Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-30
TAFT IS OPPOSED TO
NEGRO DISFRAKCHlSEMENT
Writes Maryland that the Favors Po
liticai Equality for Whites
and Blacks.
(By Associated Press.)

BALTIMORE. MD. Dec. 29.-Pres'
/ ident-elect Taft has taken strong
stand against the Maryland Demo
cratic constitutional amendms hts
which is intended to disfranchise the
bulk of the negro vote. He declares
that the amendment. which is to be
submitted to the voters next fall
should Re condemned, as 1T is not
drawn in the spirit of justice' and
equality having regard for the four.
teenth and fifteenth amendments.
Judge Taft, in a speech at the din.
ner Of the North Carolina Society in
!, New York. touched upon the fran.
chise proposition in the Southern
states on the proposition to disfran'
chise negroes. The Democrats who
arr working for the amendment in
Maryland have been citing Mr. Taft's
remarks as favoring them. They
have declared that he would favor
the adoption of the amendment il he
had any say in the matter.
Puts It Up to Tar.
With view to obtaining MIR.
Taft's views on the Maryland propo-
sitiOn. William F. Stone, collector
Of the port of Baltimore and ser
geant-at-arms of the Republican ma
tiOnal committee. wrote the Pres
ide intellect. saying:
! inclCse a copy OF an amendment
TO the State constitution of Maryland
which will be submitted to the people
for their approval or disapproval No
vember 1909. The avowed publicly
announced purpose by the Democratic
majority in the legislature. which
submitted this constitutional amend
ment. and the Democratic orga MIA
ton is primarily for the purpose,
and intends to di3franch'se the bulk
of the colored vote Of this State. II
passed. the amendment would surely
make Maryland a one-party State.
Il also inclose herewith clipping
from today's Baltimore Sun. to which
reference is made to your address be-
fore the North Carolina Society. and
which clipping speaks for itself.
ascertain from several sources that
yOIr ate address delivered before
construed by the Democratic ma
chine here as practically in favor Of
the passage of the abOv" referred-to
amendment
Out Strongly Against II.
Mr. Taft replied as follows:
mfr. Dear Mr.. Stone. have your
letter OF December 2. b. have not
been able 20 answer IL Until now I
don't think any one can read M
North Carolina speech with any care
and on that base the heiief that I
would favor such a bill Is that pro-
posed In Maryland. tn" provision
tina; the first class OF 'iyible voters
shall be- those persons who on the
LIST day Of January In ;hc year 1869.
Or prior thereto. were Untitled to vote
under the laws Of Mar alnd OF any
other State of the I'nitsd States
wherein they then 70 rded. and that
the male descendants ~ such persons.
as a second class. sha he entitled 10
vote. was intended exempt the
persons thus made irible from the
educational or proper qualifications
which follow I'm tho descriptions Of
the fifth and sixth sses OF persons
who shall be entitk 10 vote.
The same thing may b. said OF
the third and fourr classes. which
include foreign-b born citizens Of the
United States natr allied between
January !. 1869. an the date OF tho
adoption Of the pro, ,zeI section, spR
the male dc scendar 5 Of such men.