New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-11
DEMOCRATS LOSE HOPE
CONTEST IN MARYL4ND.
Opposition to DiSfranchisement Max
ing Rapid Gains.
lRr Telegraph to The Tribune. !

Baltimore. oct lO.-The organization of the
Lawyers Aforementioned League the coming out
of a dozen more Of leading influential Demo
Gratis against the party organizations scheme to
deprive voters of their rights and the denuncia-
ton by the National German Alliance, represent
ing 100000 German citizens throughout the
United States Of the DISTINGUISHING amendment
at the Cincinnati convention made the last week
an important for the Republicans in theft
fight this the greatest issue that has even been
contested in Maryland.
The action Of the Lawyers League will have a
tremendous influence throughout the state. Lead
ing Democratic lawyers well Republicans,
have Joined the league and Will take the stump
against the amendment Among the signers TO
the call sent out to lawyers in all parts of the
state to unite in the movement are Charles J.
Bonaparte. Francis *. Carey, John J. Donaldson.
George r. Gather. Edgar II. Cans. John Hinkey.
John Writ Randall William Reynolds Benjamin
A. Richmond, John c. Rose. Archibald II. Taylor
and Stevenson A. Williams. Six of these are Re
publicans; the other six have strong Democratic
leanings, and some of them out and out party
men. Most If not ALL OF the latter Will support
the Democratic nominees.
AS as the membership of the league in
cludes all who are willing to take active part
in the fight against the amendment plans Will he
made for vigorous campaign Meetings will be
arranged at which the speeches Will be delivered
by the members of the league irrespective Of their
party. The amendment will be the only issue re-
feTred to in these addresses No stand will be
taken by the league the nominees of the two
parties, the members being free to exercise their
individual preferences
The amendment if approved would destroy thirty
thousand colored voters about one-half of the
colored voting population Of the state If applied
to Democratic illiterates and nOn-property owners
it would prevent about eighteen thousand white
men from voting.
Two weeks ago the trend of sentiment dEifted
strongly against the amendment that the Demo-
Gratis began to lose hope While concedng that
the DISTINGUISHING proposition in danger, the
Democratic leaders insisted that their ticket
perfectly safe 1t evident that they not
losing any sleep the threatened defeat of the
amendment, and would have been glad enough to
have called this fight of had they their way
clear tos do so. They had reason. however. to fear
that If the opposition continued their candidates
might be swamped. This apprehension now APP
pears to have been well founded. In poll made
by competent men of the voters of the East and
South Baltimore sections during the week the dis
covery was made that while there was no defec-
ton from the Republican ranks hundreds of
Democrats openly declared that they would not
only vote against the amendment, but for the Re
publican candidates as we'll This talk was not
confined 10 the foreign born citizens who are lined
up almost solidly against the Democratic machine.
but native Americans who have never before
scratched Democratic ticket made secret Of
thelr determination 10 vote for change
In the reports submitted by these investigators
various reasons are assigned by dissatisfied Demo
Gratis for cutting the party ticket all of them be-
ing based on tangible grievance All of these
grievances constitute formidable bin OF particu-
lars. The revolt is not only confined to baltimore
but IS developing in half dozen Of the Democratic
counties.