The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-13
The Experience of Frederick
City With a Negro Dis
franchising Municipal
Election Law.

Frederick City is perhaps unique in
Its distinction Of being the first city in
the State Of Maryland to test the policy
Of DISTINGUISHING the negro. which was
most successfully done in the city cleo
ton held on Tuesday, June IA, 1904.
The law changing the then existing
one, was passed by the Legislature of
that year and naturally much interest
was manifested all over the State as to
the outcome, The change was received
with much concern by the Republican
party here which east all manner of
ignominy upon it, and those who had
the nerve to insist upon its passage, but
later on, many Of those who came to
scotf. remained to pray" 1t was looked
upon throughout the State as an ex-
ample Of how the Constitutional Amend
nent. which was passed by the same
Legislature, and which is now up to the
people Of the State for their approval,
would perform the same service. as the
prin iple is nearly the same, although
slightly different in form.
OF course the results were achieved
in the registration, the same as is pro
posed for the Constitutional Amend
ment, and it can be most truthfully
said that they were most satisfactory
and emphatic. Only handful of the
seventeen hundred registered negroe,
even went so far as to have their names
placed upon the books, and very little
trouble was experienced with them
They accepted the facts as they were,
and uncomplainingly ceased to be a
factor in municipal politics. Many
prominent Republicans expressed them
selves as surprised at the effectiveness Of
the law, and those not directly allied
with practicul politics were satisfied with
the new and vastly improved condition.
The election was revelation. There
were no drunken negroes lounging
around the street corners and about the
polls, waiting for the highest bidder for
their vote>-no rowdyism or disturb
anee Of any Kind Women and chill
dren went about fearlessly, hardly
knowing that an election was in ppog-
ress. The white men Of Frederick
City were masters Of the situ4ticn, and
the official count whilst showing the
elec;ion Of the Democratic candidates,
did net give s,upenious majorities, As
some had supposed. This goeS TO show
that whenever the negro Is removed
from politics, men ana measures can be
given the undivided consideration Of the
people. This has At least been true Of
the States Of the South, where even Re
pubhcans turn Democrats because Of the
fear Of ne-ro domination. Some few
foreign born white citizens. who dii not
own $500 worth Of property. were IN
able TO vote under the new law. but
nearly al accepted the fact, knowing
the reason to be the creates, good for
the greatest number In this respect
the DISTINGUISHING Amendment will make
good, because the foreign born citizen
has chance TO register under very
liberal qualification clause The next
Legislature viii provide way to allow
this class Of citizens TO exercise the
right Of suffrage in Frederick at future
municipal elections, proving the Re
publicAns claim false thar the white
citizen wn purposely disfrAnchised by
the Democratic party.
The present election for Frederick
City changed the date Of the election
from April 10th to June l4,h. and
provides that any voter possessing the
proper residential qualifications and
not having been convicted of any infa-
nous crime in this or any other State,
shall be allowed to vote, if he possesses
any one Of the following qualifications:
First, if he is the bona fde owner Of
$500 worth of real or personal property,
duly recorded on the tax-bookS of the city;
secondly, if he prior to January lst,
1859, he was duly qualified voter in
the State of Maryland or elsewhere in
the United States, at a State election: or
Thirdly, if he Is the lineal descendant
Of any such person who prior to Jan
uary l, 1859, was legally qualified
voter, as outlined in the preceding ar
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