The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-06-17
The Franchise ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It Is Designed to Accomplish
What q Vote Against 1t Means.

Democrat and a Republican constitute the
board of registry, and that no one can be reg
istered or denied registration or be stricken
from the registration books except by agree
ment of both. After this explosion OF the
first Republican contention came the allega-
ton that the amendment was designed TO per-
petuate the rule Of the present Democratic
State leaders, contention as baseless as was
the charge that there was no appeal from the
decision of registrars of voters.
The amendment is intended to purify the
registration lists, TO eliminate the Ignorant
negroes, and to keep the State under the con
troll of the intelligent white voters. II the
Republicans are unwilling to submit their
claims for preferment to the intelligence Of
the State, they have no faith in the business OF
their cause nor the personnel Of their leaders
and candidates.
The present article of the Constitution on
the elective franchise says
EVERY male citizen Of the United States.
Of the age of twenty one years or upward, who
has been resident of the State for one year,
and of the Legislative District of Baltimore
City, or of the county, in which he may offer
to vote, for six months next preceding the
election, shall be entitled 10 VOTE
The proposed amendment adds the follow
ing to the above
Every such male citizen of the United States
having the above prescribed qualifications Of
age aud residence shall be entitled to be reg
istered so as to become qualified voter If he
be
First. A person able 10 read any Section
of the Constitution OF this State submitted TO
him by the Officers of Registration aud to give
a reasonable explanation Of the same; or II
unable to read such section able to understand
and give explanation thereof when read TO
him by the registration officers.
Second. person who on the FIRST day of
january, 1869. or prior thereto, was entitled
TO vote under the laws of this State or of any
other State Of the United States wherein be
then resided.
Third Any male lineal descendant Of such
last mentioned person who may be twenty one
(2l) years of age or over in the year 1906.
No person not thus qualified by coming
under some one Of the above descriptions shall
be entitled to be registered as qualified voter,
nor be entitled to vote.
These provisions are perfectly plain. They
declare that every adalt male citizen Of the
United States who has resided one year in
Maryland shall be entitled to registration if
he comes under ans one of the three above
mentioned descriptions of persons. Such
adult male citizen may therefore claim regis
tration.
First. Because qualified under the educa.
tional test clause.
Second. Because qualified by reason Of
the fact that be was entitled to vote on the
first day Of january, 1869. or prior thereto by
the laws of this State OF of the State wherein
be then resided.
Third. Because qualified by reason of the
fact that he is Ifieal deseendan, Of the per
son who was thus entitled to vote on the first
day of January, 1869, and twenty-one years Of
age or over in the year 1905; that is TO say,
that be was boru not later than the year 1885.
These three descriptions Of persons are in
the alternative.
The applicant for registration is required 10
bring himself under one only of them, aud
any one Of them is sufficient.
He may become registered voter because
he was entitled 10 vote so far back as January
l, 1869, or earlier under the laws of the State
in which he then resided; or because having
been born not later than 1885, he is lineal
descendant of such last named person; or be-
cause not claiming to belong to either OF these
two classes, he possesses the prescribed edu.
eational qualification.
The white people Of Maryland do not re-
gard the native negro vote of Maryland as a
menace to white supremacy in the State.
Their votes can be easily overcome in all
but six or eight counties; and one of the rea.
sons for eliminating the ignorant negro is to
reclaim these counties TO the intelligent white
citizens Southern Maryland is retarded by
its heavy black vote. Persons from other
States and other sections of this State will not
live there. The paralysis Of growth and prog
EEeS tIEFt AucNNs llfr uatAAiEG VI the Ct1Ac-
A further reason for the adoption of the
amendment is the probability of large Influx
of negroes from the Southern States which
have denied the privilege Of voting to their
ignorant populations. Ever since these States
changed their Constitutions Southern negroes
have been coming to Maryland, principally
from Virginia Should the proposed amend
ment be defeated the fact viii be an invitation
for still greater influx of illiterate negroes.
And here lies great danger to white suprem
acy; menace TO good government; menace
to our system of maintaining white and eolored
schools; a menace to progress and advance
ment; menace to peace and good order;
menace to the virtue of our young girls and
women.
The newspaper or white man who opposes
the adoption of the proposed amendment
Favors Negro Suffrage,
Opposes an Intelligent Electorate.
Opposes white Supremacy,
Opposes Peace and Good Order,
Opposes Progress and Advancement.
There is no gainsaying this and no amount
of sophistry and deceit can avoid the allegs-
tons.
Editorial Notes.
According to a report of Ellis H. Roberts,
Treasurer of the United States. in 1890 there
was held in the United States 1863 per cent.
of the gold supply of the world In 1900 q
per cent. and in 1908, the last year reported,
23.2 per cent. In the last five years the gold
supply has increased on an average of $685.,
100000 year. If this gold accumulation
continues the plethora will create a sentiment