The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-01-15
MnNN,S puAcES

MOONS PHASES.
9aEG1d5n l 8 a. o & GMNssoMn II i .H
o TaiFs 9 p e1o 4qs5aalPssssr Is p sa'
PERKAPSIT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS
Elsewhere in our columns we have
outlined a Constitutional Amend
ment which MIR. Poe proposes to sub
NIT to Constitutional Convention
to becalled the second Wednesday of
next May. He suggests that delegates
be elected the second Wednesday i'll
March to this convention. This
plan is said to have the endorsement
of Senator German, and lift is adopt
ed by the leaders will probably re-
ceive the sanction of the members of
both branches Of the legislature.
The party members of the legisla-
ture held caucus on Monday night
and adopted a resolution, which on
the face indicated that the majority
would oppose Constitutional Con-
vention. A loophole was however
left in case public sentiment should
favor such call. AS the matter now
stands, the caucus will probably either
favor the BRYAN amendment, which
we have heretofore published, or the
Poe amendment, which is given else
where in this issue. There is little
difference between them, as both re-
quire the educational qualification,
except where the Grandfather clause
removes the disability. There is no
question but what many prominent
democrats will urge speedy action on
the question of disfranchisement and
the Constitutional Convention is I'M
doubtedly the quickest way.
The democratic party, in taking
this step, should be commended, pro-
vided the preliminaries, looking up to
the same, are carried out in accord.
ance with the wishes of the people
1t should be remembered that the
delegates who will be chosen to this
Constitutional Convention are elect
ed directly by the suffrages the peo-
pie, and that the republicans will bend
every energy to get as many members
aspossible. Ifthey should befortunate
enough to succeed in having a ma
jority, the State will be gone forever
so far as the democrats are concerned,
as they would probably legislate out
of Office every official, and the whole
government would be thrown into
republican hands. There is no danger
of this however, if the democratic
members of the legislature do their
duty and act in accordance with the
wishes of the people who sent them
to Annapolis. There can be no ques-
ton as to the proper course, for in
almost every case the intelligent
citizenship ofthe State has by petition
expressed it's wishes and desires on
almost every public question.
Especially will the party be held in
strict accountability when it comes
to the choice of a United States
Senator. The people have asked that
Isidor Rayner be the man. 1t now
lays with the party to see whether
or not these wishes will be carried
out. Never before has any legisla.
ture received such certain notice of
the trend of public sentiment, and
vote for anyone else under any pre-
text whatever may be regarded as
a distinct showing that the will of
the masses does not affect the in
dividual in casting his vote.
Should Mr.. Rayner be defeated the
party had better be exceedingly care
full in taking chances on the election
of members to the Constitutional
Convention. Of course, we do not
wish to be understood as saying that
the whole future Of the democratic
party rests in this single act, for we
do not believe that any man is great
er than his party, but an unusual
condition of affairs now confronts us
and it must be handled in a manner
that will leave no question as to the
sincerity of the leaders toward the
masses. The State OF Maryland is
rapidly making history, and the eyes
of the union are now upon us in
handling the several important
matters that must soon be passed
upon by our legislature. twill be
great misfortune if the democrats
were unable to carry out the practi-
cal plan Of disfranchisement of the
negro simply because of the fact that
they would be afraid to again go be-
fore the people for an endorsement of
their legislative actions Let the
members respect the peoples wishes,
and in return they may expect an en-
dorsement at the polls, which will
answer as a reward for duty we'll
done.
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION.
Former Attorney General John P.
Poe has submitted to the democratic
committee, who have in charge the
proposed Constitutional Amendment
by which it isexpected to disfranchise