Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
MARYLAND POLITICS
INTEREST IN DISFRANCHlSE-
MENT AMENDMENT.
SPECIAL Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md. July %, 1905
The proposed disfranchisement amend
ment to the state constitution continues
to occupy the center of the political stage
here little or no interest being taken IN
the aspirunts for legislative honors. TIE
republican state central committee is con-
Quoting an energetic campaign against the
measure and great quantities of literature
setting forth the iniquites of the amend
ment are being sent to all points In the
state.
Chairman Hanna is busily engaged In
mapping out the plan of campaign Tor the
closing weeks and feels most sanguine that.
aided by the independent democrats. the
republicans will be able to defeat the meas
ure at the polls. 1t is not likely that any
outside speakers will be secured for the
campaign so far as the republicans are con-
cerned. Chairman Hanna feels that the
republicans have so many splendid areu-
ments to present against the passage OF the
measure and have added to their rank so
many democrats In the city and state that
II is hardly necessary TO bring OUTSIDE
thunder into Maryland.
The democrats, however will bring into
the state some noted speakers from the
south, among them former Governor hy'
cock of North Carolina. and these speakers
will deal solely with the dsfranchisement
OF negroes In the south.
Text of Amendment.
The Poe amendment is proposed
substitute for the suffrage qualification
clause, which followed the adoption of the
fifteenth amendment to the federal Con-
stitution The full test of the proposed
amendments is follows:
"All elections by the people shall be by
ballot. Every male citizen of the United
States whether native born or naturafiz'd
. f,fr ny Y.1S
who has resided in this state for one year
and in the legislative district of Baltimore
city, or in the county in which he may
offer to vote for six months next preceding
the election, and who. moreover, is duly
registered as qualified voter, as provided
in this article. shall be entitled to vote in
the ward or election district in which ne
sides at all elections hereafter to be held
in this state: and in any county
city shall be divided as to- form portions
of different electoral districts for the cleo
ton of representatives in Congress, sena-
tors delegates other officers. then to
title a person to vote for such officers he
must have been resident of that part of
the county or city which shall form a part
of the electoral district in which he offers
to vote for six months next preceding the
election, but person who shall have ac-
quired residence in such county city,
emitting him to vote at any such election.
shall be entitled to vote in the election
district from which he removed until he
shall have acquired a residence in the part
j.
moved. Every such male citizen of the
United States having the above prescribed
qualifications of age ard residence shall
be entitled to be registered so as to become
a qualified voter If he be:
First-A person able to read any section
OF the constitution of this state submitted
20 him toy the officers of registration and
to" give a reasonable explanation of the
same; or If unable to read such section is
able to understand and give explana ton
thereof when read to him by the regis
tration officers;
''Second-A person who on the first day
of January, 1869. or prior thereto, was en-
titled to vote under the laws of this state
or of any other state in the United States
wherein he then resided;
"Third-Any male lineal descendant of
such aforementioned person who may be
tsenty-one CID years or over In the year
1906.
mo person not thus qualified by coming
under some one of the above descriptions
shall be entitled to be registered quail
fed voter, nor be entitled to vote"
Independents Organize.
AS forecast in these letters to The Sun
day Star the independent democrats op-
posed to the amendment have perfected
an organization in this city and an ener-
getic campaign is now under way The
organization is known Gas the democratic
Anti-Poe Amendment Association and is
headed by James c. Gormau, former presi-
dent of the chamber of commerce,
chairman The executive committee is
composed of thirty of the most prominent
independent democrats in Baltimore, in
Guiding Gen. Allan McLane a brother of
the late Mayor Robert NJ McLane; Presi-
dent George w. Gail of the fire board;
James III. Smith. former city controller,
and Alfred S. Niles, counsel to the liquor
license board This committee will have
charge OF the campaign, which will be
conducted on the house-to-house plan,
and has the power to increase the corn
engaged
Wor.
The city organization leaders are rest
ing on their oars so far as the amend
ment is concerned. /. Freeman Rasin. the
city boss, openly admits that there are
serious objections to the form of the
amendment. and while he will probably
vote for the measure. there is little likeli-
hood OF the boss putting his shoulder to
the wheel" AS one of his lieutenants put
IL to The Star correspondent today THE
old man will not be found suffering with
nervous prostration "a result of hard
work In behalf of the Poe plan when the
campaign closes" And this fairly reflects
the attitude Of all the city leaders. and
senator German, who had a conference a
few days ago with the executive of one of
the downtown wards. was unable to wiz
the ward leader over to the Poe plan.
Gift for Cruiser.
The commission appointed by Gov War
field TO take charge OF the project to raise
funds for gift to the cruiser Maryland
organized during the week, with Mr. E.
Stanley Gary. president of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association. as chair
RAN. and Mr.. Raymond N Hoblitzen as
secretary. The plan practically settled
upon is to present silver service to cost
not less than $500 In order to raise this
amount every citizen In the city and state
VIII be asked to contribute. no matter how
small the amount they may feel able to
give. 1t Is proposed to select an auxiliary
representative
cry county in the state to assist in the
work of raising funds. Gov. Wardeld has
already designated number of banks
throughout the state to act as repositories
where persons may contribute. 1t is plan-
ned by the commission to have the service
made in Maryland by Maryland artisans
and to have the presentation ceremonies
take place in Maryland waters.
To Confer on Waterways.
conference on the great waterways of