The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-04-08
MOONS PHASES.
The GOVERNOR AND THE SENATE.

OMGSSo@n 10 p I'M N. CMOOn % Pr Pm
The GOVERNOR AND THE SENATE.
The Governor recently sent to the
State Senate message of disapprov-
al respecting the proposed franchise
amendment that will be submitted
to the voters at the election of 1905.
The Governor i'll his message states
that i'll obedience to his deep-seated
convictions the proposed amend
ment has not his approval. "To thus
refuse my sanction to n measure
which has received the vote OF every
Democratic member of the Senate
and House of Delegates has caused
me deep concern. With every dispo-
sition to defer to the Judgment of the
Democratic members Of the Legisla-
ture on subject where am fully
persuaded their action is the result
of sincere desire upon their part to
discharge their obligation to the peo-
pie and to redeem the pledges of their
party, | find after careful considera-
ton that cannot agree with their
conclusion" The Governor then re-
counts the plank in the Democratic
platform and also his reference to the
same in his inaugural address. He
disc!aims amy change of heart since
that time, and on the contrary has
become more earnestly in favor of an
amendment which will accomplish
the results so generally desired, but
he considers the educational re-
quirement in the proposed
amendment as being not con-
sentative nor definite, but is
vague and uncertain and is liable
to cause grave abuses through the
prejudices, the whirns and the parti-
san zeal of the registration officers.
Any educational requirement or quail
ifcation adopted should be defined in
precise terms in the amendment, and
thus be placed beyond the power of
any election officer to do injustice by
partisan or unfair action" He urges
that instead of the educational test
property qualification be adopted.
With all due respect to our Govern
or and recognizing the high position
that he occupies, we beg leave to diff
fer with him as to the reasons he
gives for his disapproval OF the pro-
posed amendment or sending a mes
sage to the Senate. 1t can be readily
seen that had this been an ordinary
bill to which he wished to attach his
veto such action would have been in
keeping. However, as the constitu-
ton is construed by eminent law
yers, it does not require the sanction
Of the chief official of the State in or
der that the people may vote upon
it. We, along with many other Demo-
Gratis OF the State, fail to see the ne
ceSsity of any such message. We can
not believe that the Governor has de-
parted from the cardinal principles of
Democracy, which we feel sure should
be safe in his keeping, and, this being
the case, the reason for sending the
same at this inopportune time is in
deed puzzling.
The Democratic party will defend
this measure at the polls in 1905, and |
the cooperation of every loyal party |
man is invited. The present situa-
ton is unfortunate and places the
party in rather the unpleasant posi-
ton Of being arrayed against one of
its chief officials. Democrats should |
remember, however, that the conclu-
sion of Governor Warfeld is in his
individual capacity and entitled only
to the regard that respect for his pri-
vate opinions is due. At the polls in
1908 he will have his say just the
same as anyone else, and he can then
by his ballot, the same as any other
citizen, officially record his Judgment
as to the wisdom of the passage of a
law that has been sustained by the
Supreme Court OF the United States,
and in actual practice has been found |
to more nearly accomplish the pur-
pose Of DISTINGUISHING the negro than
any of its nature that has yet been
drawn. 1t may be drastic, but the
time to discuss such sentiment is now
past. Those who were not in favor
Of DISTINGUISHING the negro or wished
toplace qualifications upon the same
should not last fall have cast their
ballot for the Democratic ticket.
They should have voted the one
headed by Mr.. S. A. Williams. a most
worthy gentleman, who opposes the
disfranchisement of the negro as a
matter Of principle. Had he been
elected he would doubtless have TAX
Ell the same stand as has our present
Chief Executive.