The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-11-14
DOPEOPLERVLE
Certainly Not In Maryland =
How OuT. Ballot LaW Works

The total vote counted in Maryland
on November 3. according TO the latest
available figures was 23I,532. OF which
Robinson, the highest Republican cleo
tor, got II6,s23, and Ray, the highest
Democratic elector. II5,oIo, giving
Taft lead OF 6I3 over Bryan. Tow
ers, Republican. led the rest of the
Republican electors other than Robin
son by an average of 500 votes, and
the two unsuccessful Democratic cleo
tors were Corlcy and HELEN The re-
suit is that Maryland alone among the
States will divide her electoral votes.
six going to Bryan and two TO Taft.
The Baltimore American OF Monday
makes the claim that If the vote OF the
State had been counted as cast, Mary
land would have given Judge Taft at
least 10000 plurality 1t bases the
claim on the falling short OF the regis
tered vote. so far as reported. from
the vote counted by upwards OF 5000
votes, exclusive OF Prohibition, Social
ist and independence votes Some OF
the shortage is due To the stay-athomc
vote, but the bulk OF il represents bal
lots thrown out by the judges Com
PARSONS with the registered vote OF
1907. the latest available. as complete,
shows an approximate registered vote
OF $4,000. and the total vote counted
23I.s32. Shortage. 4S.l6S The great
est shortage was IN the Wilson Law
countics- Anne Arundel. Calvert,
Charles, Dorchester. Kent. Prince
Georges. Queen Anuc's. St Mary's.
Somerset, Talbot and Worcester The
approximate registered vote in these
counties is about 6o.ooo The vote
counted was l2oro Allowing 600 to
1900 tn the side issues parties there is
an apparent shortage oi 1900 votes,
The greatest shortage was shown in
Somerset. where ont oi 1880 register
ed votes 1890 were missing In Anne
Arundel out of oIpS registered. 1897
were missing. In Caroline onc-third
oi the total registration was missing
There was a great falling of in the
counties not under the Wilson law
CccifS shortage was 1887. Wicomlco's,
Mr. Jackson'S home county. 1880, Bal
timorc county's 300. and Baltimore
City'S, 1891. but Tait's plurality there
was 200 Had the National result
been close. the result in Maryland
might have been brought IN question
by the two houses oi Congress when
counting the votes oi the Electoral
College. Four years ago. Maryland's
vote was Parker, J, Roosevelt. T. This
year il is Bryan's. Q. Taft, ,. Both
results were due to folly or ignorance
Of voters in voting for electors instead
OF the candidates. The official returns
from the entire State will be scrutinizcd
and corrected at Annapolis. and Tait's
plurality may rise or fall slightly. but
though Bryan gets three iourths OF
the electors and TAFT but one fourth.
Maryland stands in the Republican col
umr on the returns aS made.
Just what purpose the present ballot
system serves is hard to perceive Both
parties lose under it, and there is cry
ing need of return To- a simple me-
thod. The one in use led 10 not only
Unfair but absurd results in 1904 and
1908 Former Attorney General Bryan
comes out >quarcly Tor 4 return to
emblem voting IN preference to the
present method and holds that his
party would gain by the change. and
that practical politicians. city leaders
especially, will agree with him Bryan's
slogan. Shall the People Rule" he
says, was false CRY in Maryland, where
the peoples will was thwartcd