The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-05-13

eminent based upon heredity that they
prohibited by legislative enactments any
titled aristocracy or the acceptance of
titled honOrs from foreign potentates
and they even abolished primOgeniture.
Why should one individual, through IN
worthy to exercise the right of fran
chise be entitled to do so because be
happens to have been the descendant
of an ancestor VINO was entitled to vote
before a certain date, while another,
thought worthy in every respect, not
being the descendant of such a person
must undergo an extra test of the kind
laid DOWN.
There are the same attempts to
create class distinctions and 'incorpor-
ate into our political institutions the
doctrine of hereditary right in the
amendment you now support, but since
you obtained your present position you
appear to have seen new light.
I'm the same report you says:
The results of this measure will be
unfair, retrogressive, instead of pro-
gressive; iniquitous, discriminative and
productive of tyrannnical acts.
For years in this state party fealty has
been judged mainly by fealty to the
bosses. Citizens of Maryland,
we appeal to you, your manhood, your
suffrage is in peril. In the shadow of
the negro are lurking men tempting to
wrest from you by specious and artful
legislation your rights of suffrage. If
you hearken to the specious plea of
negro disfranchisement and pass this
amendment, you will soon awaken to
the realization that, like Esau, you have
sold your birthbright for mere mess
of pottage.
while the methods of the Poe amend
ment and those of that now pending diff
fer their purpose is the same. The diff
ference lies altogether in means, not in
ends. Both were framed for the benefit
of the bosses to whom you refer, and
intended to make their rule assured and
permanent by making Maryland one
party state.
Had the Poe amendment been adopt
ed it would have been a matter of in
difference to your bosses whether the
city's clerks were detected in wholesale
peculations or police magistrates in at
tempted bribery of grand jurors, or
chairman of Democratic committee
were changed for such reason as led to
your own substitution for Mr.. Rusk.
Trifies such as these, even the far graver
scandals which, in the past, have mark
ed the reign of such bosses in Mary
land, would have then caused them no
concern; for, whatever independent
voters might think or independentnews-
papers might say of such shameful in
cldentS, in One-party state public
opinion is nothing, party fealty is every
thing; and in your own words, party
fealty means practically, for Demo
Gratis in Maryland, 'fealty to the bosses. ,
Such was the purpose and such would
have been the fruits of the Poe amend
ment; such is likewise the purpose and.
if it shall be adopted, such will be like
wise the fruits of the pending amend
ment. The purpose was and is wick ed.
The results would have been and will be
disastrous to our state and her people
and to all hope of honest government
and pure politics in Maryland l do not
believe any useful end will be attained
by y scussing these question public
ly with one who has thought and talked
about them as you did in 1905 and who
talks and processes to think about them
as yor do now; perhaps you might be
reconyerted by arguments like those
which caused your conversion, but such
arguments are not at my command.
I'm conclusion, permit me to say that
it is well-known resort of the upholders
of lost cause to attempt to revive it
and to deceive the people by issuing
challenges, and have no desire to aid
you in your efforts in behalf of this most
unholy proposition.
Il remain, yours respectfully,
"WM. F. STONE"