Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19
FRIENDS SURPRISED
Ex-Gov. WarfieId'S Position
on Straus Measure.
CALLED CHANGE OF FRONT
Endorses DISTINGUISHING Amendment
to Maryland Constitution.
VIEWS OF FORMER ADVISERS
Inconsistent Attitude, Declares
Leigh Bonsal-Joseph Frieden-
valid Opposes Proposed Law.
VIEWS OF FORMER ADVISERS
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence or Inc star.
BALTIMORE. Md. September Is. 1909
The biggest political surprise of the
year came in the form of the unqualified
Endorsement of the Acknowledgement
amendment by former Gov. Warfield. Even
the closest political friends of Warfield
were surprised. for they felt almost GER
tain that the former governor, who led
the successful fight against the Poe plan.
would be found In the vanguard Of the
battle against the Straus measure.
Since making the announcement Of his
stand in favor of the amendment, Mr..
Warfeld has come In for some scoring on
the part of those who have in the past
been counted as his warmest political ad-
visers and friends. One of Warfield's
most bitter critics is Leigh Bonsal. who
was the chairman of his senatorial COM
mittee of 100.
To The Star correspondent Mr.. Bonsal
said today:
1T was with much regret that / read
the interview with former Gov. Warfield,
in which he declared himself in favor
of the suffrage amendment. Although he
states that his position is thoroughly con-
sstent with his past record, firmly be-
lieve that it is entirely inconsistent. Mr.
Warfield in his Interview says: In my
speech of acceptance of the democratic
nomination for governor of Maryland in
1905 l declared in favor Of eliminating
the ignorant and thriftless negro War
fields position as above expressed was
undoubtedly that of the democratic party
as set forth in its platform.
Poe's Frank Admission.
The openly avowed and honest object
of the amendment is to relieve Maryland
of the incubus of the ignorant negro suf-
frage. said Mr.. John P. Poe, four years
% Mr.
pie, l think, will agree that it is wise
and proper to eliminate the ignorant
negro vote, and, personally, / am of the
opinion that Ignorance, wherever found,
whether in white black, should bar
the voter from the elective franchise. pro-
vlded some proper probation period is
put in the statute.
To me the ignorant voters from south
eastern Europe, with little knowledge of
the English language and customs. are
quite as Objectionable as ignorant negro
voters But while there has been and
Will continue to be a great deal of talk
as to the necessity of DISTINGUISHING the
ignorant negro voter, it is well known and
was so admitted in all discussions of the
committee of Attorney General Straus that
the object of the democratic party is. to
disfranchise just as many negroes as
possibly can be disfranchised, no matter
how intelligent they may be. Therefore,
no honest educational test was adopted,
but in place thereof a shrewd and de-
ceitful scheme was concOted.
Purpose Of Managers.
THE purpose Of the democratic man.
ayers under this device Is to keep out
everybody that does not come under the
grandfather clause or the property
clause An honest educational test is al
ways put forward with the hope that 1t
can be passed. and the terms of the test
are adjusted to the requirements of the
situation. The test in the present amend
ment requires great feat of memory
and hardly one white man in a hundred
Of the greatest intelligence and education
could hope to pass 1t, for In the words OF
the bill, without any aid, suggestion or
memorandum whatsoever and without any
question or direction addressed to him by
any of the officers of registration the
person must correctly state some fifteen
distinct matters, most Of which are en-
tirely irrelevant.
Amy error in swearing will dsfran-
chise him. If he cannot write the names
in full of the mayor of Baltimore, the
Governor of Maryland. justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States and
a judge of the court of appeals, he can
not be allowed to register. 1 confess
that at the present time 1 am not certain
what J. stands for in the name Of
Mayor j. Barry Mahool, nor do I re-
member distinctly what L stands for
in the name of Gov. Austen L. Crothers.
/ am entirely ignorant of the full names
the United States and the court of ap-
peals of Maryland. Why should I or
any other voter be required to know such
things?
Warfield a Puzzle.
1T is hard to see,'' concluded Mr..
Bansol, how Mr.. Warfield or any one
else can call such a condemnation an
educational test AS he has no right
to call it an educational test, 1 am forced
to say that his present position is in
consistent with his former declarations
in favor of an honest educational test
While the general administration of Mr..
Warneld as governor was excellent and
far above the average l am sorry to
recall the fact that he did shut his eyes
to the fraudulent trick ballots in the
counties. and also to the fraudulent do
ings of the democratic supervisors Of
elections in Charles county,
A broadSide against the amendment
was fired this week by Joseph Fried
enwald. for years close personal and
political friend Of Senator German and
lifelong democrat.
Condemns the Amendment.
i wouldn't vote for that amendment,
said Mr.. Freidenwald. II think 1t Is
wrong. 1t is against the spirit Of the
times 1 would not be guilty of dis
franchising any man that has natural
rights. Every decade establishes more
rights and greater liberty Of the peo-
pie. With me it is not a matter of idle
sentiment, but Of simple justice, to ex-
tend the greatest amount of individual
liberty rather than to abridge it.
Il sincerely regret that l may differ
with some of my democratic friends IN
this respect. and my adherence to the
democratic party is just as strong as
it ever was before. / shall vote the
entire democratic ticket with the ex-
ception of the amendment. The great
democratic principle-the underlying
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the truth when II
says the greatest good to the greatest
number.
For this reason l am against the
amendment and I will oppose it with
all my remaining vigor."
Killed Two Days After Wedding.
WILMINGTON. Del. September 49,
Word is received here that Winfield Weld