The Washington herald., 1908-02-07
FRANCHISE Is FIXED
Democrats Of Maryland APP
prove Proposed Bill.
GRANDFATHER'S CLAUSE IN
Caucus Action Is Unanim0us-GOv-
crn0r ia Favor Of Proposed ItmftR-
tion of Electorate PriviIege-Atti-
tude of supreme Court to BE Deter
mined by Republican Opponents.
SPECIAL 20 Tie Washington Herald

SPECIAL 20 Tie Washington Herald
Annapolis. Nd. Feb. 6.-After wrauellng
for nearly three hours. the Democratic
members Of the Maryland legislature g.
caucus tonight approved Of the pro-
posed dlsfranchise amendment. as draft
ed by the committee Of leading members
of the party.
TIE long-drawn-Out session was due 10
the fact that the various provisions Of
the measure. which formed one OF the
strongest planks IN the campaign last
fan. were discussed n detail. The ap-
proval Of the bill as framed by the lead
ers was unanimous, except as to one pro
vision Of a minor nature.
That the measure viii pass by a strict
party vote is a foregone conclusion. Not
only do prominent Democrats approve of
the bill as drafted. but Gov. Crothers
has also expressed himself as heartily in
favor Of IT,
Four Electorate Classes,
If the amendment is ratified by the
people. then the electorate will be perma-
neutly divided into four classes:
First-All who had the privilege Of vot-
ing In any State on January I. 1869. and
the adult male descendants Of such per
sons.
Second-AU foreign-born citizens OF the
United States who were naturaIized he
tween January 1, 1863. and the date of
the adoption OF the amendment. and the
adult male descendants Of such persons.
Third-An who are qualified by the pay
ment OF taxes on property
Fourth-All who can qualify under the
educational test
It is believed, with a minimum OF de-
bate. the bill viii pass within two weeks.
The proposition VIII be submitted 10
popular vote next year
The proposed amendment 10 the con-
stitutlon as adopted contains the much
discussed grandfather's clause on this
point
UD tn Supreme Court.
Attorney General Bonaparte. Congress
man Mudd, and other leading RepubIi-
cans Of the state have declared that no
stone shall be left unturned to bring
about a decision by the Supreme Court
on the question.
It was expected that an effort would
be made to restore in the amendment
the paragraph originally agreed upon,
limiting the operation Of the grandfather's S
clause until 1921 No such effort was
made
1t was also expected that Senator Go.
man. of Howard County, would oppose
the retention Of the clause requiring as
an alternative to the grandfather's and
naturalization clauses the possession of
property valued at $500, as a requisite TO
registration. The opposition. however
did not materialize.
Yield to Necessity.
The Democrats of the Eastern Sbnre
and Southern Maryland counties are NOT
in love with the educational clause be
lieving Il Will admit the negro vote
However, they swallowed the amendment
hook and all. in order to command the
support of Baltimore and the western
counties, without whose votes the plan
would fail.
AS a result the amendment is com.
promise. The property qualification may
eliminate thousands of poor men, and the
educational test may affect those whose
early schooling was neglected. The only
change made on the amendment was one
to enable tlle husband of a wife owning
property to come within the property
qualification.
Speeches In favor of the amendment
were made by Lehmayer, Benson, Ray Cof
Montgomery, Speaker Ray. Stanford. and
Beasman. Senator Lee spoke four times.
A rising vote pledged every member of
the caucus to stand by the amendment
when it comes up I'm the senate and house
4 II gD,,IJ q Co.. Frto.-s.