New-York tribune., 1909-06-20
FlGHTONE-PARTY STATE
n:,froacL;sencnt Amendment Cam
rnigp Harms II, Maryland.
rBv Telegraph 90 Tbs Tribune.l

-.,.,-,o-a JuDe 1s-The fact that former At
=, General Bonaparte has determined as coun-
:, o. the Maryland State Republican leaders %
n. fight against the Democratic disfranchise-
=, scheme under the ''grandfatheE clause" TO
- T-nitsd States courts, and If necessary TO the
-. Court Is & stunning blow to the Demo
- r,acline The Democratic managers expected
- 1vovld have no trouble IN dsfranchising a
a7.,sDt number OF negroes IN Annapolis under the
~ the last Legislature TO place the state capital
t. Under absolute Democratic control
tn. determination Of the Republicans TO carry the
,s+fon If the legality OF the law to the federal
- Is the !irst step IN fight 10 be weged
: she state campaign beginning against the
-,..itt,tional disfranchising amendment AS soon
:. ths registration IN Annapolis IS completed the
United States District Court VIII be asked 10 pass
ypon the law
p-.s,5ent Taft and the Republican National Com
-,,,4ee are interested in the fight. the result Of
xh,cb viii have al important bearing upon similar
conditions IN Southern states Both parties Will
ssn5 prominent national speakers TO Maryland to
,ske part in the campaign
Chairman Hanna OF the Republican State Com
-rfttee in outlining the party's attitude, says:
"Tbs Republican State Committee is cooperating
18th The citizens Of Annapolis who are represented
So Josn Writ Randall We believe that the pro-
r-zio7s ssf7anchising voters contained in the new
-sr+s-ration law for Anna polls. and the measure
,ov before the people known as the Straus con-
-,-,-fo-sl amendment 20 be voted on in Novenl-
b.r are both clearly in violation Of the Consutu-
.s,n NJ the United States For years the Demo-
r-a+io ring has. by means Of dishonest election
,.,x robbed thousands OF citizens. both white and
,asck Of their right vote. In the Annapolis case
e. hold,v attempt 70 perpetrate the full meas
-, If contemplated injustice without waiting for
=. massage OF the constitutional amendment We
s,,u Tsht this Annapolis law through the courts
- the United States Supreme Court. If necessary
- - his end We have retained the services OF
a7G eN q
is. no tine in insttUting appropriate proceedings
= +.s, -bs constitutionality of this ebridgment OF
-hs elective franchise
-s.s ~ the Strsus amendment. We confidently eX-
net 70 defeat this iniqutous proposal at the polls
h handsome majority
- Z5oDs,srra when asked Il he could state def
-it.lv when proceedings would be instituted re-
pied
.xe and It IS expected 10 begin action intended
+,est the consCtuorality OF the AnnaPoiis statu'e
a. soo7 as may bs practical after the completion
- the registration Il would be premature at pres
s7+ 10 say anything as TO matters OF detail
A provision Of the law which some OF the negroes
are able TO overcome IS the property Guahhcatorl'
hu- Few OF them can "a Ike oath that their grand
fathers voted prior 1855 Z is on that provision
-incinaIv that tbs Democrats hope to disfrsnehiss
the negro vote.
The faor that Edgar H Cans and Edwin J
+astier. associated with Mr.. Bonaparte as counsel
., 80 --ooosA5 test OF the law. Democrats
ssss 70 the discontinue Of the Democratic man
zzers eyer the Republicans action. Mr.. Cans has
,or7e out strongly against the amendment and viii
si5 the Republicans il every way TO defeat T.
Many other influential men In the Democratic party
viii opaose il These men and hundreds Of other
conservative Democrats tired of the tricks or
she Democratic machine and the methods employed
n make this one-party state. Prior TO 1885 the
Democratic ma chine padded the registration books
and hv using repeeters returned fictitious msjori-
ties
w1en the Republicans obtained control this
practice was stopped and the elections were fair.
- sooner, however. did the Democratic machine
aegin get control than = returned rs old meth
oas Padding was abandoned because It could not
r. lesalized, and instead favorable election law
vas enacted When II was found that this did not
x-r5oe trick Ballots were resorted 10 and other
,.s1s1atfon was ena which rendered It easy for
r.rocra+s 70 vote and coTrespondingy difficult for
Republicans
Information reached Republican headquarters this
week tat certain negroes said TO be IN the employ
cf the Democratic machine circulating state
rlsnts that President Taft. IN speech at New Or
leans had declared that he would look after the
interests o. the white people IN the South by giving
recognition 10 the negro
These alleged agents. after dwelling a. length on
tbs injustice the negro, proceed to urge negroes
% 3cn an association. supposedly organized in the
interest Of their race, which favors the dis
fsnchsing amendment, and the argument is used
that while It would bar out the negro voter It would
slso prevent Republican SUCCESS, and consequently
Prevent white Republicans from getting places, The
Republican cornraittee has taken prompt steps 10
cheek this scheme.