Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-03-30
The Constitutional Amendment.

The Constitutional Amendment.
On Thursday last, the amicable
legal proceedings to determine the
status Of the Constitutional Amend
ment proposed by the General AS
sembly at it's 1904 Session, were
terminated by the decision of the
Court of Appeals that the Amend
ment must be submitted TO the vo-
tiers of the State at this Falls cleo
ton.
This decision brings the amend
ment before the people and makes it
an issue in the coming campaign.
While the matter was pending in
the Court of Appeals we contended
that it was not proper subject for
newspaper discussion and made no
comment upon it. Now that the
Court has passed upon it, however,
it is our purpose TO use our best en-
deavors to secure the adoption of
the amendment by the people. In
our advocacy Of its adoption we pro-
pose to discuss it fairly and legit-
imately and to try and give our
readers reasons for voting for it and
TO answer as best we may the OBJ
iections to it. We want to make
clear TO our readers the full intent,
true meaning and proper construc-
ton Of the amendment and TO that
end we invite our patrons to discuss
il through our columns.
In an interview in the Baltimore
Sun Hon. Murray Vandiver says the
amend nent was passed IN 3vowed
redemption of the letter and spirit
OF the platform upon which the Dem
ocratic Senate and House Of Dele
gates, as well as the Cover nor,
Comptroller and Attorney General,
were elected, and aaintains that al
examination of its terms will album
dantly show that it obeys the popu-
lar manGate as expressed in their
election. He asserts thai it is design
ed TO give the people Al opportunity
to rescue the State from a great evil
and is full. complete and effective
remedy. Taking up the amendment,
section by section, Mr.. Vandiver dis
ousses each and points Oh: the ad-
vantage to be derived. Afterreview-
ing the safeguards thrown about the
amendment and speaking OF the at
tacks that have been made upon the
measure Mr.. Vandiver says:
I'm full view OF these most abun-
dent safeguards against error, in
justice and injury, we are called on
TO meet an argument that these reg
iStratiou officers will wickedly,
corruptly or ignorant'v register
ill;terate foreigners or negroes who
ought not TO be registered, or will
refuse to register litnrate foreigners
or negroes who ought TO be regis
tered, and because Of the possibility
OF such misconduct we must con-
tinue to bear political evils which
an overwhelming majority OF our
people hare declared to be intoler-
able.
There would be no force in the
argument now being considered.
even il there were no right of APP.
peal from the registration officers,
for the obvious reason that the
equal political division of the regis.
tration officers is the amplest pro
lection against error and injustice
and that consequently partisan in
justice is practically next TO i'm.
possible. But when we bear in
mind that there is the fullest, speed.
lest right of appeal, even to our
highest court, the argument needs
only to be stated to be rejected. In
truth, when analysed, it means that
our election officials cannot be trust.
ed with duties, powers and respon.
sibilities, even when they act sub.
ject to the absolute supervision and
control of our Court of Appeals,
and applies with equal force to the
performance by the registration
officers of their functions in the
work of registration.