The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-31
: LETTER 70 TIE VOTERS OF
GARRETT COUNTY.
BY J. B. EMORY
To the Editor of The Republican:

I
| We. as children Of a great nation. as
subjects Of . noble commonwealth. and
as liberty citizens of Garrett
county, standing as We DO before the
open door of state and county cam
paign ought to wipe the fog of preju-
dice from the windows of our under
standing that we may clearly discern
the real issue at stake in the present
conflict between the great political par
ties and accurately measure the jeopar-
dy IN which our individual liberty and
personal dignity is placed.
1t does not require a very profound
analysis oflthe legislative records Of the
past six years to discover the trend of
the Democratic policy in this good state
of Maryland and to reach the inevitable
conclusion that the paramount issue in
this campaign is Election Reform. The
well informed know Of a certainty that
! the gentlemen who seek election under
the banner Of Democracy at the ap-
preaching election are pledged heart
and hand to the securing of legislation
on the subject OF elections, which viz
tually means a perpetuation Of the
present misunderstanding law, with IN
told new and mystifying complications,
to confuse and debar the honest voter
and the establishment of the despicable
Poe Amendment.
The falling off Of nearly one-fifth of
the votes in. the yaers since the passage
OF. the present Democratic election law
furnishes unmistakable evidence of the
danger to be apprehended from entrust-
ing such vital matter to men who are
! pledged to policy so unfair and I'M
| American. The records and experience
Of the past have shown this law to be
practically disfranchisement law, not
only to the negro, but TO many thous-
ands OF our worthy white citizens, our
fathers bowed beneath the weight of
| years whose best years were given to the
defence OF our contry's honor, whose
hands have labored diligently in the con-
struction Of cur homes, our state and
our liberty, and whose trembling hand
can no longer trace a score of democrat
ic Ks in as many democratic squares on
a Democratic puzzle ballot, has been
robbed Of his highest civil right and his
God-given right of suffrage.
Put this question to yourselves fairly,
young men. Will you suffer the gray
hairs Of your fathers to be thus insult
ed? Will you lend your hand to the
casting Of a ballot in support of policy
that hurls pretended blow at the negro
dodger and sIaps your father and your
self in the face with the filthy hand of
political intrigue?
The democratic candidates in this
county do not very clearly define their
platform, because they think it wiser
to hide in the mist Of uncertainty, and
while they speak gliDly their purpose to
secure the enactment Of a primary cleo
ton law for Garrett county, we are left
in uncertainty as to the nature Of the
law they would make for US, and we
can naturally conclude that it would be
patterned after their own idea Of fair
ness as set forth in all Democratic cleo
ton schemes.
Think fairly OF the hardships to which
the voters are subjected under existing
election arrangement the trip to the
county seat over rough roads to swear
that you mean to become a citizen and
voter-th think Of these specifications Of
an American citizen and stand at the
door of civilized justice and with the
invincible might of your ballot strike a
shoulder blow in defence of IA and
good government.
The Republican Administrative in
Maryland gave to her citizens. when in
control few wears ago, a fair and open
election law whereby every citizen
could vote his sentiments in behalf of
whatever principal he advocated and
his expressed intention shown by his
ballot was accepted and he had not
the mortified tion of seeing his ballot