The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-05-01

or of real estate assessed at not less
than $500. y poll tax is also im-
posed. While many illiterates I'M
doubtedly registered under the
grandfather clause" prior to Deem
Der Goth, last, after that date all
citizens were to be upon the same
basis and illiteratc whites as well as
illiterate blacks are now DISTINGUISHED
unless they are property owners and
an illiterate negro property owner
has the same right to vote as the
illitcrate white property owner. 1t
will thus be seen that the Constitu-
ton of Alabama would not any more
come in contact with the violation
of the Constitution of the United
States than the educational clause
which is in the ballot law of several
OF the Northern States
1t is to be sincerely hoped that
when the full written opinion is made
public that it will pass upon the es-
sential facts of the case so that the
question can be definitely settled once
and for all 1t will only be a ques-
ton Of time before the condition of
affairs will have to be met by Our high
est tribunal and the sooner that it is
done the better it will be for all con-
cerned.
THE CRAWFORD COUNTY SYSTEM.
The success attending the recent
Democratic primary meetings in
Baltimore city has to a considerable
degree started the discussion of that
system throughout Baltimore coun-
ty. Whilst there is no well-defined
demand that the Democrats of the
county would do we'll to make their
nominations by the same mode, using
the city law as a basis, there is con-
siderable discussion going OH in Il
quiet way. 1t is alleged that by this
system the voter would be relieved
of combinations in Districts where he
might wish to vote for the nomina-
ton of one person for a certain office
and be opposed to another for Il DIFF
fercnt office who might be i'll such COM
bination. BY the Crawford County
System the voter would be enabled
to express his preference, and thus
show the Democracy of the whole
county whether a certain candidate
for a certain office was the best
qualified, most popular and availa-
BILE candidate. The result of the
canvas, it is true, might be disastrous
to the ambition of a candidate who
might beimpressed with the idea that
he was competent for theposition he
might seek, but the voter might think
otherwise. The system would eflec-
tually dispose ofwhat is termed cut
and dried, chamber" nominal
tions, of which there is often much
complaint. There is no doubt, i'll
view Of the success which has attend
cd the efforts Of tile city Democrats,
that it will have a powerful effect
upon the Democracy of Baltimore
county, that it be used in the future
to make their nominations. Ofcourse
it would have to be understood that
any person entering a primary cam
vas would be in honor bound to sup
port the candidates selected by the
majority Of the voters.
There appears to be no i'll effects
from the decision Of the Democratic
voters i'll the city, the Democracy
being firmly united in support of the
candidates selected at the primary
polls. OF course there would always
be chagrin after defeat, but every
candidate would be obliged to take
such event into consideration.
The Democrats of Hartford county
have used the Crawford County
System for several years, and it
seems to produce no i'll effects there,
the Democracy electing very capable
men by their usual solid Democratic
majority.
Of course if the Democrats of Balti-
more county want the Crawford
County System they will have to
speak out to the authorities of the
party.
One candidate has expressed to the
editor of the Journal his entire
Willingness to submit his claims for
the office he seeks to the voters i'll
primary canvas, abide their decision
and support whoever might be
selected. That is the proper spirit.
-Towson Journal.
Elsewhere we publish in our
columns, a synopsis of the memorial
of the School Commissioners to the
County Commissioners which gives a
resume Of the Boards
affairs. One section to which we de-
sire to call particular attention,
is the reference to the consolidation
schools into one large one
located. This is now one