Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-10-01
Strong for the Amendment.

ing primaries. The Governor has advocated
this plan for number Of years
In speaking Of this question and also on
the ratification of the suffrage amendment
the Governor said:
OF course, am sreatly gratified al th<
candidates for the Legislature in BaltiuoES
city coming out Solidly for a mandatory
system Of direct nominations by the PEG
PIE. If they are eaecfed. as have no doubl
they will be, this practically assures such
an amendment being passed 10 the present
primary election Law. as in almost one-hali
OF the counties the Democrats have already
adopted this method Of nominations and
number. if not all. of the remaining
counties which will be represented in the
next Legislature by Democrats will vote
tog this change, And thus another SPLEEN
did Law viii be put on the statute books. to
the great credit of the Democratic party.
With the Corrupt Practices Act already
adopted and the direct mandatory primary
assured. and with the good government
suffrage amendment adopted in November
three long steps will have been taken along
the line Of progress and genuine improv-
nlent in the State Government. and is in
most striking contrast with the unprogres-
Sve attitude Of our Republican friends.
And | say this with no purpose to criti-
else, much less to abuse. because | have
always realized that vilification and abuse
are always the evidence of conscious weak
ness But We are not responsible for what
they say or do. We must pursue in a de-
teEmined way the duty which devolves
upon US and which IS demanded by the
sentiment of the best people of the State,
CoSEUPT PRACTICES ACT.
We stand back of the Corrupt Prac-
toes set, an excellent law, which has al
ready accomplished much and will accom-
plish more in the future,
We favor the direct system of nominal
tons because we have trusted the people.
and believe that this system will lead TO a
greater interest and ultimately make the
politics of the State turn not only upon
men but measures and policies which par
ties stand fg.
FIRST. as TO the Corrupt Practices act.
Our friends on the other side have not yet
shown by their attitude any very great,
deep sympathy with the measure Nor
have our friends made the slightest move
IN adopting or aiding in the adoption of a
direct system Of nominations Their excuse
as published in the papers, is that they
cannot do il on account Of the negro vote.
We stand for the instruction of our leg
isiators by the people as 10 whom they
shall elect to the United States Senate. We
bring out into the linelight and give the
names Of the person or persons in order
that the people might know whom We favor
and in order TO give them an opportunity
to express their Judgment. with a view of
ultimately amending the Law and making
il still better by electing our United States
Senators by the direct vote of the people
themselves Our friends are opposed "a
this system aud deny the people the RICH,
TO know, as they should know. who their
candidate is or what he stands for.
We stand for the most rigid economy
in the expenditure of the peoples money
thus enabling us 10 adopt and carry on a
policy of constructive legislation. such as
the construction of improved public roads
and developing the resources of the State
DO YOU believe il was good politics for
the city Delegates 10 pass such resolu-
ton 7" was asked.
Il do. replied the Governor lit is right
and that which is right is always the very
best politics. We will find. and our friends
on the other side will find, that the people
will respond TO such policies in way that
will demonstrate its wisdom The people
can neither be misled nor deceived by such
politics,
The SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.
The issue involved in the constitutional
amendment is a clean-cut and simple one
Ii presents the question as TO whether il
would not be better TO disfranchise the IL
iterate and vicious negro voters. but ieay,
ing open the door of hope TO them by i'm
posing two reasonable conditions-one
showing thrift by the acquisition of $500
worth of property. either by himself or in
his wife's name, the white people willing
10 provide him the means Of doing this By
giving him work and employment and pay
ing him out of their own pockets; and
the other. a light educational test, TO meet
which the white people provide them with
schools. books and teachers, paid for by the
white people From what have heard Of
the conditions in States where they have
adopted negro disfranehising amendment
the adoption of this amendment here. be.
lieve, would be leverage TO uplift theil
race and make them more industrious in
the field of the farmer or in other employ
ment. and also improve the work of the
colored women in the house.
The campaign on the amendment should
be a campaign addressing itself TO the rea-
son and Judgment Of the people. and not
to becloud the issue by imaginary posi-
bilities.
IF unrestricted negro voting and his
holding office is favored. then why is il
there has not yet been any person. so far
as know. who has said sol That is the
issue. and the people are not to be misled
by any sidesteppine.
THE argument has been made that If il
be passed il would affect the foreign vote
but that argument is made not because il
is true. but for the purpose of misleading
and, as generally happens with that sort
of tactics. it has been completely answered
thus early in the campaign by President
Taft and host of others.
VoTlNG TESTS BY REPUBLICANS
Our Republican friends-th0se Of them
who are opposed to the amendment-are
face to face with the fact that a Repub-
lican Congress passed a bill, which was
signed by Republican President, adopt
ing a very much more rigid and difficult
test for our foreign voter than
that proposed in the amendment. even If
he had to take it. which he does not. and
which fact the provisions of the amend
ment itself, upon mere reading. will
establish.
The test he has to meet before he can
become a naturalized citizen at all is that
he must be able TO speak English. read and
il, as well as write it. and can
be Intercepted upon these questions Thus
il will be seen that the Republicans favor
this educational test upon our white for
who make the best citizens,
who are in sympathy with the principles
of our government and who have helped.
and are helping us TO develop the wonder
full resources Of our country and thus put
them below the negro. who they contend
should not be subjected to the slightest
test. even though he is admit
teddy incapable of passing intelligentiy
upon public questions and seemingly does
not try to, but votes in solid mass, infiu-
enced alone by prejudice.
1T is realized by everybody who gives
a passing consideration to the question
that you have to depend upon the charac-
ter of the people themselves for security
and improvement in government, and that
an intelligent public sentiment is the most
effective restraint on the conduct of pub
lie officers. that when you dump in $4,000