The Washington times., 1905-11-03
.ILLITERATE VOTERS
UP AGAINST It
Ballots in Maryland COun-
ties Are Much Mixed.
MUDD HAS HIS TROUBLES
Ticker Prepared for Charles County by
Democrats Built Like Crazy
Quilt.

BALTIMORE, Nov. 3-In nearly all of
the Southern Maryland and Eastern
Shore counties 10 which the Wilson law
applies the names on the ballot are ar
ranged with the view of deceiving the
illiterate Republicans.
That in Charles is probably the most
complicated, but the others are not
much easier to vote This is not the
first time the Democrats in these coun-
ties have resorted to such methods to
disfranchise the colOred people, but then
the party designation always served as
a guide even when printed IN almost IN
readable type. Six years ago those in
Charles, Calvert and st. Mary were
printed in old English, the letters being
turned in such a manner as to render
St almost impossible to decipher the
words. This time the type used is plain
enough, but the arrangement is sc ms
leading that it is practically impossible
for the cOlored nliterate TO vote the
ticket in its entirety.
Democrats Are "Bunched."
The favorite method is TO place the
names Of the Democrats in a bunch
either at the top or bottom with heavy
black line above or below to guide the
Democratic voter. while the Republican
names are mixed UP with those Of other
so that il is impossible 10 distinguish one
from the other.
In Worcester county, the home of Gov
ernor Smith. the black guide line ap-
pears over the names OF the Democratic
candidates The only instruction which
it is necessary to give the illiterate
Democrats or purchased voters is Make
your mark in the box directly beneath
every black line" This instruction II
carried out insures a straight party
ticket being voted.
Kent county affords an illustration
OF ballot prepared in unique way.
Here the black line is printed below
the groups of names of candidates. and
the blank space which must come after
every grOu9 appears at the top OF the
group Tne instructions here are,
Make your cross mark in the box
above each black line" But 70 make
doubly sure the legends for the
amendment" and against the amend
ment" are reversed; for the amend
ment' being placed directly over the
This same method is used in somer-
set county with the candidates for the
State comptroller, being placed in the
center and the less important, like
that Of county surveyor, at the top.
the idea being TO make the illiterate
search for those whom the Democrats
are most desirOus OF electing. There
are two amendments. one for good
T
is no. OPPOSITION TO the former, hence
that Is placed hear the top. while the
other IS sandWiched between candi-
dates farther down the column.
Pretty Much the Same.
In Calvert and St. Mary pretty
much the same arrangement is made
OF the names In Talbot the names
are also mixed up so as to give the
Democrats every advantage, but the
ballot is less complicated.
Congressman Mudd has fled serious
charges against the Democratic mem
bers OF the board of supervisors in
Charles county. and DistriG At
torney John G. Rose has been trying
for hearing before the attorney gen
eTal. to whom Governor Warheld re-
ferred the charges He learned that
Jefferson y. Robinson, the president OF
the board. was III town yesterday and
the attornc.- general summoned him 70
appear at II O'clock this morning. The
summons was served on Robinson al
Union Station. but he disregarded it,
returning bT next train TO his home
and then wiring that important busi-
less prevented his attendance
An effort will '.e made to have him
appear in time 20 make change IN
the ballots which, IL IS charged are
ally agreed upon. Ar. Rose Is urging
the attorney general 70 have the last
and most complicated ones thrown out
and those originally agreed upon print
ed. Mr.. Rose makes the point that not
one voter out Of ten could then vote
the ticket presented. The ClanCes
are that it will be too late 10 make
the change and that the Republicans
must take chances.