The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-17

to which they are justly entitled. But
how can the Democrats, as a party,
claim any credit for this fair law when
they ruthlessly violated its provisions at
the first opportunity when they had the
power to change its provisions.
The fair declaration of the law of
1895, that the ballot should be counted
as far possible to carry out the intent OF
the voter, was ingeniously changed so
as to make the present ballot defeat the
intent by every form of construction.
Under the. eXtra-session and every de-
vious device which ingenuity could sug-
gest have been restored to. Instead OF
a ballot easily marked and easily count
ed, we have law under which no citizen
no matter how intelligent or how much
ne may contribute to the support of his
government, Gamble sure that his ballot
has beengcounted at any election.
''The thumbmark of an.unscrupulous
Judge, the slightest mutilation of the
ballot, the making. Of one crossmark
out Of great number which may in the
slightestydegree slip beyound the square
the inability tOxrefold a ballots in the
exact creases in which it was originally
folded-any one of these will destroy
the right of an American citizen to cast
his ballot;l but, above and beyond all
this, every voter is required, within a
few moments, in dimily lighted booth
to makei24 crossmarks in the city of
Baltimore, sand almost as many in the
counties Of. this state, at the coming
electlon,sin order to Lvote for all the
candidates and measures which are pre-
sented.to him!for. his decision.
There are thousands of good citizens
in this.state.who are from their early
traininglon account of their occupation,
which does not qualify them for such
an effort, ALPHABETICALLY DISTINGUISHED by
this onerous requirement. l cannot
believe that the people of this state will
longer tolerate these burdens upon the
franchise.
ut should be the first duty of Re
publican legislature and Republican
governor to enact law which will do
away withgall these abuses, which will
restore to all the people of this state
the right to vote and to have that vote
counted as cast, and especially to enact
some feature which will allow the voter,
if he So desires, by single mark, to
castshis ballot. for all the candidates of
the party of hisSchoice, without being
subjected.to the dangers and annoyances
of the.present law. Moreover. such
systemiwill promote independent vot-
ing. Anyiindeperdent party voter can
easily and.safely, by few marks, vote
for the several candidates of the oppo-
site party whom he favors, and still vote
the balance of his party ticket, whilst
the real Independent will mark each
candidate for whom he wishes to cast
his ballot in the same manner as he now
exercises the privilege
"A dishonest ballot debauches and
corrupts the electorate Of our state and
lowers the moral standard of the peo-
pie. An honest ballot, a fair count and
DISQUALIFICATION Of every citizen in the
affairs of his government are the foun-
dation-stones off American institutions.
If the law under which the right of
suffrage is exercised is vicious and de
based the government based upon it
will surely be tainted by the same in
fiuences. -