The Democratic advocate., 1909-04-30
DECLARATION on SUFFRAGE.
Resolutions Declaring Amendment the
|. Vital Issue.


The resolutions adopted by the
| Democratic State Central Committee
on Wednesday set forth that Il was
q great mistake TO grant universal guf-
frage 10 the negroes OF the South at
the close OF the Civil War; that the
participation OF the negro in politics
more than any other thing brings him
into conflict with the white man: that
the curse Of the negro Of the present
generation Ii his tendency to crime;
that the main purpose OF the amend
ment Il to contine the right Of suffrage
TO white men and to negroes OF Indus
try and sobriety. The resolutions CON
tinue:
That the interests OF the State Of
Maryland require that It's large Hitter
ate negro population. composing fully
one-half and upward OF the entire
membership Of one OF the two political
parties In this State which are con-
stantly striving TO control the govern
ment and administration az the State,
shall cease TO be a political factor in
dominating It's people and It's deatinies
THAI an unrestricted aud universal
suffrage in the hands OF thousands Of
! illlterate, unreilecting and nontaxpay-
ing negroes In this State, blindiy and
soildly massed in one political party,
is a menace to the well~being and pro-
gress OF Maryland and constitutes an
evil and danger from which Il Is the
duty OF her sober and patriotic white
people to rescue their State; that only
by restricting the elective franchise
now universally In the possession Of
the class of negroes aforesaid within
this State, will they cease to be po-
litical factor within Its borders, ard
the State be relieved from the evil
which II has borne too long.
That the proposed suffrage amend
ment TO the Constitution. prepared by
the conference OF eminent and public
spirited Maryland lawyers assembled
In December, 1907 by the Attorney
General OF the State, and adopted and
promulgated for the action OF the peo-
pie by the General Assembly OF 1908
and by the Governor, be and Is here
by fully approved Endorsed and recon-
mended TO the people by this cosamlt-
tee:
That the proposed amendment safe
guards and secures the right OF every
white citizen 10 vote, especially and
amply protecting our large and es-
teened foreign-born population In
their right TO the suffrage; Is wholly
free from all possibility OF abuse In
its administration, IL adopted by the
people; secures the right to vote to
every person, including both our ma
tive and foreign-born citizens. and
their descendants. and the fullest pro-
lection by easy and inexpensive means
OF all the courts OF Maryland from the
lowest to the highest, and. In fine,
guarantees securely and undeniably
to all our citizens, except the illiterate,
unthinhng, nontaxpaying and one
party negroes, as absolute and inde-
feasible a right to vote as II Is pos-
sible for any statute framed by human
minds to guarantee.
That II Is the sense OF this commit
tee that IL is the duty Of the white
voters In those parts OF the State
where the negro population, as COM
pared with the white population, is
limited In numbers, to deliberately
consider the situation of our white
people in those parts of the State
where the negro population Is fully
equal to or greater In number than
the white population. or where the
negro population Is numerous and con-
siderable, and to do all in their power
to relieve the white people in the por-
tions Of the State last referred to from
the evils OF the situation by eliminat-
ing from the electorate the negro
voters referred TO.
That 1t is the sense OF this com
mittee that the main and vital issue
Of the approaching election in Mary
land is the adoption OF the suffrage
amendment because, II II is adopted,
1t will eliminate the undesirable ne
groes referred to from the electorate
Of the State, and put an end to their
regime and power ais a potent poIiti-
cal factor In our midst, thereby insur-
ing the clear, undisputed sway of the
white people Of Maryland: while IL,
on the other hand, the proposed
amendment Is defeated, its defeat will
be accepted and hailed BY the large
masses Of negroes IN question ais