The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-04-29
The Sentinel Recalls Lowndes' Ad-
ministration--AP Plain Question
For 1t On Negro Suffrage.

The Sentinel maintains that it did not do
an injustice to the Democratic Editors Asso-
citation when it intimated that the Association
endorsed the suffrage amendment because it
was scheme of the Democratic bosses to
perpetuate their power. Well, the Sentinel
can enjoy its opinion, and as no other paper
shares it, it can have monopoly.
Further on in its article the Sentinel says
Negro suffrage has existed in the State for
thirty.five years and white supremacy has
never for a moment been threatened during
all that period. The eolored voters have
never, in any manner contributed to the bad
government of the State. On the contrary,
that has been the work of the Democratic
bosses, and the colored voters in 1895, as the
Sentinel remarked in the article criticised by
the Advocate, ''helped to put these gentry
the Democratic bosses-out of business long
enough to reform some of the glaring abuses
in government which had brought shame and
reproach upon the State.
Without the negro vote the Republican
party would be in a hopeless minority. The
negro vote, then, is what gives life and hope
and strength to that party. Without it the
party could not carry more than two counties
in the State, Garrett and Allegany.
'sThe coloped voters have never, in any
manner, contributed to the bad government
in this State says the Sentinel. Without the
colored voters Lowndes would not have been
elected Governor, and Lowndes adninistra-
ton was bad from beginning TO end. The
Governor was weak aud uncertain. He seized
every possible office he could lay his hands
upon and filed it with partian Republican,
fitness not being a serious consideration, and
al the same time was talking reform and non
partisanship.
In some counties justices of the peace were
VIGOROUSLY incompetent The same is true of
some school boards and the courts we're in
voked to settle the disgrsceful contentious
arising among members. The Governor laid
his hands on the public sch DOL system. Re
pubhcanizing the school boards, and these in
turn, wherever possible, displacing competent
School Examiners with inco Competent ones.
The Police Board Of Baltimore City was Re
publieanized, and decentralization Of the police
force followed. Republican success was con-
strued by a large part of the colored populs-
the commission of crime. The police force
shut their eyes 10 many acts by negroes, for
fear that interference would result in dismis
nal Even under this handicap the police
records show an unusual increase OF crime
and lawiessness by the negro population of
the city. The record was published through
ont the State in the campaign of 1899, but the
Sentinel probably did not pay any attention 70
it, casting ii aside as tale to restore the
'bosses'' to power. For its exclusive inlor-
nation we will stale that one of the editors Of
the ADVOCATE made up the record from the
official books of the police department and no
'sboss'' saw it until after it was published.
Negro eutlawry Was not confined 10 BALI
more, but extended throughout the State, and
the ADVOCATE has record Of IT, Assaults
upon women increased and all sorts Of crime
increased. The negroes seemed possessed
with the idea that Republican asceudancy was
license to violate the laws. They depended
upon Gov Lowndes to protect them, and the
Governor did pardon numbers of them In tune
TO allow them to register and vote at the 1899
election, when he was . candidate for reelec.
ton.
Many Of the Republicans elected 20 the
Legislature by the assistance Of the eolored
voters, .awho never contributed TO bad gov
ernment," according 10 the Sentinel, we're
sorry specimens Of Legislators. One lot from
Baltimore was designated ''boodler's row.
Then consider the two Speakers of the House
Of Delegates-one totally unfit and neither
losing any money by holding their positions.
The Sentinel egregiousy bluuders when it
alludes to Reform under Republican rule.
either in Baltimore or the State, and if it pos
ssssed common knowledge Of Republican rule
from 1896 to 1900 il would not venture TO al
lude 10 it as either reformatory, capable.
honest or in any manner wholesome.
In speaking Of the Sentinel's article Of two
weeks ago, THE ADvoArE said it inferred that
the Sentinel would oppose the adoption ofthe
proposed amendment 10 the Constitution,
under which ignorant negroes would be dis
franchised. We now ask the Sentinel whether
it favors negro suffrage and the retention
Of the names Of ignorant negroes on the
registration list. Let the white voters Of
Carroll have straight answer, yesor no.
DO not waste space on Perpetuaiion Of the
rule OF imaginary bosses. DO not waste space
TO say that the registrars of voters will have
too much power, for that contention has been
annihilaied. Do not waste space in express
ing foundless fear that some white men may
be dealt with unjustlY, but answer the plain
questionable you favor the retention Of the
names Of igorant negroes on the registration
books?
The Baltimore city election for city com