The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-31
GR0TdCRS STILL STATIONARY

]
In his attempt to let the people know
where he now stands on the issues of
! the campaign Mr. Crothers has been
highly successful. He is still stationary.
He has not budged an inch since the
formulation of his policies in his speech
of acceptance. He might just as well
have reissued that wordy and dusty
| document with the superscription ''as
ever, yours truly" But the declaration
of the democratic nominee is not
matter for levity. It shows such de-
plorable inability to adjust himself to
the point of view of the public, after
weeks of an enlghtening campaign,
that moresthan. anything else it proves
conclusiyely the futility of counting up
on the Democratic regulars to moderate
in any particular their announced posi-
ton. Everyone.by this time knows that
the reform of the election laws is the
prime issue of 1.-THE campaign. Every
one knows of the iniquities of the extra
session and Wilson bill Everyone
knows chat they are pair of partisan
ticket measures that are a disgrace to
the state. Everyone knows that the
set determination Of the people to wipe
them from the statute books has been
intensified, Las they saw the Democratic
losses in the counties under the Wilson
bill
Yet, despite the accumulation Of evil
dence to the contrary, the Democratic
candidate has the temelity to chirp the
praise Of the existing law. He has 10
word of reprobation for the Wilson Law
in general or for the fraud and chicanery
to which it is being put in many of the
counties. He has no word OF advocacy
for a uniform ballot law for the state,
such as Maryland had before the pro
fessional .tamperers renewed their tin
keringe with the election machinery.
What he does say is that, should his
party win in the coming election, he
pledges:himself to.moderate the present
law in the direction Of having the intent
of the voter better respected. But how
is this to be done? The Republicans
have specifically outlined their proceed
ure. Why has not the Democratic
candidate definite plan to propose?
The reason is clear enough All that
Mr.. Crothers means IS that the Demo
cratic party still asserts its right to
tamper further with the machinery of
elections in the interest of the Demo-
cratic party Only this and nothing
more. Read Alright his words give
grounds for the inference that the
Democrats, who have debased the cleo
ton laws, will be permitted to perpe-
trate further atrocities in the same
spirit and with the same intent. The
people want no more Democratic cleo
ton law making Even if the party
had a specific form Of relief to propose
it would be viewed with suspicion. But
it has not. tonly promises that it will
endeavor to reclaim as many as possible
of the Democratic ballots that have
been lost through overzeal Of the bosses
to count the Republicans out.
Of a similar order is the reference
made to the disfranchisement proposal.
The candidate asserts the purpose Of
his party to prepare a constitutional
amendment that will operate against
the colored voter and yet protect the
lliterate white voter. This is exactly
what was declared when the Poe Amend
ment was before the people. Had it
been adopted it would have deprived
thousands Of naturalized voters of their
ballot. The same set of tinkerers
would work upon the new amendment
with the same result. But, as a matter
of fact, constant talk about the coored
voter is only pretext The intention
Of the Democratic Bourbons in the
future, as in the past, is to so manipu-
late the ballot laws so that those voting
against them shall be deprived Of the
ballot. To this end the enactment of
another DISTINGUISHING amendment
would be proposed
If this declaration is all that Mr..
Crorhers would have contributed to the
platform discussion, it is well for his
party that he was not in a position to
recite his platitudes before the people
Of the state, who are up in arms against
the very things for which Mr. Crothers
stands.