New-York tribune., 1905-07-24

Baltimore July q (SpeciaD.-Senator German In
his scheme TO disfranchise completely the negro
voters in Maryland IL Cup against the toughest
problem IN his polites1 career
The opposition 20 the constitutional amendment
In not only the ground Of disfranehising the
blacks. but because II Will enable the Democratic
machine also 20 prevent the whites from voting in
the event OF Democratic control being threatened
This Is the reason why Governor Warfeld. a
Democrat OF the strongest Southern type. would
not sign the bill when passed by the last lefs-
iature. He also refused TO promugate the amend
ment.
For the same reason Attorney General Bryan has
ccme out against It. and viii carry his opposition
To the point OF fighting 1t on the hustngs All the
independent Democrats. the men who threw Cor
down some years ago, are arrayed against
this bold movement OF the machine 10 control aoso-
lutely the suffrage in the State.
The amendment was drafted by John P Poe for
years the legal adviser OF the German organization
and next the Senator himself. the craftiest poll
tician in Maryland That the real motive is not
TO dsfranchise the ignorant negroes is obvious be-
the machine had the power TO do this long
ago.
The facts show that It not until the Repub-
ican party made great progress in Maryland that
a restriction OF the suffrage was considered Nor
is there any need OF the elimination of the colored
for the advanced by the Democratic
leaders, namely negro domination" Twenty years
ago there were proportonately more colored than
white voters In Maryland There then no fear
of negro domination" The Republican party was
weak and the Democratic party correspondingly
strong.
Jacob G. schanfarber, Assistant State statis-
can. shows conclusively that the negro is not the
menace in Maryland as claimed These are his
figures:
WHITES NEGROES.
1899 1899 ss s2s 492 492 1890 1890 81: sSs. g.
' asi5.5 sG5 sf5Gs:
In 1890 q. Oss; in 1900 24.Csl.
90 - -
whole vote of the State. and in 1900 it was 1882.
clearly proving that the colOred population is not
increaa,ag in proportion TO the white population
but declines relatively with each decade. In Baiti-
more the registered vote is about 1u,0GO OF which
only 2OoO0 negroes
IL is a deusion 10 say that negro domination Is
imminent Even if the negro should be deprived OF
his vote will stil be here The personal contact
argument, which appeals TO many whites IN the
present campaign. does not hold good Ihe re-
nloval OF his suffrage will mean the removal Of
that class of negroes whose conduct makes them
Objectionable.
II is not the removal os the negro vote per Sc that
is the motive which inspires the Democratic ma
chine managers in the present campaign. II Is the
control OF suffrage through the registration officers
that inspires them. II such is not their motive
then why should they prepare an amendment to
the constitution that g more drastic and reaches
further than the law Of any Southern state Where
there are twice and three times many negroes as
there are n Maryland
The men behind this disfrancdising movement are
the same who committed the fragrant ballot box
frauds from 1875 to 1886. When no longer able to
tarnper with the ballot box they began TO taraPer
with the election laws Of the State
Notwithstanding the confidence In the present
State Executive, II Is clear that II the Foe amend
nent shall become part OF the constitution olacers
t registration chosen mora or less directly nut Ger
tainlv bv the machine, will have power 10 dis
franchise at will large proportion and even
majority. of the present legal voters 1t is not
reasonab believe that officers so chosen VIII 90
their duty better In future than men OF ths same
class aelected by the same influence 10 serve the
same purposes who SO shanefuly abused their
trust in the past
The proposed amendment TO the constitution is as
follows:
All elections by the soP nted sna states at Dy yw6eer
native born or naturaIized; OF the age OF twenty
for one year and in the Legislative district OK Bait
IN vote ei for ~ months next precedng the election
and who moreover. is duly registered as qualned
vote in the ward election district in which he
resides at al elections hereafter 70 be held IN this
State; and in case any county or city sha4I be SO
divided to form portions OF different electoral
gress Senators. delegates other officers, he must
have been resident OF that part OF the eSGh.y or
IN which he offers TO vote for six months next pre-
ACQUIRED a residence in such county or city en-
ttng him 10 vote at such an election shalt De en-
removed until he shall have acquired residence in
that part Of the county or city 70 whch ne mas re-
moved Every such citizen OF the United States
having the above prescribed qualifications OF age
as 10 become qualified voter II he be
First-A person sble TO read any section OF the
constitution OF this State submitted TO him by
officers OF registration and 70 give reasonab bic ex-
PLANTATION OF the same; II unable 10 read such
section, is able TO understand and give reasonable
explanation thereof when read TO him by the regis
second-A person who the first day Of January.
1859 or prior thereto. entitled under
the laws this State any other State in the
United States wherein he then resided; or
frS ANY r0ala Inca n
mentioned person who may be twenty-One years OF
age and IN the year 1905
No person not thus qualified by coming under
some one OF the above descriptions shall be entitled
20 be registered qualified voter nor be entitled
vote
The Poe amendment restricts the suffrage TO
male citizens having the qualifications Of three
classes namely. those entitled TO vote under the
laws OF this State Of any other State OF the
United States but OF Territory or the District
Of Columbia on or before January l. 1859; male
ineal descendant OF persons thus privileged at
least tventy-one years old in 1905 and those able
70 read any section constitution OF this State
which the officers OF registration may select. and
TO give reasonable explanation OF the section in
give an explanation Of section when read aloud
by the officers OF registration
German and his leutenants fear the quiet but
powerful opposition OF Governor Warfeld 10 their
scheme The Governor will not take the stump
against the amendment but his moral stand Is
having powerful influence.
The great tight involves not only the amendment.
but control OF the State Senate. In every dis
trct the contest sharp. and the organization is
seeing TO It that none but German nomi-
mated on the Democratic side. There few
districts however which in the nominations
they cannot control
The Republicans want a majority in the next