Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
MARYLAND M ATTERS
GOV. WAKEFIELD TO FAVOR DIS
FRANCHISFMENT BILL.
Frobable Points of the Measure-The
State Treasurership-oyst
Packers Complain.
Special Correspondence of The star.

BALTIMORE, Md. November %, 1905.
There IS a general belief that Gov. War
field Will make an effort this winter to
have the legislature pass bill submit
ting to the people two years hence meas
ure providing for the disfranc hisement or
illiterate voters. 1t is stated that the gov
ernor regards the passage of such meas
ure imperative If the pledges made in the
platform upon which he was elected are TO
be carried out. The opposition of the gov
ernor toward the Poe amendment WAS
based solely upon the fact tina, t gave
arbitrary and unusual powers to elective Of
fiCials. Gov Warfieid is in favor of the
open door policy in suffrage for the thrifty,
Intelligent and law-ahiding colored citizen.
That the governor will be confronted with
obstacles in securing the passage of such
preliminary legislation as may be neces-
sary is admitted ON all sides In the first
place the necessary three-fifths democratic
majority in the house will be lacking, ana
1t is not at all likely that the German or
ganization democrats In the legislature Will
lend any assistance to the governor. How
ever, the friends of the governor are re4y-
Ing upon the fact that there is a general de-
mand for the elevation of the suffrage ana
have hopes that the demand may become so
strong that the ring democrats, however
unwilling, may be forced to assist the gov
ernor in his plans. 1t is not at all unlikely
that the republicans in the legislature may
cooperate with the governor toward secur-
Ing the passage of such measure
Governors Plan.
The suffrage restriction plan, which has
the Endorsement of Gov Warfield. does not
give any arbitrary powers to judges of cleo
ton, but clearly defines the quaiific atoms
which shall make a citizen eligible to vote
In a nutshell the plan is as follows:
First-A person who on or before the LIST
day of January 1863, was entitled to vote
under the laws of this state or of any other
state.
Secondary male lineaI descendant of
such aforementioned person.
Third-Any fore.gn-hoFn citizen of the
United States who has been naturallzed
between the 1st day Of January. 1865 and
the date of adoption of this section of TINS
article.
Fourth-Any male lincal descendant of
such aforementioned person.
Fifth-Any person who Is the bona flde
possessor of assessible property 10 the
amount of 800 upon which property he has
been legally and bOna-tidedly assessed upon
the tax books of any county or city of TINS
state fer two years preceding the time at
which he applies for registration and VINO
has paid taxes for the said two years pre-
ceding the time he applies for registration.
This plan is the one favored by democrats
generally. barring Senator German, few
of his lieutenants and the ring henchmen.
It is claimed that such an amendment
would effectually disfranchise the illiterate
negro vote and would redeem the pledges
made in the platform which elected War
field by a handsome majority. or course,
the plan outlined will meet with the OPP
position of the German ring, principally be-
cause its ratification by the voters would
greatly add TO the prestige already won
by the governor and still further eclipse
the figure of German in politics in Mary
land.
State Treasurership.
There promises to be something of a
battle over the election of a state treas
urer next January. The anti-organization
democrats are on a still hunt for a candi-
date against Treasurer Vandiver, the in
cumbent The result depends in a great
measure on the stand TO be taken by the
governor, if a democrat is to be chosen.
And from present indications 1t seems safe
to assert that Mr.. Warfield will keep hands
off in the fight. The only way in which
.Vandiver could be defeated would be by
combination with the republicans, and as
tho governor is thoroughly consistent in
his party regularity he would not for an
instant countenance or advise such move.
The ten antl-organization democrats in
the legislature, however, are bitter against
the German machine, and may resort TO
flibustering tactics in the hope that Van
diver may win out after prolonged dead
lock. 1t has even been limited that these
ten democrats may carry their antagonism
against Vandiver to the point of voting
for the republican candidate but inasmuch
as such a breach of regularity would place
them outside the party lines, it is not likely
that such a course will be pursued. How
ever, the situation is full of possibilities,
and, whatever the result, the preliminary
maneuvering will prove interesting.
Oyster Packers Complain.
Complaint is general among oyster pack
ers that the state Gull law Is being grossly
violated. and official action has been taken
by Governor Warfield to prevent the evils
complained of. The local packers asserted
that while the law was rigidly enforced
here 1t was not theoretically carried out at
other oyster ports with the result that
Baltimore packers were forced to buy in a
restricted market their competitors at
county ports could buy from vessels
that feared to come to this port because
their captains realized that they would be
arrested and fined for having oysters of
Illegal size. The governor in view of these
complaints, has directed that thirty-six of
the seventy-flve oyster measurers formerly
working in this city be assigned to ports
down the bay, for the purpose of running
down captains who make a business of
trafficking in unculled oysters. 1t is claimed
that the dredgers have been sending car
goes Of oysters to Crisfield, oxford Cam
bridge and Annapolis and that oysters
culled and unculled have been sold at these
places at lower figures than the market
price here and that Baltimore has been
shut out of large bulk of the trade that
should come here.
Jewish Relief Fund.
a citizens relief committee for Russian
sufferers was organized at meeting held
in the city hall yesterday. Mr.. Theodore
Marbury. who was elected chairman of the
committee, will have a conference with
Mayor Timanus, after which he will APP
point committee of five to devise ways
and means for raising funds for the relief
of prosecuted Jews in Russia Among the
notable persons present at the meeting
were Cardinal Gibbons, Bishop Paret. Cow
ernor Warfeld, Mayor Timanus, former
Postmaster General Gary and DR. Daniel
Cot Gilman. Thus far there has been
raised in this city about $4,000. and al
ready check for $1,000 has been sent TO
relief headquarters in New York
j. NJ ID.
Chaos in Morocco.
Special Cablegram to The Star
TANGTEP y