The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-17
CAMPAIGN
OPENED kUSP|CI0USLY.
Continued from Page One.

often that this law was intended to dis
franchise the colored voters Of our
State. Out of the Y, 9s5 registered vo-
tiers Of Aliegany, only 462 were colored.
whilst the total registered vote Of Gar
rett in 1907, shows 4, 14S, of which only
"A are colored, and yet the total vote at
the elections in these counties show the
great falling off in the number of regis
tered votes. In the election for Gov
ernor in Allegany, in 1899, under our
Fair Election Law of 1896, there were
9S21O votes counted. In 1903, in the
same county, there were only 1866
| votes counted. difference of ]. 304. In
1900, IN the vote for President, the total
| vote was 10, $50 under our old law, whilst
IN 1904 the total vote had fallen to
! 9,2S9, a loss of 1,691 votes, whilst in the
State election of 1905 the total vote of
! Allegany fell to Z, 486, but the registra-
ton of 1899 as compared with the regis
tration for 1908 shows an increase of
voters from II, 537 to Il, 985, an increase
OF over !, 400 votes, whilst the vote has
decreased nearly 1,600. These figures
show conclusively the great percentage
OF the white voters of Allegany who are
dlsfranchised by the present law. In
Garrett county the same story is told.
The vote for Governor in 1899 was
3,246 as against 2, 665, a loss of $50
votes. In the election for President in
1900, $3.50 votes We're cast as against
3,O63 recorded in 1904, a difference Of
5l7 votes, whilst in the State election of
1905, under the Wilson amendment to
the EXtra-Session law, the total vote of
Garrett was only 1920. At the same
time the registered vote increased from
1891 IN 1899 to /, 149 in 1905, and vet in
spite of this increase we see the whole
. sale falling off in the counted vote of
Garrett county. Could there be a
greater evidence of the pernicious effect
of this election law of 1901, and espe-
clally OF its effect upon the white voters
of our State?
The selection of candidates for the
United States Senatorship by direct
vote of the people is a great reform
which can only be successfully carried
out under legalized system of prim-
aries held throughout the State on the
same day for both political parties. and
with PLAIN provisions whereby the can
dldate receiving the highest number of
votes throughout the State shall be de
clared the nominee of his party for this
lofty position. To such a plan. and its
proper enactment into law as a part of
the statues of this State, our party is
unequivocally committed. and it will be
the duty of a Republican Legislature
and Governor to successfully inaugurate
this needed reform. The attempt of the
Democratic managers to provide a party
substitute for these requirements has
resulted in complete failure. 1t is on
par with their efforts through the
gulse Of Senatorial primary to divert
the minds of the people from the i'm
portant State issues which are confront
ing them, and to make the election Of
United States Senator of paramount
Importance. This speciouS attempt to
run State campaign on a National
issue has met with the diSastrousfailure
that such deceiving method deserves.
The numerous conferences, - the at
tempts of would-be aspirants to bind
the Legislative candidates to a blind
support Of plans which are at variance
with the instructions of their State Con-
ventlon, the contradictory terms of the
State convention resolutions, them
selves, have all contributed to deepen
the darkness OF the chaos into which
the paramount issue has been Dlung-
ed. Without any agreements, even of
gentlemanly character, it is a "go-as-
u-please, if not a "free-for-all'
race. The entries are judiciously dis
trlbuted from geographical stand
point, three from the Eastern Shore
and three from the balance of the
State, and yet there is a strong sus-
plclon on the part of the sporting fra
ternity that most of the entries are
from the same stable, and that in this
event, unlike the State convention.
there Will be no necessity for a dark
horse to come to the front, but that
after a becoming setting of the pace on
the part OF certain gentlemen, so as to
dispose OF the one Independent entry.
the tlmsh Will be an easy victory for
the favorlte of the political ring, eX-
Governor John Walter Smith. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the people of
Maryland will tolerate this thinly yelled
! scheme for disposing of the United
States Senatorship.
\ The education of the youth of our
State, upon broad and helpful lines
should be of primary Importance to anv
State administration. but especially to
/ Republican officials. Our party has al
oS DNl4SN SN III tIIS pIlilClIJiC IildI II Is
the truth which makes YOU free, and
that the greatest bulwark of our ins.i-
tutions is an intelligent and educated
electorate. Ignorance and illiteracv
are injurious to our system of govern
ment, but when that ignorance is the
result of unfortunate conditions in the
early life Of the citizen which prevent
ed him from enjoying any opportunities
for instruction, it is a misfortune and
not a crime, and can be easily corrected
in succeeding generations by the broad
system Of education in which we be-
lieve. Especially should the education
of our youth tend to promote the indus
trial usefulness of the coming citizen.
The dignity of all forms of productive
labor should be emphasized and the
children of our State taught and trained
to consider agricultural and industrial
occupations of equal Importance with
the literary professions. The work of
the farm, the shop and the mine must
be made sufficiently attractive and re-
munerative to command the interest
and support of men of intelligence and
training. | trust that the Federal