The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-04-08
Only One Issue.

There will be but one issue in the election
to be held in Maryland this year-the adoption
or rejection of the proposed amendment to
the Constitution, designed and intended to
eliminate the ignorant and worthless negro
voters from the general electorate.
All Democrats will lac up for the adoption
of the amendment, and the amendment will
receive the votes of some Republicans, whose
trade is not politics and who do not live by
ofiee-holding through the negro vote.
All white Taxpayers should vote for the
adoption Of the proposed amendment. The
black horde of voters in the State, led in some
counties by white unprincipled scalawags, is
always a menace to intelligent and conserva-
tive government.
Gov. WarGed very forcibly stated this
menace in his speech accepting the nomiua-
ton for Governor at Mt. Airy. He said
1.-The question as presented, and which the
voter must decide at this election, is plain,
practical business one, and goes home to
every white householder and taxpayer in
MARYLAND. 1t is whether the government of
this great Commonwealth shall be intrusted to
a party more than one-half of whose voters is
composed of this ignorant race, or to the party
comprising in its ranks vast majority of our
white people. [Cheers.l
"We have experienced in this State in re-
cent years the effects of Republican supremacy
on the emotional and excitable negro mind.
1t brought increase of lawlessness among the
colored population of our chief city and multi
piled crime throughout the State. The fatal
effects of negro domination on property inter
ests and all forms of industrial development
are illustrated in those counties in Maryland
which are dominated by the negro vote, where
it has throttled progress and blighted pros
perity. The conditions that prevailed in that
section will ultimately spread to other por-
tons of the State if the Republican party is
again installed in power"
The sixty thousand negro voters will be
solidly against the amendment. The great
bulk of the black vote desire to retain the
privilege of voting so they can turn an "honest
dollar at Republican primaries aud on cleo
ton day.
To overcome the votes Of this black horde
the Democrats viii have to poll sixty thou
sand votes before they can begin 10 count
against the white Republicans. The Repub
lcan politicians have already begun to muddle
the issue, by declaring that dangerous power
is given registrars Of voters and that there is
no appeal from their decision.
This chief objection is very forcibly answer
ed BY Hon. Murray Vandiver in statement
explaining the proposed amendment, as fol-
lows:
There only remains now for consideration
the objection which has been urged to the
Amendment, viz. that it gives too much
power TO our Registration Officers.
.'But this is an entire mistake as an exami.
nation of our Election Law viii plainly show.
ave find in every registration precinct a
bipartisan board of registration officers, CON.
posed equally of Democrats and Republicans,
carefully selected by the Supervisors Of Flee
tions, sworn to do their duty fairly and Impair
TALLY, and subject to heavy penalties for Us
violation. with right OF appeal from their
decision IN every case to the Circuit Court for
their respective counties, or TO some judge of
the Supreme Bench of Baltimore city, with
further right of appeal in every case to the
Court of Appeals.
in full view OF these most abundant safe
guards against error. injustice aud injury. we
are called on to meet sn argument that these
registration officers will wickedly, corTuptly
or ignorantly register illiterate foreigners or
negroes, who ought not TO be registered. or
refuse to register iterate foreigners or negroes
who ought to be registered, aud because
of the possibility Of such misconduct, we must
continue TO bear political evils which an over
whelming majority ofour people have declared
to be in,olerRhle
There would no, be any force in the argn-
ment now being considered, even Ifthere we're
no right of appeal from the registration Of
fieers. for the obvious reason that the equal
political division Of the registration officers IS
the amplest protection against error and in
Justice, and that consequently partisan injus-
tice is practically next to impossible But
when We bear in mind that there Is the fullest,
speediest right Of appeal, even to our highest
Court. the argument needs only 10 be stalled
to be rejected.
SIN truth, when analysed, 1t means that
our election officials cannot be trusted with
duties, powers and responsibilities, even when |
they act subject 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 other fuuc. /
:ions ia the work of registration.
when, therefore. We realize that this is 4
the only objection that is seriously urged 70 4
influence the views and votes OF orr people /
who wish preservation and protection against |
the evils Of dehased and ignorant negro suf |
frage, is It too much to hope and believe that |
the Amendment presented to them for the 1
purpose Of securing to them this preservation 1
and protection viii grow in favor the more 4
carefully II is considered. and in November I
next will be made a vital force in the Con- |
stiluiion Of Maryland by q decisive popular /
ratification p