The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-02-13
DEATH KAELL Of
THE SUFFRAGE PLAN
1t Was Sounded by The Democratic
Caucus.
APPEAL TO U. S. SUPREME COURT
Retention OF The Property Qualifica=
ton Clause Will Surely Bring De
feat to The Proposition. Many of
Democrats Convinced That 1t Is
Discrimination.

night at Annapolis practically sounded
the death knell of the DISTINGUISHING
amendment to the Constitution by res
toring the property qualification clause.
The unanimous action of the caucus in
unfolding the proposition means that
the Democrats, who have the required
constitutional majority in the two
houses, will rush the proposition
through. It will be signed by the Gov
ernor and will be voted for in 1909.
Democratic leaders privately admit
that the property qualification clause
means the downfall of the whole
scheme. Despite a campaign of edu-
cation, which the Democratic leaders
say they will institute at once. the poor
classes of the Democrats cannot and
will not be convinced that the whole
amendment is blow against them and
is intended to discriminate against them
and in favor of the rich man.
And the idea that the husband of
woman owning $500 should be allowed
to vote though not worth cent him
self! The suggestion is preposterous.
Thousands of Democratic voters can
not be convinced that they can register
under the grandfather clause, under
the naturalization and educational
clause. They will not understand. or
refuse to understand, the meaning of al
ternatiyes. That property qualification
will stare them in the face ard will blind
them to every other qualification.
Just as sure death comes to all and
taxes are imposed upon real estate own
ers, the amendment will be carried to
the United States Supreme Court if it
is approved at the election next wear.
Maryland Republicans will not sit
supinely by and have rights of voters
taken away without a resort to the
Supreme Court to test those rights.
And if the Maryland amendment is up
set all the DISTINGUISHING constitutions
of Southern states will come tumbling
after. 1t is interesting to note the
attitude of the Supreme Court on this
DISTINGUISHING question.
The validity of the constitutions of
the Southern states containing the
grandfather clause and other fea-
lures drafted with view to eliminat-
ing the colored vote has never been
passed upon by the Supreme Court. In
the cases which have reached the court
jurisdiction has been denied. The most
important ruling was that by Associate
Justice Holmes in the Alabama case.
In this case a colored man was denied
registration. The relief sought was
denied on the ground that the case was
politicalE
The court as a whole did not pass on
the question of jurisdiction. Justice
Harlan claimed that the court should
have declined to assume jurisdiction.
Justices Brewer and Brown held that
federal question was involved in that
the man denied registration was depriv-
ed of the right to vote for candidate
for Congress.
If the Supreme Court holds to the
opinion that the Alabama case was en-
tirely political and not within the scope
of the courts consideration, then, of
course. all future attempts to bring the
Southern constitutions to the attention
of the court will have to be abandoned.
The suffrage clause of the constitution
of Mississippi was before the United
States Supreme Court in the case of
Williams VS.. State of Mississippi Q70
U. S. 213). The decision of the court
has been considered as an affirmation of
the validity Of the clause. In opposi-
ton to that contention, Mr.. Lowe, of
the American Negro Academy, has ex-
pressed the belief that the case only
brought up the question of disfranchise-
ment collaterally, without proper al
legations or sufficient proof.
1t is contended that the Fifteenth
Amendment did not confer the right of
suffrage upon anyone. 1t prevented
the state and the United States from
giving preference in this particular to
one citizen Of the United States over
another on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude. Be
fore its adoption this could be done. 1t
was formerly as much within the power
of a state to exclude a citizen of the
United States on account of race as it
was on account of age, property or edu-
cation; now it was not. If citizens of
one race having certain qualifications
were permitted by law to vote. those of
another having the same qualifications
also must be. Previous to this amend
ment there wasno constitutional guaran-
tee against this discrimination; had in
vested citizens of the United States
with new constitutional right which
was within the protecting powers of
Congressional of exemption from dis
elimination in the exercise of the cleo
tive