The Democratic advocate., 1905-10-07
The News Fails to Grasp the Situa-
ton.
Chairman of Convention.


The Baltimore News in an editorial Ia its
issue Of Tuesday last made reply to a letter from
the Constitutional Amendment Campaign
Committee and to an editorial in The ADvo.
CATE.
The News says the Fifteenth Amendment to
the Constitution was deplorabe error. The
incorporation OF vast horde of untitled ne
groes into the body of electors in the South,
including Maryland, must have been the de
plorable error, and that error has never been
righted.
In answer to The ADVOCATE to construct
and publish a Constitutional amendment that
would preserve the right to vote to the white
men of Maryland and disfranchise as many
negroes as possible, without conflicting with
the Federal Constitution, that Journal replies
that tits not the business of a newspaper to
construct general codes of political action. +"
We hold contrary view. 1t is just as com
petent for 8 paper to point the right course Of
political action as it is to critieise measure
that is before the voters for their endorsement
or rejection. Ifameasure IS wrong general
denuneiation does not enlighten the public,
and the opposition of the News has found ex
pression in denunciation merely.
In answer to the Campaign Committee the
News says:
"If '.the saving of whites made the dis
reimbursement of negroes necessary, We shonld
support an amendment of the Constitution to
that effect.
Further along the News remarks
THAT in certain parts in Maryland there Is
CRYING need for soale remedial measure must
be admitted. That such measure for the
remedying of local evils need take the shape
of Constitutional amendment is, however, al
least doubtful; that 1t calls for the adoption OF
a measure so dangerous, so evidently franghi
with possibilities OF vital and pervasive evil as
the Poe amendment, Is an assertion which 10
our mind has absolutely no ground to stand
upon.
The News plainly aud distinctly says that Il
the saving Of the whites made the ,iisfranehise
ment of the negroes necessary il would sup
port an amendment TO the Constitution to
that end. And a little further on in lis article
it says ''that IN certain parts Of Maryland there
is CRYING need for some remedial measure mast
be admitted.
S,lll, recognizing remedial measure is
needed in certain parts Of the State. the News
opposes the only measure possible TO avoid
conflict with the Federal Constitution. Aud
the News certainly knows that there must be
uniformity in all measures affecting the voting
privilege. The News says this IS Maryland
and not Mississippi. Granted, bat does il not
know that the negroes are so massed that
white supremacy is not only meuaeed and SIC
cessfully in number Of counties, but that
1900 of the 235. 900 white voters combined
with the negroes in seventeen counties are
able to control the Legislature Of Maryland.
The News does not seem to consider these
matters. Ii concludes that 55. .001 negroes do
not constitute menace TO white supremacy.
Perhaps they would not if equally distributed
over the State. Ii is the unequal distribution
that makes the negro powerful. For instance
there are Az negro voters in AlleganY county
to Il, 1888 whites. aud 26 in Garrett to 4i5o
whites. In Charles county there are 1886
registered negroes to 1926 registered white
In Charles the negroes are in the majority.
In St. Mary's there are I77l negro voters 10
2281 whites Two hundred and ten whites
combined with the negroes in ST. Mary's can
control the county. In the negro belt the
negroes virtually control in part, for they are
made road supervisors and given other posi-
lions.
The News entirely ignores these facts and
speaks of unusual powers conferred upon reg
istrars of voters, and presumes the registrars
will be corrupt aud cut out black and white
at their own sweet will. Here the News over
looks the fact that at each precinct Two reg
istrars sit, one a Democrat and the other
Republican, and each will watch the other to
see that 10 fraud nor unfairness is prae;ieed.