Evening star., 1905-11-04
ON THE EASTERN SHORE
Split in Democratic Party
Over Amendment
FELT BY ADVOCATES
NEGRO DOMINATION PREACizED
BY LEADERS.
Deep-Seated Desire to Disfranchise All
the Negroes-Another Method
Wanted.
FELT BY ADVOCATES

CAMBRIDGE, Md, November All
through the eastern shore the influence of
Gov. Warfield, Senator Rayner, Attorney
General Bryan and a host Of other demo-
Gratis. most of whom are not directly
identified with the political interests Of this
section of the state Is forcibly felt when
the issue of the Poe amendment Is consid-
cred. The split in the democratic party of
the state over the Poe amendment to dis.
franchise the colored voters was not ex-
pected TO be of consequence on the eastern
shore or in southern Maryland, because the
demand for the amendment chiefly
from those sections.
Wherever the Poe amendment has been
talked Of in Baltimore or in the northern
part of the state white voters have been
appealed to largely because Of the obliga-
ton it has been said they should feel to-
ward their brothers in the lower counties
who struggle against large population Of
colored people. That appeal to race senti-
ment has done much to keep many of the
democrats in the northern counties true to
the issues made by their party organiZa-
tion, and has prevented many of them from
going off with the wing of the party that
has protested against the amendment
sure to disfranchise large body of the
white along with the colored voters, which
in Baltimore alone has been estimated at
10000 by Senator Rayner In Baltimore
and In the northern part of the state the
white people of the lower counties are pic
tured as loudly appealing to the men OF
their own race for help from this negro
domination.
Here in the midst of the alleged perils of
negro domination the amendment is talked
of in relation to the power it would give
the registrars to decline to register any ap-
plcant because his explanations do not
agree with the Interpretation the registrars
may see fit to place upon the clause OF
the constitution under consideration and its
influence on the fortunes of Senator Cor
man.
But more influential than the personal
view that may be taken on the question by
the tfme-tested democrats who discuss 1t
is the fact that Gov. Warfield, a rock-ribbed
democrat. who is everywhere known to be
In favor of disfranchising the colored vot-
ers; Senator Rayner. who is not only so re-
garded but is looked up to for guidance in
assisting to frame disfranchising amend
ment that will accomplish its work while it
Will not affect the white voters and the
democratic attorney general of the state.
Mr. Bryan. are all opposed to it's ratifica-
ton.
Desire of Democrats.
There is no doubt about the existence of
a very deep-seated desire on the part of
a large part of the democrats in these coun.
ties for the disfranchisement of the col
ored voters. They look forward to it as an
end sure to be attained some time in the
near future. They believe they will remain
In control of the legisla ture of the state
so that there is no doubt in their minds as
to their ability to pass another amendment
that VIII meet the approval of all classes
OF democrats. and to ratify it. They believe
that they can wait without affecting the
result. 5-=- .-rf. 5-0...---
II this county of Dorchester this feeling
or the part of the democrats Is so strong
that members of that party who are in
close touch with the situation and are
working hard for the ratification of the
amendment state that they believe their To-
cal county ticket will be stronger than the
amendment on election day The fact is the
amendment is discussed chiefly in rela ton
u its influence on the fortunes of Senator
Gorman n and the organization of which ne is
the head. Mr.. German has host OF
strong supporters here. He Is looked upon
with great confidence by the mass of his
party as their leader. While they feel here
that the amendment is not working up SEN
timent race issue. free from any other
entangling condition, they read with salts
faction that Mr.. German is in Baltimore
personally directing the course of the cam
paign and they have sanguine feeling
to the result which they base only upon
Mr.. Germans confidence and activity but
which they cannot feel from viewing the
conditions close at hand here. While the
great body of the party is dominated by
this feeling there are some who are luke
warm in their adherence to the party and
that class of the democrats simply prefer
following the governor. the senator and the
ATTORNEY SentTdi ana the nunQreQS OF DEM
ocratic lawyers in Baltimore who have de-
noUnced the amendment in its present form
lf this wing of the party was believed to
be opposed to the disfranchisement of the
cClored voters they would soon lose their
following here. where dsfra n chisement is
universally favored among the democrats.
But there is confidence that the party will
al another time get together on this issue
and put it through.
Many Colored Voters
This county has 2,50O colored voters in a
voting population of about 7,4O0. There
are said to be 1.200 or 1890 white voters
who vote the republican ticket AS
rule the county is very evenly divided on
election day. with the chances very much
in favor of the democrats when they are
united
The democrats are very badly split up
here just now over fight that Is being
made against their nominee for state sem
ator, Mr. William F. Applegarth. Mr.. APP
plegarth has served during two terms in
| the state senate and in that time he has
mana ged to make enemies in his own par
| ty that are proving very active In attempt
| Ing to bring about his defeat. faction
STYLING themselves the ''anti-Applegarth
party" headed by Messrs. Harrington and
| Henry of Cambridge, has drawn together
| such strong, following that they have
| the policy of one of the newspapers, which
| is devotfng it's energies toward the de-
| feat of the democratic nominee for sem
| ator AS Applegarth was nominated by
| acclamation by the county convention par
~, mon have been surprised over the