The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-11-04
Important to White Men.

Before any white man casts vote against
the Amendment he should well consider
what his vote means.
The discussion that has been going on in
this State for two or more years in regard TO
eliminating the negro vote has brought out
many views, both from Republicans and
Democrats, concerning the qualifications Of
voters.
Every man heretofore acting with the
Democratic party in Baltimore and every In,
dependent now against the proposed Amend
ment, has declared in favor OF eliminating the
negro. Some favor AN amendment not only
cutting off the negro's voting privilege, but
also favor the imposition Of property quail
cation for all voters.
The Republicans tcould readily endorse any
amendment that could eliminate as many
,ohite rioters as negroes.
The Republican party Of Carroll declared IN
favor of eliminating the vicious and purchas
able vote, which meant hey .tdror any amend
naent that ,rM cat ont as many or more Ichjfes
as negroes.
Even in the Legislature Of 1904 an amend
ment was proposed imposing property quail
iiication.
Should the Amendment, be defeated mex,
week, and the Republicans should carry the
Legislature, or have any considerable vote
therein. it is probable that au amendment will
be proposed requiring persons to be taxpayers
on some $500 worth Of property before they
can vote.
Such qualification would mean taking away
the voting privilege from hundreds upon hun
dreds of good white citizeus-inteliigent and
industrious citizens who have had TO labor TO
support their families aud not been able to
accumulate property 10 the amount Of $500.
The possession Of property does no. Heces
sarily mean intelligence. Many people have
inherited it, and have not even been able to
add 10 it. Some have less than they inherited.
Misfortune has reduced others to poverty. So
the possession Of property is not proper
qualification to be imposed as a prerequisite
to voting. Such qualification would simply
mean a vote of 500, aud might MOI mean IN
telligent voting.
We warn white men, especially thuse who
have not had the good fortune 20 accumulate
taxable property 10 the amount Of $500, or
been unfortunate and lost their property. not
to vote against the Amendment mex, Tuesday.
That amendment Is intended % eliminate
as many negro rotes as possible and 70 pre-
serpe to erery c hite man the py,irilege o rotiaq
If the Amendment is defeated there Is a
probability that another amendment will be
submitted, cutting Of the voting privilege
from white men as well as negroes. Ii such
an amendment is passed, il will 90 before the
people. and will receive the solid vote Of
white Republicans. the Reform League, the
Baltimore press and the Republican press Of
the csuniies, the Baltimore Independents aud
~ ne whole Of the voters now opposing
80 present proposed amendment. II they
are strong enough 10 defeat the present
Amendment, they viii be strong enough to
carry through one cutting off white men, na.
tive and foreign born aud their descendants,
who are not so fortunate as to have 800 in
taxable property. Aud II is also probable
that many Democrats now striving 70 pass the
present proposed Amendment, would become
disguised if the measure il voted down next
week and either vote for property qnaliiica-
ton for all voters. in retaliation for its defeat,
or be entirely indiifent,
The Grandfather Claus" in the proposed
Amendment lets in nearly every white ya'er.
A property qualification aud an educational
qualification will certainly cut out many white
men, native and foreign aud their descendants,
who can register and vote under the proposed
Amendment.
We warn white nen 10 consider well before
voting on the Amendment. II il Is adopted
no white man 5 vote will he AT risk. IT il is
defeated thousands Of white men may have
the voting privilege taken away