The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-09-07
WHAT IT MEANS.

The time is drawing near when eV-
cry voter in Maryland must take a
position for or against what is known
as the Poe Amendment to the Consti-
tuition of this State. 1t must be borne
in mind that when the people by
their vote adopt an amendment 10
the Constitution it becomes a part of
the organic law of the State only to
be changed or altered by the direct
vote Of the people again, and after a
three-tifth vote of the Legislature au-
thOrizing its submission to the peo-
pie. So 1t will be seen that it will be
no easy task to have the amend
ment changed when once adopt
ed. Especially will it be difficult
If the same suits the ends and pur-
poses of the Ring Democracy, for
every one knows that the German
and Raisin combination, powerful as
it is, would never allow a Democratic
Legislature to submit another amend
ment changing the Constitution in
any particular if the proposed amend
ment did not suit them. So it must
be very clear to all who recall the do
ings of the Ring Democracy in this
State for the last thirty years in or
der to carry elections, that when the
Poe Amendment is once adopted it is
not likely to be again changed in
this generation. Those who value
and appreciate their right of suffrage
guaranteed by the founders of this
Republic, if they wish to retain those
rights, had better consider carefully
the Poe Amendment which is a di-
rect assault upon their most sacred
rights. Taxation without represen-
tation was the cause which brought
on the War for Independence. Eng
land taxed her colonies in America.
but never allowed them to be repre-
sented in the Legislative body of that
great nation. ALI know the result.
Now there are thousands of taxpay-
ers in this State who annually sub
scribe and pay taxes into the public
treasury who under the proposed
amendment to be voted on in Nov
ember, will bv reason of their inabil
ity to prove that their father voted
prior to 1869, or that they could not
explain any certain section of the
Constitution of Maryland, to the sat
isfaction of the Democratic Ring reg
lister, before whom they must go to
become qualified voters, cannot par.
ticipate in elections. Some of thes
anxious for political reasons be>
known to themselves to have thu.
amendment adopted, say each party
will be represented on the board of
registry, and therefore all will be
fairly treated, but does any honest
citizen believe that if the amendment
passes and the Legislature which
meets in January,is Democratic, that
the law which now gives the Repub-
lican party representation on the
board of registers will not be chang
ed so as to have but one register and
he Democratic, suitable to the ring?
We all remember that prior to the
year 1895, when the people elected
Lloyd Lowndes Governor of Mary
land, such a thing as Republican
being on a board of registration was
was never heard Of. How then can
one be induced to believe that when
the amendment has been adopted
and the Ring Democracy has carried
the Legislature, he can hope to have
any one to register his vote but a
Democrat of the German and Rasin
kind? Let him not even think that
it will be otherwise. After the
amendment has been adopted aud