New-York tribune., 1908-12-29
MR.. TAFT'S POSITION
ON DISFRANCHISEMENT.
CIearIy Outlines Tie1cs in Letter on
MARYLAND Proposition.
rBr Telegraph % The Trlbune.1 ]

LBy Telegraph 70 The Tribunel
Baltimore, Dec. 2S.-President-elect Taft has
taken a strong stand against the Maryland
Democratic machines constitutional amendment
to disfranchise thousands Of citizens He de-
clares that the amendment which is TO Dc sub
rnitted to the voters next fall should be con-
demned. as it IS not drawn in the spirit Of jus
tice and equality. having regard for the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments
When Nj Taft, in a speech at the dinner OF
the North Carolina Society, in New YORK.
touched upon the franchise proposition in the
Southern states, his remarks were taken by
some persons to mean that he stood with many
of the Southern states on the proposition 10 dis
franchise one class of voters. The Democrats
who are working for this in Maryland TO en-
able them to make it one party state. have
been trying to make use OF Mr. TafIs remarks
as favoring their scheme
They have even gone so far as TO say that ne
would favor its adoption If he had any say IN
the matter With view TO obtaining Mr..
Taft's correct views the Maryland Demo
Gratis proposition. William F. Stone, Collector
OF the Port Of Baltimore and serseant-at-arTns
of the Republican National Committee, wrote
a letter TO the Presdent-elect asking Tor ms
views.
Mr. Taft after an evident careful study of the
proposed amendment, a copy of which M Stone
inclosed in his letter. replied as follows;
Augusta. Ga, Dec q, 1908.
Nv Dear Mr. Stone: I have your letter or
December 9, but have not been able TO answer
II until now. don't think any one can read my
North Carolina speech with any care and on 1t
base the belief that I would favor such a bill as
mat proposed in Maryland The provision that
the first class Of eligible voters shall be those
persons who on the first day OF January IN the
year 1859, prior thereto were entltleq 10 Lote
IInder the laws Of Maryland or any other state
of the United States wherein they then resided,
and that the male descendants Of such persons
as second class, shall be entitled TO vote, was
intended to exempt the persons thus mace elgi-
BILE from the educational or property QuaInca-
tions which follow in the descriptions OF me ntt1
and sixth classes of persons VINO shaiI De e'lsLIeo
70 vote. The thing may be said OF the
third and fourth classes, which include Foreign
born citizens Of the United states nalurelized
between January l. 1869. and the date OF the
adoption of the proposed section, and the male
dasran dents Of such mentioned persons This is
in order to exempt such immigrants and their
descendants from educational or property quail
hcations - .--,..z.
no negroes at all In other words, it IS Intended
70 free the whites from educational or property
qualifications but TO subject all negroes 70 ILeI
The whole law ought TO be condemned II II
not drawn in the spirit Of justice and equauIy
having regard for the Fourteenth and Flrteenth
amendments, and sincerely nope that no re
nub1iran and no Democrat who desires equality
Of treatment 70 the black and white races Will
WILLIAM H TAFT
Mr.. stones letter to the President-elect was
as follows:
Baltimore, December 2
Hon. William H Taft. Washington -,.-- .,u--
| Nv Dear Mr. President-elect- tnclose q copy
OF an amendment to the state constitution of Mary
land which viii be submitted TO the people Lor t4elr 73
aS6Wed publicly snnoUnced purpose by, The Demo.
cratic majority in the Legs!alure Wlcn l
organization is primarily for the purpose a5o IN IN
OF this state If passed the amendment VIII surely
make Maryland one party y15z. state. from, +o-5avs
Baltimore sun IN w14ch re1ereIre IT4 cia4t and
which clipping speaks for itself ascertain ron, I[oI3
Ste-s +6e Nor+, Carolina Society is being con-
strued by the Democratic machine nere as pLzro p25
cay in favor Of the passage Of the above rererred
We are nov hard at work. to the 0est Of g.t25 our
Of this iisfranchising amendment One DAY next
%e4k W fe 19Cs %s "a and have also invited At
Iorneg 4 ga Chairman Parran Presidenr Schirm
of the League of Republican Clubs of this state ana
Sd al q S [S iaf Month viii Shortly after that
range TO have as guests al olI aIe- ar I55 6f his
/ state For the dinner Of next week | would very
spTsad Influence il can there read letter from
You, only stating contTaTy nf 70 {ne @ CIlc fb
7oJr North Carolina Society address dld not IN any
degree ind4TSe, {n 1o +e p Of 5s state 6jft thai
the adoption Of such disfranchisng a1aenflehs S -
the splendid advice outlined in your North CaToIa
soEiety ADDRESS 11 fbs 70 do Know as aiready stated
that they are attempting 70 use your ] ~ ijl s:i-
] r.
F-s1Chfser1ent in this state. and would uae 10 De
bfs 70 give that effort black eye by read1nS ana
| 3TJ1IfsHiTe 4 letter from you t. the contrary -,
| 7 Rad every word Of your ADDRESS oeloTs lIe
North Carolina Society as puPished IN ne hg2 I
| naners and re-read ii. wish II could oe nter-
| aa1I1C accepted and adopted by the people OF the
| -raa+ SoIfh 10 whom YOU made that ADDRESS
| 7i,-ourI the medium of the society OF Wt!cn YOU
we're. we're the eeserFedly n0nTRid william f stone.
Encouraged by the strong position MI IaIt
has taken against such wholesale unconsttu-
ttonaI disfranchising scheme, Mr Stone and
| the other leaders Of the Republican party IN
| MARYLAND have already taken steps for a Wig
| orous campaign against the amendment, and
| the fight viii begin Immediately It is believed
| that MANY independent Democrats who are op-
| posed to the machines methods VIII vote WIN
| the Republicans against the amendment
IT certainly behooves every Republican tc
| get in line and begin fighting from this mo-
| roent 20 said Mr. Stone to-day Judge Taft has
| set the Republicans of Maryland great ex
| annie and his clear and convincing letter Is
| one Of the best arguments that could be put
| forth for the defeat Of the amendment. There
| &c no Doubt that adoption Of the amendment
| 0-ould mean that the Democratic party would
| have absolute control in Maryland for many
/ Years to CONF Then the old state Of things
when 4 nomination was equivalent 10 elec
| tfor would return II Is needless 70 call atten
tieu 10 the danger Of this sort Of thing