The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-12-25
THE CO STIT U.TIO NAL
AMEN

The Jas; Legislature Re this safe
passed al astGfdu-n' Il ss cons,itu-
ton. fixing tie qualifications d tho-s
who shall here fer D. ~atitied % vote.
This amendment VIII be submitted
to tie voters al he next elec lou fo'
their adoption or rejection
Il bscoaes therefore. he imperative
duty Of al good eitz=n. 70 CO .d=r
thoagh'tu.ly aud ,erigBsly bo- they
shall east heir vote.
TIE adopt ~ Or rejection Of -
amendment Or tn franchise. i nor.
and should u [, b. considered q psrti-
Eau question by e.ther or any tarfy.
because it is he fouu alton Of good
government
Under our system Of representative
governmenr. the fraurnise Is me on y
sxpfesson d 'he power ard di ecti L
Of the governEIe l by the people.
From tbs il 70 lows a. q NECESSARY
eenseqDsaee that II The people sam
god. honest I'D Stable government
10. yClsu-t havs az enlightened, i1oses
aud patriotic Electorate.
Tie voters ~heD they come to vote
IN the peBdsng snleBdns~Bs. shouIsi
not print iheins=ly-s to be diverted
from an hone-t au'i patriotic di.cnarge
Of their dits, by any 'tisan clamor,
or party utilization, Or pa y success
/ is true ihat in 1915 a franchise
smendmeni was -ubmittei 10 the PEP
pl., aud BY them defeated. To that
Amendm. at there were many AMI ser
ious o jsrtions
Besides many prominent Dem Gratis
opposedil. aud among tbo.e who ~
posed il, vas tn Governor OF the State
aud No United States seuaLDr. BE
cause Of the obje tons to tin amend
meat aud tie influential men who OPP
posed it, II WAS detected.
There are no sich objectio to the
pending amendment, aud no such
powerful influences in opposition to ID.
II the condition # n. electorate Of
Narylani. is ho. esily aud thought
fully considered. it seems to Is that
all who want god government in
Maryland will vote for tnis amend
meni.
There Is nothing 10 it which dis
qualities ans eI.s- + voters a. i class.
nor do-s il discrim nate against auy
class as class, but on tie contrary j.
simply provide. SUCH qualifications
and tests as will insure a c5mpstent
aud Respectable, electorate.
Tue electorate Of Maryland il on
lover plane than that Of any other
State II the UniO4.
FIR years his State has g. cen cured /
With an eclorate in which there were
far more ,hsn enough ve al voters FOR
sale, publicly aud op-niy, to deide
an cleo ioD any way that their ,otss
Were fought and east.
This condition has been % open aud /
flag ant that the courts aud grand /
juues, neither considered it, although /
We lave had jaw against bribery iu 1
existence all Of the tine.
shall this cind lisn continue to de-
grade the pen. le and tarnish the fair
name OF our state, or shall We change 1
ii?
1t Is said that the Corrupt Practices
Act y Ill correct il. We hope that it /
will, but We are afraid hat it will not. |
bscause the laws against bribery failed !
absolutely, aud 50 we think that The /
Corrupt Practices Act will also fill /
But even ii this sci is not a fsure,
this class II venal aud corrupt voters
Dus bit t. be eliminated a. far as may
BE-, f,r it is largely criminal aud en-
.Irvly irresponsible aud dangerous.
The object Of the amendment is to
elevate the electorate of the State of
and We thiuk that any
,onest aud truthful man, must realize
he necessity If raising the electorate
o higher and safer plane than il
low occupies.
The BITTER The electorate the more
INDEPENDENT it is. and the safer
The rights. prosperity and happi-
nees of the people are
There eau be no danger from a COM
psteLt and honest electorate; there is
every danger from an incompetent aud
Vrnal one, such as now exists in this
State.
The real question is, shall we elevate
Ind purify The electorate. or shall we
continue the debauchery of the pres
mt frapchisef J