New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-14
TR[CK ELECTION METHODS

The contest which Representative William
II. Jackson has decided to make in the Ist
Congress District Of Maryland will. we hope
result in thorough ventilation of the trick
election laws passed in that State with the
avowed purpose Of DISTINGUISHING Republican
voters Mi. Jackson was elected as q Repub-
llcan two years ago by vote CT 1865 10 49,
fi9 fer his Democratic opponent. This year,
through the operations Of a trick ballot sys-
TEN. he has been defeated on the face of the
returns by plurality of from 200 to 300 He
intends 70 appeal his case to the new House
Of Representatives. giving that body an oppor-
tunity to examine and pass judgment on the
peculiar methods resOrted TO in the last Mary
land Legislature TO penallze the Ist and With
Congress districts for their persistency in re-
turning Republican majorities,
The Democratic managers. bent on disfran-
chiSing the negro voter not as an iliterate,
but a negro, rushed through the legislat-
IRE last winter despite the Governors protest,
a constitutional amendment basing eligibil-
ity 10 vote on race and color, besides enacting
understanding clause similar 10 that in
vogue in Mississippi. Under the provisions of
the amendment control Of elections will pass
entirely into the hands of irresponsible parti-
boards appointed by the State administra-
ton. But this amendment was not TO be sub
mitted TO popular vote until November, 1905.
Meanwhile, TO prevent the return of Republican
Congressman this year from the Ist and With
districts, the legislature passed certain special
election laws applying only to Eastern Shore
and Southern Maryland counties. The party
designation was taken off the ballot to be used
in these counties, and local boards Of election
commissioners were authorized to arrange the
ballot in any way they might see fit TO con-
fuse and handicap the intending voter.
So outrageous were these determinations that
the Attorney General Of the State protested
against them. But his protest was ignored. and
in the two Congress districts named Demo
cratic boards carried ont the legislatures
sbamelessly inequitable and partisan purpose
In the Yth District independent candidate
Of the same name was induced to run against
Sydney K. Mudd, and a candidate named Mudd
was put upon the Democratic electoral ticKet
The three names were then shuffied about pro-
miscuOusy on the official ballot. Trickery like
this could not defeat Representative Mudd,
whose popularity in bis district is unassailable
But in Mr.. JacksOns district it seems to have
accomplished its end. The House of Repre-
sentatives will now have TO say whether or
not such fragrant assaults on the ballot are
10 he tolerated in federal elections. We hope
they will be promptly rebuked and repudiated.
Realizing thNr outrageous character, the
Maryland legislature RETAINED from applying
them to other parts Of the State But on what
theory of fairness or legality can a trick ballot
be authorized and used in district to de-
feat a Republican. and withheld in another
where ii may endanger the success of Demo
Graf? If the Maryland managers had been hon
est in their purpose TO punish illiteracy and i'm
prove the suffrage, they would have passed
general law and enforced 1t in every Congress
district. But their aim neither legitimate
nor honest their single purpose being to pro-
scribe section of the State which, formerly
Democratic, has in recent years become more
and more surely Republican. No meaner or
more despicable trick could have been played
by the Maryland legislature than this raid
on the ballots in these two offending Congress
districts. We trust that Republican Congress
will make short work OF the Democratic victory
won by this sort of SNEAK thief politics.