The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-08-11

useful labOrer, instead of his &C.
cupying the demoralizing posi-
ton of a political slave, which
he is today.
1--WE therefore cordially and
Peartily indorse the proposed
amendment and earnestly urge
the voters of the county to cast
their ballots in favor of it's adop,
ton.
ave also indorse His Excel
lency Edwin Warfieid, Governor
of the State, as we'll as the other
Democratic State officials, for
their able and business like ad.
mlnistration of the government
of the State of Maryland
When the report had been
adopted, General Baughman made
an address to the committee
which in substance is as follows:
SPEECH OF GEN. BAUGHMAN.
81 fully realize, Mr.. Chairman,
how difficult il is to secure the
united Endorsement of a party
to any public measure, however
merltorious it may be. Men have
differed and always differ as to
the means for the accomplish.
ment of desired ends. 1t is there
fore not surprising that some in
dependent Democrats are found
today giving scant encourage
ment to the very measure which
for years has commanded the in
dorsement and approval of the
people in all sections Of the Com
mOnwealth For myself | deeply
regret that there should be found
at this time any Democrat, regu-
lar or independent, who claims a
just cause for antagonizing this,
the only amendment, the only
means by which we can record
our well known opposition to the
continued franchise of the negro
in the State. l have, however,
no words of abuse for the gentle
men, who honestly differ with me
upon questions of State or
national policy. l concede the
right of every man to his con
scientiOus convictions. | simply
regret that any of my party could
leave us on so mOmentOus a ques-
tiOn-tilled as it is with so many
vital considerations for the well
fare of our people.
WILL STAND THE TEST.
1T Is well known that there
were two measures of this char
acter fully discussed before the
Democratic representatives in
Annapolis-later on a third meas
ure was presented After the
most thorough and careful lnves-
tigation of these several meas
ures in Washington by prominent
and influential Southern, and |
may also say, Northern Demo
cratic leaders, it was universally
admitted that but one of these
measures would stand the test of
a constitutional fight before the
Supreme Court of the United
States. A draft Of this measure.
afterward adopted by the Demo
cratic Senators and Democratic
Representatives as the proper
amendment, was prepared-not
by Mr.. John p. Poe-and for
warded to Annapolis. For rea-
sons well known to many it has
been thought fit in some quar-
tiers to designate the amendment
as the Poe amendment but with
equal justice it might be termed
the Smith, Brown, or Jones
amendment At any rate, the
great army of Democrats in this
State who have been loyal under
so many trying circumstances
should bear in mind that every
Democratic representative in An
napolis voted for this amend
ment, and that if we fail, for
any cause or for any selfish
reason, to adopt it at this time
it may be the last opportunity
party will ever have of Kidding
itself of a set of corrupt and
ignorant voters who in many
parts of this State have cOntroll-
ed the destinies of the white
people who constitute the vast
majority of the taxpayers and
the intelligent voters.
ACTION OF COURT OF APPEALS.
"The question of submitting
the amendment to the Governor
for his approval has already been
argued before the highest judi.
cial tribunal in the State, and
the unanimous decision of the
court was rendered by Chief Jus.
tice McSherry, one of the ablest
constitutional jurists in the coun-
try, declaring that it was unnec-
essary for such an amendment
to be presented to the Governor
for his approval. Therefore the
failure of the Legislature to send
the amendment to the Governor
should not be used as an excuse