The Washington herald., 1908-01-02
TAKES PARTING SHOT
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
primary election law for the direct
nomination Of party candidates includ-
ing those for United States Senators.
You should not fail to provide I'm the
corrupt practices act for publicity Of
campaign expenditures, and. in my opin-
ion, you should take the English cor
rupt practices act as the basis Of the
law.
The primary elections should be held
by both parties on the same day, not
earlier than sixty days before the gen
eral election. and the expense OF said
primary elections should be borne by the
city and counties respectively. The cost
of the recent Senatorial primaries demon
strates that such expenses ought not TO
b large.
If a constitutional amendment be
adopted eliminating a large majority OF
the negro vote, the primary elections
will become the more important cleo
tions. because they viii virtually settle
the choice of all public officers. There
fore, you viii readily realize how i'm
portant II is for you in perfecting these
two laws 20 safeguard them IN every re-
spect Their passage, IN my judgment
SAADA4A ne AA-tA4f a tblaAAAt4bAA tfiN-N+NAaN ~
the passage Of any proposed suffrage
amendment 10 the constitution
Election Law,
1T is conceded that the present election
law is imperfect and should be amended
in such way as TO provide that each
ballot shall be counted in accordance
with the intention Of the voter for ali
those officers for which It is possible 70
clearly ascertain that intent
Changes also as to style. type, and
form OF ballot have been suggested.
Il heartily approved the bin intro
duced by Mr. Murphy. OF Baltimore
City, in the last legislature as it was
drafted along lines TO meet an Of the
principal objections urged against the
law.
"A reform in connection with election
machinery. which, I think, should be
adopted Is in regard 10 the appointment
OF the boards Of supervisors Of elections.
/ do not think that their selection should
practically be left 10 the party commit
tees OF the respective parties.
THE governor should be unrestricted
in selecting these important officers. lie
eLUAlu hlAhL AAlF q t-tif'ltAtaht' ht'ttNH ~ ftilA
with the advice and consent OF the
senate,
L have during my administration, seen
the abuses 10 which this bipartisan
plan Of appointment Of election officers
subjects US. especially In primary cleo
tions. where there is between the p0liti-
cal managers Of the two leading parties
a community Of interest and reciprocal
arrangements.
IF we want 10 have honest. fair. and
clean elections. primary, and general
they should be taken away from the con-
trOl OF the party boss, and he should
have nothing TO do with the naming OF
election officers.
Constitutional Amendment.
Il am satisfied that there is a demand
upon the part OF a majority of the citi-
zens OF this State for an amendment 10
the constitution fixing a higher standard
OF qualification fer exercise OF the cleo
ton franchise demand for the elimina-
ton OF the ignorant, Unrefecting, thrift
less negro voter.
Tn this demand concur. This State
should be governed by those citizens,
who. because Of their intelligence, their
heredity. and their interest in the mate
rial welfare Of the Commonwealth, are
best fitted TO properly patriotically, and
wisely exercise the high dutie, of citi-
zenship.
Il have entertained these views ever
since ! have been governor, and ear
nestly advocated the adoption by the
legislature Of 1e04 Of an amendment which
would meet the approval of the people.
The amendment proposed did not meet
my approval. for reasons which 1 have
already given.
whatever amendment is proposed 10y
this legislature should protect the citi-
zen who voted in 1863 or prior thereto,
and his descendants because that was a
sacred privilege then enjoyed by the white
citizens Of this State.
"The foreign-born citizen who has be-
come naturaIized, after complying with
the requirements of the laws Of the
United States and Of this State, should
be protected IN his rights because he be-
came a citizen upon the express gu6ran-
tee that If he met certain requirements
he would be entitled to citizenship.
''The amendment should also contain,
as an alternative right, an educational
qualification defined in definite precise
terms. such as ability 10 make out the
application for registration in writing. in
English, and to write from dictatiOn a
section of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, the Constitution Of the United
States, or the constitution of the State of
Maryland, not exceeding IN length fifty
words.
Another class OF persons should be
given the right to suffrage-those who
have a material interest in the welfare
of the Commonwealth, who pay taxes.
and thus aid in defraying the expenses
of the State and local governments, and
whose thrift means so much to the pros
perity Of the State. The man who by
industry, frugality, and business Judg-
ment accumulates property and acquires
his homo should have a voice In the
management Of public affairs.
"An amendment drafted on these lines
will, I think, meet with the approval Of
the people, certainly with my support.
POstpOning Legislation.
Il wish to call your attention to the
practice of postpOning final action on
important measures to the last days of
the season. This always results in hasty
and bad legislation.
THE reason for the delays and post
in the past hss been the time
consumed in the election of a United
States Senator. AS the party which is
IN this legislature by a large
majority Of its members has already Sc
lected its candidate for United States
Senator. there win be no further cause
for delay, so that you will be able to
promptly dispose of your business and
perfect your legislation