what given particulars the law should be
amended.
"How different is their course from that
pursued by Mr.. Warfield and my humble
self We have each OF US frankly said that
the law needs amendment In order to avoid
the with respect be it said) very technical
Interpretation the Court of Appeals felt
constrained to place upon certain language
in the law, by reason of which construction
very many ballots have been rejected by the
election officials as imperiectly marked.
We think, and avow, that the law should
be so amended as to enable the intention OF
the voter to govern in counting the ballot
whenever that intention can be gathered
from the face of the ballot and the ballot is
not fraudulently marked for purposes of
Identification. This rule that the intention
of the voter, irrespective of nice technical
rules, should govern, was the rule which
Mr.. Peter J.. Campbell and myself held
should be followed by the election officials
under the original Australian ballot law OF
1890. This can easily be verified by turn
ing to the printed instructions to the judges
prepared by US when counsel to the Board
of Supervisors of Elections in 1890, 1891 and
1892.
=" | say, If there is any other amendment
or change in the law which our Republican
antagonists desire let them have the courage
of their convictions and tell US frankly what
1t is. Let them not be ashamed or afraid TO
tell what they will do to tho election law,
if they can. Applause.
at causes little impotence to hear these
gentlemen express such soicitude about fair
elections. Did any of them feel oppressed
and wronged by the counting in of Mr..
Hayes over Mr.. Tilden in 1875 to such an
extent as TO make them vote with their white
neighbors against the Republican party at
the next Federal electionP
"In 1890 the Infamous force bill was at
tempted TO be foisted on the white people of
the South, and but for the Democratic SEN
ators this attack on the liberties of ourselves
and our white brethren in the South would
have become law. [Great applause.
"Do we not all know that the ablest and
most distinguished Republican in public
life in MARYLAND today (Senator McComas),
the ACKNOWLEDGED leader OF the Republican
party, was in Congress when that wicked
bill went through the House Of Representa-
tives, and that so far from opposing this un.
righteous attack on the liberties of his coun.
try, Mr.. McComas aided and abetted the
perpetrators of the measured For the Re.
publican party TO pirate about fair elections,
is like Satan reproving sin. Applause.
"One of the candidates on the Republican
ticket is quoted in Saturdays paper as hav-
ing said at meeting on Friday in Western
Maryland that prior TO the passage Of the
Reform League law of 1895, Baltimore. on
election day, was scene OF bloodshed. l
would like TO cross examine the gentleman
on this reckless statement. | would like 10
have him declare what boodshed he ever
saw on election day in Baltimore under the
previous election law l would like also TO
ask bin TO point out TO Us what clauses
In the election law of 1896 prevent scenes Of
bloodshed, or in what particulars there IS
any difference now from what there was
prior to 1896 in the laws Of this State pun
ishing disorder or violence on election day
or on any other day in Baltimore city.
Laughter and applause.