Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18
AFFAIRS IN MARYLAND
NO SHOW FOR BALLOT REFORM
LEGISLATION.
;peeial Correspondence Of The Star.

Mo-, 0Srcn H. l3Jb
With the adjournment OF the legislature
two weeks of. 1T is now practically certain
that there Will be no ballot reform law
passed at this session. While the demand
for clean election law has been general
in Baltimore city and the central counties
of the state. the democratic machine leaders
have decided that the existing statutes are
imperative to the party's Success in the
corning elections during the next two years,
and have SO shaped the legislative program
that all possibility of relief from trick bal
lots Is at an end for this session
The present law is one of the most per-
ntcious pieces of legislation ever enacted.
1t furnishes no safeguard to the voters, and
the result Of an election does not depend
upon the plehiscite, but rather is with the
judges of election. 1t is law passed for
the sole purpose of further.ng the political
ambitions of one man, and In this 1t was
successful. The law is 80 framed that the
Judges of election pass upon the intent of
the voter, and even though that intent is
clearly shown by the cross-mark on the
ballot the judges may, should the cross
mark extend beyond the confines of the
square opposite the candidates name throw
out the ballot as defective count it as the
needs of the situation may demand.
The responsibility for failure to enact
cratic party. The machine organization
has had a working ma jority in both
branches of the Legislature since the assem-
bling of that body, and would have had the
cooperation Of the republicans had any dis
position been shown to wine the present
disgraceful law off the statute books.
To Embarrass Warheld.
sage of the Dawkins Chinese wall labor
hill The iva on baI- mn
up to Gov. Warfed to sign or veto the
measure. The approval of the bill will
bring uron the governor the combined OPP
position OF the mercantile and financial in
terests of Baltimore, while a veto of the
act will array the labor element throughout
the state soidly against Mr.. Warfield.
The business interests OF this city
thoroughly aroused over the matter, and
have not yet given up hope of defeating
the bill when 1t shall reach the governor
for his action. A large delegation of busi-
ness men, representing the Chamber of
Commerce, Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, Board of Trade, Traders and
Merchants Association and about twenty
other commercial bodies. will go to Annapo-
lis next week and make a, personal appeal
to Gov. Warfield to exercise his power of
veto. In discussing the bill, President Wylie
of the Chamber OF Commerce said to The
Star correspondent today: The demon
Slritlon by the business men OF BalIlfrlore
at Annapolis fortnight ago showed that
the best interests of the city were against
the obnoxious Dawkins bill, and 1t should
have indicated to the aSsembIymen that
there should be no class legislation for
Maryland. We shall next week ask Gov.
Wartield to protect the sovereign rights of
this great and growing city and prevent
the efforts of certain class of men to hold
a balance Of power which Will be harmful
10 the further advancem of Baltimore
along progressive commercial ana social
lines"