Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-03

h6hllAlbB lNc SfdN4lN oi lAe ll0liIl
cal situation at this time and the in
tense interest the people all over this
state feel in the suffrage amendment
aud Governor Warfield's position in
the matter, the Baltimore Sun sent q
special memtec of its staff here yester-
day>to interview the Governor The
Baltimore Sun SAYS:
Summarized in a single sentence.
his attitude is unchanged. He is still
as much opposed to the amendment as
he was in the beginning. When the
so-called Poe amendment was first
presented for its consideration he de-
clared it TO be measure dangerous tC
the rights and liberties of the white
people Of the state. Since then he has
been able TO find no reason for chang.
ing his opinion. although he would
have welcomed with his whole heart
any argument that would have justi-
fled him to himself as an honest man
in different view of the amendment.
eff it had been possible in his view,
as q courageous man and responsible
public servant, to remain silent dur
ing this campaign, the Governor de-
clares he would gladly have done so.
But for man of his decided eonvic.
tions with regard to public duty and
his direct methods in meeting public
problems, this was impossible. There
fore. in answer TO the questions of The
SUMS representative, he spoke reluc-
tantly and with deep regret, but clear
ly, firmly and earnestly.
'fIt may be said in this connection
that while the Governor regards as
vicious the principle, he thinks en-
bodied in the Poe amendment of cloth
., - ell ~ . !.
usual powers, his opposition to il
does not rest ON that ground alone
Ii il were absolutely certain that the
proposed amendment would, in prac-
tical operation, disfranchise the negro
without affecting single white voter.
it is possible that he might have seen
his way clear to supporting it. But
he believes there can be no assurance
of this result. and he says he remem-
bers too vividly the conduct of Repub-
lican registers during the Civil War
TO be willing TO trust the political
liberties of the white citizens Of
Maryland to PARTISAN election.oificials.
"No man in the state sympathiZes
more heartily and deeply than he
with the white people of the 'Black
Belt' of Maryland, and it is largely
his sympathy with them that has kept
him silent until the close of the cam
paign. lie declares thereN is nothing
which he would not do to aid them in
throwing off the political and indus
trial incubus and humiliation of negro
rule, except to sacrifice his own con
viotions Of public duty. 1t is not
the negro whose alleged rights he is
interested in protecting. 1t is what
he considers the undoubted and un-
questioned rights of the white man
not tie foreign born white man only
but the native white man; not merely
the foreign born citizens of Baltimore,
butsthe native white citizens of South
ern Mary land and the Eastern Shore,
who under the Poe amendment. he
thinks, might be subjected to a politi-
cal de-potism more CALLING and mer-
ciless than they have ever exper-
fenced.
Tie Governors position defined is
as follows:
81 speak with great regret and re-
luctance, but 1 cannot do otherwise.
"It is an unwise and dangerous
measure. lodging in tue election off
GERS powers that in the hands of un
scrupulous or overzealous men would
imperil the privilege to vote of thous-
ands of white men.
"No mans party loyalty has ever
been questioned in this state because
he has obeyed his conscience and
Judgment in voting for or against an
organic law for his state or nation. F."
"The proposed amendment is not in
accordance with the party platform of
1908. because 1t is not conservative
measure. -
q viii do anything in my power
TO relieve the black belt and the
state of the evils Of unrestricted negro
suffrage anything but sacrifice my
convictions of duty.
81 cannot disguise my oomplet5 re-
gret' that he Mr. Germany should
have made the great mistake Of sup
porting an amendment that threatens
the liberties of the white people Of the
state and that has caused such dissen-
sions in Democratic ranks.