The National tribune., 1908-12-31
TRICKING THE VOTERS.

In no State in the Union is there
such persistent and unblushing trickery
to deprive citizens of their votes and
carry the elections for the ring which
so long had the State in hand, as in
Maryland. We do not know of any
other State that permits trick ballots"
That is, different ballots for different
Counties in order to disfranchise vot-
ers- On these trick ballots all sorts of
devices are resorted TO to confuse the
voter and cause him to make mistakes
in the hasty time allowed him to pre-
pare his ballot. When the votes come
to be counted enough ballots for the
purpose can always be thrown out upon
one pretext or another. At the last
election in Frederick County out OF
49, 244 votes cast only 9.21S were count
ed, and 2,1T7 We're thrown out on ac-
count of being improperly marked. The
taxpayers are also rehelling because of
the inerdinate and unnecessary cost OF
the elections.
For years the ring managers have
been trying to disfranchise all the ne
groes in the State as we'll as cut down
stitutional amendments have been pro-
posed and the one which is to be voted
on at the next general election is repre-
sented as particularly obnoxious. 1t is
not intended by any means to exclude
the ignorant and unfit from voting. but
it is intended rather to aIl,,,v .he eliqaa
Of politicians to legally Say vino shall
and who shall not vote. It is estimated
that the amendment VIII Gisfrarchise at
leas+ $4,000 citizens who are entitled to
vote under the laws OF the United States
and the majority CT the more progress
sive States. \ Fair Ballot League
has been formed Of citizens regardless
or party and who see the danger of con-
centrating still more power in the hands
of the ring In its manifesto to the
public the League says in part:
We are confronted with Il proposal
to subject the suffrage tp Il series of al
ternatiye Qualifications designed to op-
crate autonsa. icaily in admitting to the
right to vote as many Us possible of the
classes OF cd:' Citizc2s intended TO be ia
vored and in DISTINGUISHING as large a
proportion as practicable of the BODY OF
citizens whose electoral rights are
sought TO be destroyed.
-Clder the amendment 4 citizen OF
Mary land, TO matter how useful or
loyal he may be to his State would
have to surrender his p.esent tenure OF
the elective franchise. D&Sed Upon the
sole and Simple conditions of residence
for prescribed period and innocence
of Infamous crime, and acquire il, if at
all, by showing that il addition to these
qualifications he cajOys the distinction
Of having been entitled tc vote some
-.
of January. 1869; or of being descended
from one who had had that privilege;
or, of being q foreigE-born citizen OF
the United states. naturalized between
the iSt of January, 1869. and the aGop-
ton of the amendment; or of being de-
sccnGei f.Cn Such = naturaliZed citizen;
or CT being the possess of q memory
that will enable him without aid. mem
cracdu-l, suggestion or fnterrogatGry.
to write his application for registration
correctly. stating therein his name, age.
date. and place OF birth, residence and
occupation at the tine and for two
years rcxt preceding. the name or
names of his employer or employers, il
any. at the time aid for two years next
preceding. and whether he has previ-
ously voted. and if SO, the State, County
or city and district or precinct in which
he voted last. and also the name in full
of the President of the United States.
vi
Court of the United States. of the Gov
ernor of Maryland, of one of the
judges Of the Court of Appeals of Mary
land and of the Mayor of Baltimore
City. if the applicant resides in that
city, or cf o2e of the County Commits
sioners of the County in which the ap-
phcant resides: or of being Il person
who is unable to comply with these re-
quirements. solely on account of physi-
cal disability. or of being a person, or
the husband of q person. who is the
bona fide owner of property in an
amount not less than $500. and Is as
sessed for taxation on account of such
property, and has been such owner and
so assessed for two years next preceding
the application for registration, and
shall have paid and shall produce re-
ceipts for the taxes on such property
for that period. and shall make affi-
davit to such ownership and payment
of taxes"