The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-03-22

clever Tor his qUestloners. Perhaps lis
questoners have some such idea. Per-
haps they intended consulting together,
and going over together all that'they
have learned and all that has been
brought out, either by accident of by
plan, to arm themselves witha measure
Of facts and surmises, formidable en-
ough, not working undev the disadvan-
tage Of the slightest under-estimation
to enable them. to cope with the undoubt-
ed brains of Maryland's octopus.
At last Wednesdays session of the
sion of the Senate, the bill introduced
in the House by Mr.. Ashby to prohibit
the sale of liquor within three miles of
Barnum's Station was passed.
The Baltimore Sun prints the follow
ing:
Mr.. Joshua w. Miles, of Somerset
county, who was, perhaps, a stronger
advocate of the Wilson Ballot law than
any other man in the State, Thursday
appeared before the Elections Commit
tee of the House and urged the repeal
of that law, so far as Frederick and
| Garrett counties are concerned.
Mr.. Miles was invited to appear be-
fore the committee to give his views
upon the proposed changes to the Elec-
| ton law, and he did so in no uncertain
manner. He emphatically declared his
belief that the intention of the voter
should count, and said that if he were
member of the Legislature he would
vote for the provision that if the inter-
section of the cross-mark is within the
square the ballot should be counted.
While Mr.. Miles is as firm believer
in the Wilson law as he ever was and
would oppose with all his force the gen
eral repeal of this act, his advice that it
be repealed for Frederick and Garrett
counties created some surprise.
He argued that the whole purpose of
the conception of the Wilson law was to
do away with the illiterate and venal
negro vote and that he believed, and
still believes, this purpose to be wor-
thy one, we'll calculated to benefit the
whole State.
Il do not, however, he said, ZAP
prove of the law for Frederick and
Garrett counties, and never did. l
thought it was mistake to pass it for
those counties in the first place and
would like to see it repealed so far as
they are concerned. The conditions in
those counties are not such as to make
a law like the Wilson law necessary.
They are not overrun with horde of
ignorant negro voters who vote like
sheep, utterly without intelligence or
| discrimination. There are enough
thrifty, sturdy white men in both par
ties in Frederick and Garrett counties
to take care of themselves without the
Wilson law. In other counties where
the law is in force it is necessary and
should remain. Without it there is
danger that the negroes, led by few
INSCRIPTIONS white men, might gain
control of'county affairs"
In speaking on the subject of trick
ballots and fake nominations, Mr.. Miles
declared that in his county the law had
not been violated, and that the state
ment of the Reform League people that
the first fake nominations they ever
heard of had occurred under the present
law is not true one. The FIRST fake
ticket, he said, was put up by the ne
groes of Somerset county in 1897 under
the very Reform League law Of 1896
which the Republicans are now trying
so hard to re-enact. The negroes put
up fake ticket and the case was taken
to the Court of Appeals, where they
were sustained. No greater opportu-
nifty for fake nominations is given, Mr..
Miles said, under the present law than
under that of 1896.
At last Thursdays session of the
House bills were introduced by Mr.. Sell
by amending the tax laws of Garrett
county.
Prohibiting the sale OF liquor in Flee
ton district No Garrett county.
The bill introduced in the House by
Mr.. Ashby to prohibit the pollution of
streams in Garrett county, after the
adoption of an amendment reducing the
minimum fine from $50 to S25, was
passed by the Senate, Friday morning,
At last Monday nights session of the
Senate, bills were introduced by Sena
tor Brown to authorize the County
Commissioners of any comfy to call on
a sheriff for able-bodied prisoners to
help prepare material for county roads
To amend charter of Grantsville.
To amend Garrett county Road law.
PAUL WINCHESTER.