The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-03-25
Amendments Must Be Published.

An opinion was filed by the Court of APP
peals on Thursday in the appeal of Governor
Warfeld from decision of the Circuit Court
for Anne Arundel county Judges Revell and
Thomas) sustaining the lower court. A
suit was brought by Hon. Murray VandlVer to
secure a mandamus, requiring the Governor
to publish certain proposed amendments to
the Constitution for three months prior to the
next election, in November, and the Anne
Arundel County Court order the man
damus to issue. The chief of these pro-
posed amendments is one relating to the
elective franchise and designed to curtall
the negro vote. The Governor held, and was
sustained by the Attorney General, that the
bills proposing the amendments were not con-
stitutionally passed because they were not sub
mitted to him for his Judgment, as are all bills
of different character.
As the readers of the ADVOCATE are aware
this paper has held that the bills were prop
erly passed, and the voters alone are to de-
eide whether they shall be Incorporated IN the
Constitution. The signature Of the Governor
could add nothing TO the validity of the bills,
and had he no right to veto them. The voters
have the power to endorse or reject the amend
ments.
Bills proposing amendments to the Constr
tuition are not in the class of other bills, and a
provision, the 18th Article, was put in the
fundamental law specially relating TO the
manner of their passage and submission OF
the proposed amendments TO the Judgment OF
the voters.
Governor Warheld is not opposed TO the
object Of the proposed amendment designed
10 eliminate the colored vote, for that was
leading issue of the campaign which end
ed in his election and the election of
Legislature in which the Democrats CON-
nrised more than two.thirds of the member
ship. In his speech accepting the nomination
for Governor, Governor Warfeld spoke of
the negro question as one demanding serious
consideration, and said
ssThe question as presented, and which the
voter must decide as this election, IS pam,
practical, business one, and goes home to
every white householder and taxpayer ln
MARYLAND 1t is whether the government q
of this great Commonwealth shall be Entrusted
TO a party more than one half OF whose voters
is composed of this ignorant race, or to the
party comprising IN Its ranks a vast majority
Of our white people. lCheers.
ave have experienced in this State IN re-
cent wears the effects of Republican supremacy
on the emotional and eXciiable negro mind.
II brought increase of lawlessness among the
eolored popuIation of our chief city aud multi
nliad crime throughout the State. The taial
effects of negro domination on property inter
ests and all forms of industrial development
are illustrated in those counties IN Maryland
which are dominated by the negro vote, where
il has ihrotled progress and ohghted pros
nerity. The conditions that prevail in that
section will ultimately spread to other por-
lions of the State if the Republican party IS
again installed in power.
The platform upon which Governor War
field was nominated contained this plank
1--WE believe that the political destinies OF
MARYLAND should be shaped and controlled by
the white people of the State, and while We
disclaim any purpose 10 do any injustice
whatever to our colored population we declare
without reserve our resolute purpose TO pre-.
serve in every conservative and constitutional
way the political ascendaney of our race.
Thus, the platform upon which Governor
War6eld was nominated and his speech &C
eepling the nomination, show that he is IN
sympathy with the purpose Of the proposed
amendment limiting negro suffrage The dis
reimbursement Of the ignorant element Of
negro voters Was, we may say, the chief issue
of the Warfield campaign. II was conceded
by the Republicans to be the uPpeTmost' and
by an unusual majority Governor and Leg
islature were elected to give form and sub
stance 70 the avowed purposes Of the Demo
cratic party. Without an attempt to eliminate
part of the negro vote, the party would have
failed to meet the public verdict, and left the
negro vote intact TO continue menace TO the
rule of the white race aud the peace, pros
periiy and progress of the State.