Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-28
GORMAN'S PLAY OPENS
Maryland Democrats in Con-
Vention
JUST BEFORE N DON
ALL "THE FAITHFUL" WITH
BOSS IN SADDLE.
Senator Holds the Reins-Few Notes
of Discord Heard
Today. ..t.
] ST BEF RE NOON
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
BALTIMORE, Nd, September 2S.-With
a hurrah and dash that demonstrated only
''the faithful" were on the floor and that
Senator German was in the saddle and in
absolute control, the democratic state con-
vention was called to order at 11:30 O'Clock
this morning by State Chairman Vandiver.
The auditorium presented an animated
scene, and the gallery set apart for ladies
furnished picturesque effect.
AS the chieftains of the party entered
the opera house and took their seats upon
the stage the delegates mounted seats and
benches and cheered enthusiastically. DR.
Gordon 7. Atkinson, the representative of
the Warfield element, and who will be re-
nominated for state controller, was also
given ovation.
About the only note of discord came from
Anne Arundel county, where there were
two contesting delegations. the Bannon fac
tion in favor of the Poe plan and the Wells
contingent, which is opposed to the meas
The surprise of the day came when Rep
resentative Gill Of the fourth congressional
district, who was Gov. Warfield's floor
leader in the state senate at the last ses-
sion. made a powerful speech, in which he
came out fat-footed for the amendment
This attitude of Representative Gilrs caused
much gossip among the delegates and 1t
was rumored that he had been promised the
gubernatoral nomination in return for his
support of the Poe plan.
Dtsfranchisement Amendment
Chairman yandiver in opening the con-
vention made an address, in which he said
the d.sfranchisement amandment "is by
common consent the paramount indeed the
only great issue gof the campaign. The
amendment" he continued; 'Ts framed
along the lines of similar acton taken.
In At thnr fot nylA
with most beneficial results.
r do not lose sight of the fact that the
amendment Is strenuously opposed by the
republican managers who while Declaring
they are opposed TO negro domination real
re that their only hope of success with
their party organized as at present in the
domination of from 10000 to 60OO0 celored
men who vote sol!dly because of their
color. Republican managers loudly call at
tention to the fact that there are 2350O0
white voters in the state, and yet by a COM
bination of less than 1900 white men with
ths solid negro vote in seventeen counties
OF the state they can array majority of
the members of the general assembly a
condition which 2I6, 900 white men cannot
tolerate and condition which would lead
to corruption and disaster"
Chairman Vandiver then made a state
ment of the legal fight between himself and
Governor Warfield over the PRONUNCIATION OF
the amendment. and said that 1t afforded
him great pleasure to say that the governor
facilitated the settlement of this important
question"
Miles Temporary Chairman.
Chairman Vandiver then introduced for
mer Representative Joshua w Miles as the
temporary chairman. Mr.. Miles on assum-
ing the chair made a speech in which he
set forth the necessity for adoption of the
Poe amendment and predicted overwhelm-
ing victory for the democrats this fall
Defended Amendment.
Former State Controller Herring was elect
ed permanent chairman and delivered a
speech In which he defended the amend
ment. The platform as adopted by the con-
vention declares:
BY common consent the only issue in
this campaign is whether negro suffrage
put upon us against our will by force shall
stroyed
Our democratic legislature of 1904 pro-
hded with care and deliberation to frame
an amendment which. while avoiding
all conflict with the fourteenth and fif-
teenth amendments of the Constitution of
the United States. will. IL adopted rescue
us In Maryland from the blight of ignorant
and debased negro suffrage
1T will keep from our registration books
the names or thousands of ignorant and
venai negroes totally unfit to vote, and will
thus go far to lessen the evils of absolute
=
1T will give US the great and inestiuabIe
boon OF intelligent manhood suffrage and
secure to us the priceless benefit of the
political supremacy of the white people of
the state.
And the end will be accomplished right
eously. honestly, by fair means; for with
the partisan boards of registration. constant
attendance OF party watchers In the regis
tration room and full right of appeal TO the
courts, provided and secured by law we
pledge ourselves to maintain, arbitrary and
unjust denial of registration to men, white
or black. truly entitled to be registered will
be practically impossible
No Discrimination.
Nothing in the proposed amendment dis
eliminates against any race or class. The
poor as well as the rich. the humble as well
the mighty. the naturalized as well as
the natfye-born citizens. all can exercise
their privilege of sovereignty and on per-
fectly equal terms under the operations of
of this amendment. To say that 1t violates
the organic law of the nation is to indulge
In mere idle vaunt Those who make the ac-
cusation know that IL is intended only for
the wtgwam and the stump.
They know that it would receive moth
ing but contempt and ridicule In the forum
of the court. The truth Is that the law we
advocate is more liberal and just and right
eous than any of the laws that have been
enacted anywhere for the purpose of pro-
tecting society and civilization as against
corruption, anarchy and crime
Believing, therefore. that the amend-
ment will operate an effective remedy for
the evils of the situation, without prejudice
or injury to any race or class, regarding IL
moreover complete response to the
clearly-expressed mandate of the people
we unreservedly commend and approve IL
I'VE make 1t the single issue of the cam
paign.
I'VE declare ii to be our battle cry.
''The negro vote 1t stands today is n
perpetual menace to the prosperity and