The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-10-28
AMENDMENT HAS NOT
ONE GOOD FEATURE
Why Leading Citizens Oppose the
Proposition.
From the Baltimore American:

iiShI az dltiSI lLe pIopOSSu uiSII dLCIllSe-
ment amendment becomes more pro-
nOunced and leading citizens who are
not allied with any political party be-
come most impressed with the necessity
of exposing its outrageous provisions.
DR.. Nathan Herman analyses the
measure and finds that the third and
fourth clauses admit foreign-born citi-
zens to limited extent, excluding the
greater portion of that class.
Rev. P. A. Heilman holds that as
long as this country mas an unrestricted
ballot, every citizen should be entitled
to the privilege Of voting.
Mr.. Frank G. Boyd declares that the
Democratic managers in their zeal to
deprive the negro of his vote, have
drawn up a law that will effect % per
cent. of the whites as well.
Rev. DR.. Adolph Guttmacher says it is
hopeful sign for popular government
that men of all classes ana conditions
are opposed to the measure which bears
upon its face the stamp of narrow poll
tics.
MIR. VIM. A. Buckingham believes
that the Democratic machine is striking
at the franchise rights of many good
citizens in their endeavOr to prevent
the black man from voting.
Mr.. Tanchum Sherman considered it
an insult to his intelligence when asked
whether he favored the amendment.
Mir. Bernard Cline said he knew a
number of foreigners who would be de-
sirable citizens and who in the event of
the passage of this amendment would
be disfranchised.
DR.. Nathan Herman, the specialist
and well known physician, denounces
the amendment in unmeasured terms.
Said he:
The proposed amendment to the
Constitution OF the State relating to the
suffrage deserves most emphatic re-
lection at the hands Of the voters. 1t
possesses not one radeeming feature.
Designed for the sole purpose of fasten-
ing the rule of the notorious ring of
Democratic politicians upon the state,
it teens with inhuman and un-American
features and would commit the state 20
such policy in respect to suffrage
qualifications as to place it behind all
others in the United States and in the
world. Its arrogant and tyrannical
sponsors pretend that they could bull
dJZe the Supreme Court OF the country
to believe that it does not violate the
Fifteenth Amendment, in that it is not
aimed at the negro, while at the pres
ent time they vainiy try to explain,
though of course this is an impossible
feat, that it would accomplish exclusive
ly this very thing, Surely they are en-
titled to membership in the Ananias
Club unless possibly their seemingly un-
conscious and childlike hypocrisy would
not exclude them from an organization
of such comparatively honorable people.
The first and second clauses would
raise up and foster a pr vileged class,
ignorant and presumptive, who would
be insutferably arrogant and presume
bly, proud of their ignorance.
The third and fourth clauses would
admit foreign-born citizens 90 the suf-
frage to a very limited extent and ex-
Guide the greater portion of that useful
element in the councils and progress Of
the state. | wish to state right here
that it is mostly to this element and its
civic virtues and activities in the past
that much of the progress of the state
and its present enlightenment is due,
that enlightenment which will surely
encompass not only the defeat OF the
proposed amendment, but also the re-
tirement of all who have had anything
to do with it.
THE fifth is the so-called educational
test, which is no educational test at all,
and even if it were it would be impossi-
BILE, because it is not intended to be APP
piled to all and would assist, if it were
really an educational test, in promoting
and fostering. thet ignorance of those
whom it is proposed TO exempt from it's
operation.
But not being a test of education
does not serve to make it any the less
Objectionable, even if it were applied to
all candidates for the suffrage. 1t is
only detestable trick, conforming IN
this respect to the rest of the proposal.
Its requirements are beyond the capa-
bilities of even the most erudite of the
amendment advocates, and this is not
intended as a reflection on their erudi-
ton. The only way they can retain
their right to vote is by being exempt
from its operation, according to one or
more of the first four provisions, or by
acquiring the suffrage under the last or
property qualification.
''This last is at least as bad as any of
the others, if not worse. Every resi-
dent is naturally and of necessity con-
tributor to the states income. When
ne pays rent he pays taxes. When he
slIlUG article in, or H..