The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-04-08
ELECTION STATUTE VALID.


States recently handed down an
opinion unfolding the validity of a
Maryland statute requiring person
going into a State, with the inten-
ton of residing there, to register
with the Clerk of the Circuit Court
of the county in which he intends to
take up residence, and thereby indi-
cate his intention to become citi.
zen before he can register. The Court,
Justice Peckham, said the privilege
to vote in any state is not given by
the Federal Constitution or any of
its amendments, and it was not a
privilege springing from citizenship.
1t may not be refused on account of
race, color or previous condition of
servitude, but does not follow from
mere citizenship of the United States.
In other words, the privilege to vote
in a state is within the jurisdiction of
the state itself, to be exercised as the
state may direct, and upon such
terms as it may deem proper, pro-
vided no discrimination is made be-
tween individuals, in violation of the
Constitution. The State may hold
that persons of foreign birth might
not vote until they had become natu-
rallied citizens. Some states permit
women to vote, while others have
refused them that privilege. The
State might, by its own constitu-
ton, provide that none but native
born citizens could vote, as the Con.
stitution of the United States does
not confer the right of suffrage upon
anyone. The Court holds that the
reasons which may have impelled the
State Legislature to enact the stat
ute were merely for the Legislatures
consideration and did not concern
the Court. 1t further holds that the
right of states to legislate upon the
subject of the elective franchise is un-
assailable and subject only to the
conditions stated.
This decision, in view of the next
serious step that the people of this
State have under consideration, is
most important one. The strongpo-
sition taken by the Court that each
state has a right to regulate its own
elective franchise, so long as there is
no distinction between classes, makes
it more important for the Democrats
to get together and without dissent
ing voice endorse and work for the
proposed franchise amendment to be
voted upon in 1905.
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1904.
The session of the Legislature,
which has just closed, was largely
Democratic in both branches, and
the responsibility for its. action rests
on the predominant party, so far as
political measures are concerned.
While it is yet little early to intelli-
gently comprehend the scope of the
legislation that has been passed, it
seems that the leaders have redeemed
every pledge made during the cam
paign. The emasculation of the Ha-
man Oyster bill, measure so ear
nestly desired by all Of the inland
counties, is as much chargable to the
Republicans as the Democrats Poll
tics cut no figure, and both parties
were more or less pledged to the law.
1t is, however, purely economic
question and can not be fought out
as party issue. The reason for this
is obvious, because no candidate can
successfully run the gauntlet of pub
lie opinion in any tidewater county
unless he will pledge himself to op-
pose this or any similar measure.
The increase in the State tax is
largely traceable to the Educational
Bill which is responsible for AZ cents
of the rate. The balance is made up
to provide for interest on loans for
the purpose of finishing public build
ings. AS usual, the legislature was
quite liberal in its appropriation to
public institutions of almost every
sort. 1t may be said to the credit of
Senator Thomas H. Robinson, chair
man of the finance committee, that
to these and similar appropriations
he offered an intelligent opposition
unless the needs were apparent. By |
his efforts the State OF Maryland was |
saved anywhere from $15O,0O0 to
100000.
In conclusion we may with safety
say that the session has been an
entirely successful one to which the
State can point with pride. The
democratic platform promises were
regarded in a more earnest manner
than has frequently been the case in
in the past. No party can expect to
successful that does not redeem its
promises with the people. With this
clean record, the leaders can again
go before the people seeking their en-
dorsement as a recognition of appre-
citation for the winters work.
Trustees Sale.
BY virtue of a decree OF the Circuit Court
for Hartford county in Chancery. passed in a
cause therein pending of Timothy A. Gala !