Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-10-21
THE RIGHT OF EVERYWHITE MAN
TOVOTE

THE RIGHT OF EVERYWHlTE MAN
TO VOTE.
few days ago we attempted to show
that the objection to the negro vote
being under the blind guidance of Re
publian politicians was, in its ultimate
analysis based upon the fact that he
voted the Republican ticket In order
that our position may not be misun-
derstood. we now announce that we
Amendment which will eliminate
from our electorate the negro vote,
provided the Constitution protects with
some degree of equality the right of
every white man to vote. The present
amendment does not do this The as
suIanoe is given that no white man
will be disqualified. But who is
authorized to give that assurance.
aud who takes upon himself the pre-
sumption of stating that the Organic
Law OF the State of Maryland will be
enforced leniently as to one class of
citizens and rigidly as to another
class
The white men of the State of Mary
land coming under the provisions of
the proposed amendment may be di-
vided into two classes: First, those
who are protected by having been en-
titled to vote in 1869, and those whose
ancestors had such right Second,
those who do not come under this
al al
braces every son and grandson of every
native Marylander who becomes of
age after 1906.
The first class is entitled to his vote
by definite provision and cannot be
deprived of it by any act of registra-
tion officer. or of Judge or of the Leg
islaturo. Is the second class protected?
These men undergo an examination
upon Constitutional law. and it rests
solely with the discretion of the regis
tration officers whether that examina-
ton shall be .perfuuctory or whether
it shall be so inquisitorial as 10 result
in Acknowledgement Therefore, one
class of white men is in the exercise
of the elective franchise beyond the
reach of any political machine, his
right being definitely fixed in the
law; while the other class depends
for rs right to vote upon the grace of
those who administer the law This
is class legislation. unjust disorimi-
nation of one class of white men
against another.
Besides, the number of white voters
under the special protection of this
system of administering the law mIst
increase. and in few years the ma
jority of them will have no suffrage
privilege other than what is granted
to them by the grace of some political
machine. Intsead Of prmoting indie
pendent voting it will bring with
each recurring year "a larger number
of persons who are Deepen dent upon a
favorable administration of the law
and opposition to which may result
in acknowledgements But the assur-
auoe Of protection is fortified by the
statement that there is the right of
appeal To the Courts Is that remedy
worth anything under the language
of the amendment, and under the in
depreciation which the Courts must
necessarily give TO it ? The law will
then prescribe ability Ito read any
Section of the Constitution of this
State submitted to him by the off,
GERS of registration, and TO give a Iea.
sonable explanation of the same. -
The Court has no power TO so beyond
the positive mandate of this law and
cannot submit TO the applicant any
other Section OF the Constitution, MOI
make any independent inquiry into
his publications. The appeal would
be restricted T. the particular Section
submitted to him by the.Registrars and
the question as to a reasonable eXpla-
nation would not be the explanation
given to the Court on the appeal, but
the explanation given to the Regis
trars.
e The advocates of this amendment
must admit that this is the true in
trepretation of the jurisdiction of the
Court upon appeal, otherwise the
negro applicant would have an oppor
tuuity 60 study the particular Consti.
tutional Section submitted tozhim and
in that way qualify himself for reg
istration, which would, of course
defeat the very intention of the law.
The same means adopted TO dis.
franchise the negro could he used tC
disfranohise white men who Go. not
come within the first class, and the
opportunity to do this win grow each
year as the number of white men sub
ject to the Constitutional test in
creases.
Constitutional provisions are intend,
ed to protect civil and political rights