The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-11-09

SOlIIe vi the most eminent men OF
theparty. OF the officials in opDo-
sition Governor Warheld, Attor-
ney General Bryan and Senator
Rayner were most conspicuous,
and Ofthe members Of the bar there
was majority in open antagonism,
at whose head it may be said was
Maryland's Grand Old Man.
William Pinkney Whyte. Thous-
ands of leading business men also,
who are loyal Democrats, Joined
the army Of assault which had the
bosses on the run from the begin
ming.
There has not been a moment
since the adoption of the amend
ment by the legislature, under
machine pressure, that the manip-
ulators Of the measure have not
been on the defensive. From the
day when Governor Warheld gave
notice that he would place his en-
latic negative against any such
pernicious assault upon the rights
and liberties Of the voters, and it
was then declared that the bill did
not require action by the Cover
nor, not moment has lapsed when
the sponsors of the amendment
were not kept busy explaining.
OF subterfuge and deception
there has been no end; of delusive
ballots there have heen myriads; of
dishonest voting there has been
more than the usual quantity-al1
in the interests of the infamous
amendment; but all the machinery
of the machine awaited not to carry
through a measure which finally
if by any possibility it would have
been affirmed by the Supreme Court
of the United States, to which ap-
peal wound have been promptly
made-Would have delivered the
political fortunes of the state into
the hands Of bosses and their as
signs for an indefinite period.
1t may be assumed that the EN-
phatic defeat of this offspring of
bossism will place a final damper
on the desire of any element of any
party to risk new experiment in
the same line. 1t will at the least
be thought the part of wisdom,
doubtless, to await the popular
voice two years hence in regard to
a constitutional convention. That
such convention might even
think it wise to ignore the question
of tampering with franchise is quite
possible. There is enough to do
in reforming abuses of legislation,
such as in the matter Of our per
niCious local enaCtments, without
wrestling with a restriction of the
suffrage, which in this free coun-
try is problem full of menace to
the political health of the men or
party which undertakes to say
that certain class of citizens
shall not have the privilege of the
suffrage.
However all this may be, it is
enough for today's rejoicing that
an indelible stain has not been
placed upon the fair name of Mary
land. Democrats rejoice with the
Republicans i'll this, and it is the
greatest of consummations that in
such threatening circumstances
party lines are to large extent
obliterated, and the best elements
of all parties are found shoulder to
should in battle against political
projects that if carried through
would bring OblOquv upon the en-
tire state. The disappointment of
the bosses must assuredly be poig-
nant, but over thai may be drawn
charitable veil. The severest
sentence which now need be visit
Cd upon them is to say that in the
beginning they should have better
estimated the intelligence and pa
triotism ofthe people among whom
they have always lived. -Balti-
more American.