Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-15
Menace to Maryland Republicans.

10 ne submitted TO the people for 1ndOrSe
ment.
Menace to Maryland Republicans.
Representative George A Pearre of the
sixth Maryland district says that the re-
publican party of the state will be wrecked.
temporarily at least, if the negro vote is
eliminated. In speaking of the subject to
reporter for The Star this afternoon he
said
The injury to be visited upon the party
OF Maryland through the operations of the
democratic plan cannot be overestmated.
have canvassed the situation to a con-
siderable extent. and am led to the conclu-
sion that should the idea prevail llpon sub
mission to the people, the democrats will
be able to dominate in five at the lowest.
of the congressional districts
There are approximately 80 600 negro
votes of total of 1854 C0 in Maryland The
black element. therefore. is of strong pro
portion. To cut out this 5000 will be to
offer a stunning blow to the republican
party in Maryland. for the negro vote is
in practical unanir2ity in support of the
republican tickets in congressional. state
and national elections. On the eastern
shore and in southern Maryland the negro
vote is especially strong. These sections
are now represented in the House by re-
pubHc2ns. In western Maryland and also
in Baltimore city the vote is considerable,
and if would hold our 1eprcse ntation
here from those sections we must defeat
the proposition.
The People to Decide.
THE democrats of the state legislature"
continued Mr. Pearre, "have decided upon
their plan, and if put into operation 1t will
ennihilate the negro ballot. The bill which
has been passed by the Senate and House
at Annapolis, and which will be offered to
the people next year provides in effect that
all eligible voters shall be required to read
and write at dictation clause from the
Constitution and be able to give reason
able understanding thereof. In conjunc-
ton with this, however, is a section COM
monty termed the grandfather clause
which provides that any person whose
father grandfather voted In the year
1869 shall not be required to submit to the
test
Constitutional Principle Involved.
"Of course in this whole affair a great
constitutional principle is involved. The
Constitution provides that person
persons shall be excluded from the priv-
lege of voting by reason of their color or
previous condition of servitude. 1t is a
fact however, that several states have dis
franchised the negroes just as the demo-
Gratis of Maryland purpose to do, but the
constitutional provision appertain;ng to the
subject is circumvented by the plan wher e.
by the words color and negro are omit
ted from the phraseology Of the law en-
acted or constitutional amendment rati-
n6Q. mus the MdIyldHu Dill may NC Gil
acted without much fear, according to
precedent, of any strictly constitutional OBJ
| lection being sustained by the courts, for
| to all intents and purposes the negroes are
| not A particular class sought to be af-
| fected and the amendment ostensbly is
| intended, without discrimination, to apply
| to all persons of the state. The supreme
| Court of the United States has never rem
dercd a decision upon the subject and
while the action, in my judgment, will be
contrary to the spirit of the Constitute on,
everything in the wording of the bill is
eschewed which may be construed into in
tended application to any particular class
or race of people. But. of course, every
one understands that the negro is the man
aimed at and the man who will be struck.
Republicans Unanimously Opposed.
THE republicans of the state are unan-
imously opposed to this proposition and L
think l may say that considerable pro-
portion of the democrats are with US in
the opposition. l know of many eminent
ly respectable democrats who condemn 1t
and will vote against it, The election at
which the people are to decide this ques-
ton will no doubt be preceded by Wig
orous campaign upon 10th sides. The re-
publicans will fight it to the limit of their
staying powers / believe many democrats,
viewing the circumstances from the stand
point of constitutionality and humanity,
will help us. l think we will be able to de-
feat it.
State Election Boards.
"A great deal however will depend upon
the action of the democratic legislature in
enacting laws bearing upon the political
complexion of the election boards of the
state At present, under law enacted by
| republican legislature, the election boards
| are bipartisan. Their membership includes
| an equal number of democrats and repub
| licans. | believe the democrats at Annap-
| oils purpose to enact legislation designed
| to make these boards strongly democratic
| if not entirely so. In that event we may
| look for trouble at the election for the in
| dorsement or rejection of the disfranchise-
| ment scheme.
| And in that connection" concluded Mr.
) Pearre 'it is important to note the great
| discretionary powers granted the men who
| are to examine applicant voters in the mat
| ter of constitutional learning. Armed with
! full and minute knowledge of the organic
! law, the judges may be in position to ask
| questions of and require answers from the
negro voters the profundity of which
( would be too much for even the ordinary
/ lawyer, and which could only be replied to
satisfactorily by the best of constitutional
authorities. AS a matter of fact it is to
| be expected that the most difficult ques-
| tons will be asked. Nothing short of that
| could reasonably be anticipated
? This whole plan in contrary to the prin-
! ciples of the republican party state and
| national. That party believes in manhood
| suffrage; that every person. black or white
| of required age. shall be allowed the right
| and opportunity TO vote / think this cues
| ton confronting the people of Maryland
! is one of the most important which has
| been projected since the close of the civil