The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-04-12
FAULT LIES WITH DeMOCRATs.

Fault LIES WITH DEMOCRATS.
Some Democrats seem disposed to
attempt to make capital out Of the fact
that the Republicans refused to support
the election bill reported late Monday
night by a conference committee com
posed entirely Of Democrats. Demo
cratic Chairman Vandiver is one of
these and to some remarks from him
Republican Chairman Hanna has given
the following reply, thoroughly and sat
isfactorily explaining the situation:
Because the Republicans would not
blindly follow the lead of the Democrats
and take on faith important changes in
our election laws when presented after
midnight of the last day Of the session,
Mr.. Vandiver says the Republicans are
to blame because election law reforms
failed. | know of few Republicans, or
Democrats, either, for that matter, who
would support any election bill On faith
emanating from the Democratic ma
chine which has fathered all manner of
trick ballots and election fraud in Mary
land.
The Democratic party was in control
of both branches of the General Assem-
bly,. Early in the session the Republi-
cans earnestly supported the Reform
League Bill re-enacting the good law Of
1896. The Democratic majority refused
to bring it from committee for over
month afterward, and opposed it vigor-
ously. At the time it was freely talked
around Annapolis that the Democratic
machine had determined that no changes
should be made. The Republicans,
finding it impossible to pass the Reform
League Bill, gave their cordial support
to the next best that was offered, a
measure introduced by Mr.. Murphy,
Democrat, of Baltimore, and, with only
six Democrats voting for it. the Repub-
llcanS lined up for it solidly and it passed
the House. Mr.. Vandiver's determine
ton to give the people what they ap-
peared to want showed much weakness
about that time, for the Democratic
Senate rejected the moderate Murphy
bill, but passed poor substitute cutting
out the vital changes demanded by the
people.
Thus the Democratic party spurned
the Reform League Bill and the Murphy
Bill Nor did they through all the SEES
sion draft bill to give the people an
idea of what changes the Democratic
party would stand for. On the con
trary, their work was limited to killing
measures introduced by others. And
yet because the Republicans refused to
support a bill agreed upon in confer
ence made up entirely of Democrats
tive Of whom were never charged with
the slightest wish to do other than the
Democratic machine desired and re-
ported to the House after midnight on
the day OF adjournment, when the Re-
pubhcans could not possibly have time
to examine its provisions, the Republi-
cans are charged by Mr.. Vandiver with
responsibility for the failure to enact
good election law. | feel certain that
the people will not be deceived by such
a hollow pretense. The facts are that
the Democratic party made no bona ide
effort to enact fair election law.
The Republican members of the legis
lature aquitted themselves with honor,
having had an important share in put
ting through the good things done. and
may justly charge the Democratic party
with full responsibility for falling to
provide for fair elections. This issue is
-N"' 49, VII iSllIdlIl, Tie paramount
one until the people Of Maryland have
an honest election system, run on the
square by honest officials.
Mr.. Hanna has covered the whole
ground, but we wish to make one little
query; The amended bill was present
ed to the Republicans after midnight.
after the legal period for the adjourn
ment of the Legislature had really pass
ed and they were then asked to support
1t without reading it and simply on the
statement of their political enemies that
it was all right. Now, how many of
the critics have read the bill and really
know, even at this late day, whether it
was good bill or NOT