The Democratic advocate., 1909-09-24
PRESIDENT NOT CONSISTENT.
FavOrs Negro Suffrage In Maryland,
But Not in Philippines.

But Not in Philippines.
President Taft's attitude in favor
Of illiterate negro suffrage in Mary
land is not consistent with his atti-
tude toward the people OF the Philip
pine Islands. The President, in a re-
cent letter sent to this city, said that
the pending franchise amendment to
the Constitution Of this State lis de-
liberately drawn to impose education
al and other qualifications for the
suffrage upon negroes and to exempt
everybody else from such qualifica-
tons This Is a gross injusticee and
is a violation of the spirit of the Eff
teenth Amendment The President
added that the amendment should be
voted down by everyone who is in
favor OF a square deal.p
apparently the President IL not in
favor OF square deal for the Hitter
ate blllipinos. For, under the laws
formulated and approved by the com
mission Of which Mr.. Taft was the
mead, only about one-third OF the
adult male population OF the islands
- permitted TO vote. The qualifct-
tions for voting fixed by Mr.. Taft for
these Ftlllpino people In their own
country are In some respects sIngu-
larly similar TO the qualifications fixed
in the Maryland amendment which he
denounces. For many years while.
Mr.. Taft was Governor OF the island
the natives were not permitted to-
vote at all, because II was cnnfended
that they were not prepared 10 eyer
else the right OF suffrage inteIIinentlv
Here in Maryland Mr. Taft is IN favor
OF permitting the negroes 10 vote
whether they are prepared to exercise
the right Of suffrage inteiligentlv or
not.
Mr., Taft bestowed the right To vote
in the Philippines upon three cIasses
OF the population. divided NOT unlike
the division OF classes In the Maryland
amendment
Inc nrst class comprised all who
before August ~. 1908, held any OF
certain petty offices which had been
held by the natives These were per-
mtted TO vote without further quaIi-
hcation, whether llterate or iIliterate.
The Maryland amendment permits ali
TO vote, literate or or illlterate, who
had the right TO vote In any State In
the Union on or before January
1863, and their descendants and ali
who have been since naturalized.
In class Mr.. Taft allowed all to
vote IN the Philippines, literafe or IL
literate, who owned property to the
amount of 500 pesos. the peso being
the Spanish dollar. The Maryland
amendment permits all TO vote. liter
ate and illiterate, white and black.
who own or whose wives own prop
erty TO the amont OF five hundred
American dollars. N
In class 3 Mr.. Taft allowed an 10
vote In the Philippine islands who
could pass an educational test. The
Maryland amendment permits all 10
vote who can qualify under the edu-
cational test prescribed in the article
is II a square deal to the great body
OF FilippiDos TO impose educational
and other qualifications 10 the suff.
rage upon them and to exempt the
ofiice-holding class from such quali-
fications"
President Taft's ways are not equal
and he stands convicted on the point
Of glaring inconsistency.
II has been contended by many or
the opponents OF the amendment thai
II will, II ratified result in the disfran-
chisement OF many white citizens. 10
wit those Of foreign birth. Mr.
Taft has doubtless taken the trouble
to read the measure sufficiently 10 be
able to testify that there is no truth
in this charge. and he/ affirms what
the Sun had already said, namely. that
the raticatflion of the amendment
would dlsfranchise no white citizen OF
Maryland.
The President is In error, however.
when he says that the amendment yio-
lates the spirit of the Fifteenth
Amendment OF the Federal Constitu-
ton. II does not deny the right of
the negro to vote because "of hig race
color, or previous condition OF gervI-
tude. Those who will be deprived
by It's provisions Of the right to vote
Will be deprived Of II, not because of
race or color but because OF ignor-
anee and shiftlessness. II the dis
crimlnation was on account of race.
all OF the race would be excluded
from the electorate. But, In point OF
fact, there will be a large number OF
negroes who will retain their vote.
There are thousands OF other negroes
IN THIS state, and more are. coming
from other States, who cannot read
the ballots they vote and have not the
iaintest conception Of what they are
voting about, who have to be guided
IN marking the ballots by calling the
letter "B'' an OK yoke and the letter
"D9 a goose yoke. and telling them to
make their mark after the name that
mas an OK yoke or n goose yoke. In |
one county OF the Statee some years
ago hundreds of these voters were
disfranchised by turning Lincoln's
nose In different direction from the
direction they were told 1t would
point
Mr. Taft says these people ought to
have a square deal Is II not more
important that the state and the coun- !
ties and the taxpayers should have a |
square deal and be freed from the
dangers to property interests and
good government involved in large
ignorant electorate, subject to the will
Of a few Republican leaders ?--Balti-
more giIn