The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-07-10
CHAIRMAN
HANNA TO THE
GOVERNOR

saws WI lldlliihr VIII hNHN''N 49,
abuses complained Of These abuses
are in the trick ballots which the De
mocratic election supervisors in the
so-callcd Wilson counties. prepare Tor
partisan advantage. placing a VIDE
black line under the names at Demo
cratic candidates a. guides To Demo
cratic ilitcratcS in marking their bal
lots
In his former letter to Governor
Cruthcrs, Mir Hanna requested him to
instruct Attorney General Straus to
give an opinion on the legality al these
black lines ON the ballot The Cover
nor referred MIR Hanna letter To Mr..
StfauS.
Mr.. Hanna assures the Governor
that the Republican Organization VIII
cooperate with him in enforcing the
corrupt practices act. NJ the same
time. while dwelling upon election laws
Mr.. Ilarua reminds the Governor that
the Republican party enacted. and
Republican governor signed, the fair
election law 81 300.
MR.. HNNNNS LETTER.
MIR Hanna letter follows:
June -, 1909.
Iii, E<cclcncy Austin l.. Cr"thcrs,
Governor oi Maryland, annapolis.
Md
Sir: | acknowledge receipt 81 your
letter oi the 10Th INST in reply I" mine
calling your attention to the action III
recent year, ui certain among the De
mocratc Supervisors ui Elections, who
First. Arranged the official ballot
without the participation or knowledge
ri Their Republican colleague;
Second. Provided in such arrange
mcnt assistance iur the illucratcS o'
their own party, and
Third. Selected - their counsel 4
candidate for office al the election then
approaching. and asking a timely de-
claratiou uu your part that such nc
ton hy >uch officers AT the next cnSu-
ING election would rccclvei rom you
uncpuivucal and effective official CON
demnatiun Nous ay III Your answer
referring a. TIN, request s" lar Is |
am concerned A. governor oi this
State. Shall see to- il that the Flee
ton Laws are faithfully aud impair
tall, enforced without regard To- party
or person" \ faithful and impartial
enforcement 81 the election Laws. which
YOU llllN Ill'lllllNNr VIII lNIl''AN AlN
abuses mentioned IN M, letter. and
hereby express the qualification your
assurance has given. not only Ia Re
publicanS, but to all those good citi-
zcnS 81 Maryland, oi whatever party
or political opinion. who deem any inn
pcdimcnt To- the fair expression al the
people, will at the polls g crime
against free institutions
CORRUPT PRACTICES NCT
With this acknowledgment oi your
assurance and promise | should clos,
our correspondence but that you refer
to an apparcutv uniricndly attitud,
on the part at the Republican party
organization toward the enforcement
oi the Corrupt Practices Act passed
by the last General Assembly. an
now the official head oi that urganza
ton and. as such. II feel il my duty Il
state that those prominent Republicans
who ~ YOU say. have urged the rigit
enforcement ot that act, voice the sen
timcnt ui the party and ri t. "rgani
zation. provided such enforcement
shall not be only rigid. but. in tho
words ui your promise. faithful ant
impartial. without respect /" party o
person The incident, mentioned II
my first letter aud other. have LED
many Republicans /" fear partisan dis
elimination and abuic ui authority il
the enforcement ri this law Whcr
these fears shall have been shown Il
be gruurdc>> they will Join in heart,
approval 81 this mca sure or amy othC
intended L. insure To- every lcga
voter a free balu, and lair count
The Republican party can point l.
a crucial test establishing how iully /
may he trusted to- protect faithfully
and mparllaly the right ui cvcryun,
entitled I, vote 10 cast In, ballot r.
his conscience dictates ard have
counted according I" his intention
ELECTION LAW OF 1870
When placed in power by the clcc
ton OF 1895 It iuuud "u the ,l"tut,
books an election law giving great adj
vantage, g the TART, in control III III,
election machinery I" secure ali tn
partisan benefit promised II by thi
situation :, had only T." allow the Ia,
Ia remain rs successive Democrat
HE american Issue. official organ
OF the Nntl-Salnuu oi MARYLAND. speak,
ot certain members IT the Demo
cratic organization who have under
taken the thanklcSs task OF tying the
Democratic party to- the hind axle 81
Occf wagon Ike movers dog. and
there = trouble ahead iur any Marty
whose machinery gets into the hands
OF that sort al crew Isn't the
American Issue q little late in finding
the light,