Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05
MARYLAND POLITICS
PROBABLE MAJORITY AGAINST
POE AMENDMENT.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

BALTIMORE, Md, November 4.-The
campaign In this city closed tonight with all
signs indicating great majority against
the Poe amendment at the polls on Tuesday
next. The democratic organization mana
gers have given up all hope Of even keeping
the majority down, and privately express
the fear that the result in Baltimore VIII be
landslide against the amendment. The
leaders are even fearful that the legislative
ticket may be lost. OF course. the mana
gers, from Senator German and Chairman
Vandever down, are not telling their fears
to the public, but loudly proclaim that the
amendment will be carried, and that the
situation now resolves itself into question
Of majority.
The declaration made by Gov. Warfleld
that he was still opposed to the amendment
and would cast his ballot against 1t has
resulted in giving greater impetus to the
movement of votes against the measure
In the opinion of many the governors ac-
ton will be more widespread in Its effect
than the letter Of Senator Rayner. Oppon-
ents of the amendment assert that II the
measure is defeated much Of the credit
must go to the governor, inasmuch as he,
more than any other man In Maryland
opened up the fight against 1t. The govern
or, they assert, has been tacitly regarded
as the leader of the anti-amendment demo-
Gratis, and his recent utterance Is taken as
a battlecry to rally around his standard
vote of Maryland
The promise of Gov. Warfield to assist in
the passage Of a conservative amendment
to disfranchise the negroes has caused
many democrats and republicans who had
made up their minds to vote for the Poe
amendment. in order to get rid of the black
vote al any cost, to change their views.
The governor undoubtedly yields great
power with the rank and file of the democ-
racy and not few republicans. His friends
IN he far hat he
people believe in Edwin Warfield because
they know he is sincere in his opposition to
the measure and because they believe that
he honestly regards the amendment as tan
unW1se and dangerous measure, lodging in
the election officers powers that in the
hands of INSCRIPTIONS or overzealous men
would imperil the privilege to vote Of thou
sands of white men,
Poe Amendment.
The following is copy of the Poe plan
which has divided the democratic party:
Every such male citizen of the United
States having the prescribed qualifications
of age and residence shall be entitled to be
registered SO as to become qualified voter
If he be
'First-A person able to read any section
of the constitution of this state submitted
to him by the officers of registration and to
give reasonable explanation Of the same,
or If unable from physical disability to
give reasonable explanation thereof when
read to him by the registration officers; or,
Second-A person who, on the first day
or January. 1869, or prior thereto, was en-
titled to vote under the laws of this state
or of any other state of the United States
wherein he then resided: or
'Thrd-Any male lneal descendant of
such aforementioned persons
mo person not thus qualified by coming
under some one of the above descriptions
shall be entitled to be registered as a quail
ned voter nor be entitled to VOTE
Worthington Plan.
The following is a copy of the Worthing-
ton substitute, which was approved by Gov
ernor Warfield Attorney General Bryan,
and other prominent democrats, but which
met with the disapproval OF Senator Cor
man and the state organization:
Every such male citizen of the United
States having the prescribed qualifications
OF age and residence shall be entitled to be
registered so as to become qualified voter
If he be
"First-A person who. on or before the
first day Of January, 1868, was entitled to
other state Of the United States wherein he
then resided, at state election held there's
in or
Secondary male lineaI descendant of
such aforementioned person; or
'Third-Any foreign-born citizen of the
United States who has been naturalized be-
tween the first day of January. 1868. and
the date of adoption OF this section of this
article; or
"Fourth-Any male lineaI descendant of
such aforementioned person: or,
Flfth-Any person who Is the bona-f
possessor Of assessable property to the
amount OF 400 upon which property he has
Deen legally and bona fide assessed upon
the tax books OF any county or city of this
state for two years preceding the time at
which ne applies for registration, and who
mas paid taxes thereon for the said two
years preceding the time at which he an
plies for regstra ton.
NO person not thus qualified by coming
under some one of the above descriptions
s s De entitled to be registered quail
ned voter, nor be entitled to vote"
Chairman Leigh Ronsai OF the campaIgn
committee of the Democratic Anti-Poe
Amendment Association has made a DOLL of
the democratic lawyers in Baltimore, and
says that co per cent are opposed to the
measure.
Dangers Set Forth.
1T furnishes no educational test.
1t puts unlimited power in the hands of
the election officers
IT endangers the rights of every man.
white or black, not known to be In SYM
palhS with the party in power
1t attempts to create priviIeped and
hereditary class of voters which is totally
contrary to American ideas.
IL uiscflHnlHateS between persons who
were voters in 1869 and their descendants
porn not later than 1885 on the one hand
and all other classes of voters on the other
persons coming within the aboye-men-
toned classes have right to be registered
without passing an examination provided
that majority of the registration officers
see mt TO permit them. This means that
Doth Judges of election in the counties or
three of the four judges in Baltimore CITY
must unite In registering. Otherwise the
applicant must lose his vote
All other persons must pass an examina-
zion upon the Maryland constitution and.
IL unable to explain It to the satisfaction OF
the registers, they must forfeit their votes
Inc amendment makes no provision for
appealing from the registers decision TO the
10 my conscience and the honor f nv ma
peal, which Is much disputed. such a rem
edy is 1mpracticable and useless.
The passage of the amendment would
necessitate doing away with the bi-pa rtfsan
feature of the present election law. other
wise Its purpose could not be readily car
ried out" '
Why Leaders Oppose.
Following will be found the views OF thu
most prominent democratic leaders In thu
fight against the amendment and the rea-
sons why they will vote against It,
Gov. Warfield-''The educational reouire-
ment of the amendment Is mt concar,, +i,,.