The Washington times., 1909-10-25
UNLIHBERS HIS GUNS
ONSUEFRAGE CLAUSE
Many Government Workers
Will Lose Votes, Says
MetZerott.

Between 800 and 500 residents of the
District OF Columbia, who are voters
in Maryland, will be deprived of their
ballot il the proposed amendment to the
Maryland constitution is adopted. ac-
cording to Oliver s. Metzerott, repre-
sentative candidate for State senator
from Prince Georges county. who Is
now preparing to unlimber' his guns on
his political opponents in the present
fight,
Mr.. Metzerott bases his assertion on
the peculiar wording. OF that clause OF
the proposed amendment which says
that only men having the right to vote
in Other States shall have tt2e right to
.Ote in Maryland
Government Workers.
The persons who would be affected by
the passage of this amendment. he
pointed out, are generally Government
workers, many of whom have been
born in Maryland, but have chosen the
District as the field of their labOrs.
This declaration is another highly in
teTestng phase of the fight now going
on iu Maryland which Will culminate
in the balloting next Tuesday. Novem-
Both Democrats and Republicans
are preparing TO deliver their biggest
brOadsides between now and that day,
anu MI 1ltLEEE0Ni > GletE &c LAidL his
opponents are attempting to "fOist a
trick under the aVOWed purpose OF
5isfranChising the ignorant negro
voters has added zest to she battle.
Explains Opposition.
Mr.. Btetzerott, who today began 10 line
up his forces in earnest. explains his
opposition &c the proposed constitution
al amendment in this way
ANY person who takes the trouble
90 read the proposed amendment care
fully VIII note how II would work 8
great injustice TO between 40C and 81
residents of the District of Columbia
who are entitled to vote in Mary land
First. 1t cuts of all fOfSign-bOn per-
sons not naturali7ed at the TINE of the
passage of the act Of 1905
Second, all children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren (even though
born in Maryland f fOreign-bOTn per-
sons not naturaiized prior TO 1863 are
barred, along wiki their parents.
Third, an persons coming from the
District of Columbia or any Territory
Of the United States are barred because
the amendment says that only men hav-
shall have the right to vote in Maryland
The act does not mention the District
of Columbia or the Territories Of the
United States, and the courts have held
invariably that the word State is not
broad enough TO include the District OF
Columbia and the other Territories"
Cry of "BOssism."
Raising the cry Of "bossism" as the
moving force behind the proposed
amendment, the Republican candidate
adds,
THE passage Of this amendment
would not be OF benefit to any party in
Maryland. 1t would. however. place the
State in the hands of one group OF
political bosses, than whom there is no
worse in the country
As to the educational test in the pro-
posed amendment, IL is so severe that
Mr Stanford, of Somerset county. a
woll-knOwn lawyer. and a member OF
the House of Delegates. who int ~oducaa
and fathered the amendment I'm that
body. was unable TO pass the test after
a trial I'm public. and he frankly ad-
mitted It.
Furthermore. the decision on the
question of whether a voter has Dafg -
ed the test Is left to the twt registra.
tion officers at the polling TIaces, al
though 10 is practically impossible tC
find two registration Officer who
could themselves meet the require
meuts of this test If they were put
10 it