The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-16
WHAT THE NEW
GOVERNOR WOULD DO.
Extract From Governor CrOthers In
augural Address.

4Oi hAS dl CiSNllOlS dlS III my Jug
ment, the most serious with which
we have to deal No effort should
be spared to stamp out this species
of corruption. Let us cut this evil
practice up by the very roots and
cast it out wholly and forever from
our Commonwealth, so that our
elections shall be unblemished and
pure. To accomplish this, l re-
spectfully urge upon the members
of the General Assembly with all
the earnestness in my power the
enactment of the effective anti
bribery and corrupt practices leg
islation which experience and re-
Election have developed up to the
present time.
The sentiment and demand
which exist throughout the State
for honest and fair primary cleo
tions e.. can no longer and
ought not to be ignored, and
I assume that none of us
can fail to feel it to be his bounden
duty to cooperate in the enact
ment of a primary election law for
the whole State, which shall pro-
vide that aspirants for elective
Offices shall have the right to sub
nit their respective candidates. to
the direct vote of the people, and
which shall provide that candidates
for the United States Senate may
submit their claim to the people of
the State at primary elections, and
that all such elections shall be
surrounded by every legal safe
guard which can contribute to
make them thoroughly free, fair,
uOl1CSl tIINl II uSlNOll
Let us execute unflinching the
purpose of the Democratic pledge
by all lawful and constitutional
means to maintain the political su-
premaCy of the white race in Mary
land. Let it be carried
firmly and fearlessly into effect, so
our State may be rid of the negro
voter as political factor and an
element Of power within our Dor
ders. 1t is nv confident
belief that if an amendment is
framed as proposed, in accordance
with the terms of Our pledge as
above indicated, it will be trium-
phantly approved by an over
whelming majority Of our people
at the polls.
The provision that a slight ex-
tension of the cross mark beyond
the side of the square upon the
ballot shall invalidate the ballot
should be modified so as to prevent
the rejection of ballots in the count
to the extent which has existed in
the recent elections. In Baltimore
city better Conveniences should be
provided for marking the ballot
than now exist and other modifca-
tions indicated as desirable by
public opinion through the en-
lightened press of the State might
be safely made at this juncture.
l shall heartily approve OF an
amendment to the State Constitu-
ton providing for a conservative,
yet substantial, increase in the
number of Senators and Delegates
for Baltimore city in the respec-
tive branches of the General As
sembly.
am also earnestly in accord
with the opinion expressed by the
Democracy in its recent platform,
that the fullest opportunity should
be given for putting the oyster
culture law Of 1906 into complete,
practical operation, and that there
should be no attempt of any sort to
destroy or weaken its efficiency.
| reassert here and now these
purposes, and, as the first and most
important step in their accomplish
ment, system of good roads,
ramifying uniformly through every
section of the State, should be es.
tablished. We should take this
up as prime object of our policy
and we should consummate it as
thoroughly and expeditiously as