The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-10
First. Negroes; and

IeHuerS II dlncult Tor any negro to
register, and the naturalized citi-
zen in the future will find it at
least difficult to qualify himself On
accountofhis unfamiliarityw with the
English language. If the scheme
under lying the amendment proves
successful it will d1sfranchise al
most $4,000 negro voters. In a
small state like Maryland with a
total registration of 2S3, 900 it can
readily be seen that it would make
the state a one-party state. 1t is
fact that all the negroes do not
vote and that all those who do vote
do not vote the Republican ticket,
but If for the sake of argument it
is assumed that at this time the
state is equally divided politically
and that all the registered voters
voted, with the elimination of so,
900 negro voters, the vote would
stand 40, 900 Democrats to 90, 900
Republicans. This would effeC-
lively make this state a one party
state with all the political corrup-
ton and civic degradation that the
term implies.
The greatest political revolution
that Maryland has ever seen, the
defeat Of Mr.. Bryan in 1906 by
about $4,000 in the state, merely
meant that about 2 per cent. of
the Democrats voted for William
Mckinley. Under the altered
condition proposed by the disfran-
chisement amendment a similar
change II per cent. and would car
ny the state for Bryan by more
than 10000. So that even polit-
ical revolution could not affect the
deadly inertia of a one-party state.
The trap has been set with great
care, The test is not an educa-
tional test. but a cunning device
to disfranchise. If anything in con-
nection with such a scheme would
be amusing an incident at Annapo-
lis when the amendment was under
discussion would be. The amend
ment was introduced by an Eastern
Shore lawyer. Delegate Pairo,
from Baltimore city, claimed that
the man who introduced it could
not stand the test himself. The
challange was accepted, and curl
ously enough the lawyer response
bic for its introduction failed in
three or four particulars. In or
der for the negro or naturalized
citizen to register he must do all
of the following things in the pres
ence and to the satisfaction Of the
registration officers:
1. He must prepare in his own
hand writing, without assistance
of any kind and without memoran-
dun, form of registration. In
his application with pen and ink
he must state:
?. His name, date and place of
birth.
3. His residence and occupa-
ton for two years preceding his
application.
4. Name ofhis employer or en-
ployers for two years preceding his
application.
5. The state, county, city, dis
trict or precinct in which he last
voted.
6. Name in full of the president
of the United States.
7. Name in full of one of the
justices of the Supreme Court of
the United States.
8. Name in full of the governor
of Maryland.
9. Name in full of one of the
judges of the Court of Appeals of
Maryland.
10. Name in full of the Mayor
OF Baltimore city or the county
commissioners.
Citizens who bona fde own prop
erty of the assessed value of $500
and who have paid taxes thereon
for two years are exempt from the
provisions of the amendment.
The husbands of women who pay
taxes on like amount of property
are exempt.
The same Legislature that pass
ed this disfranchisement amend.
ment also passed law that does
away with the advertising of bal
lots and the issuing of sample bal
lots in II of the 20 counties of the