The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-01-15
BRYAN FOR AMENDMENT
FORAER ATTORNEY GENERAL CONES
OUT STRONG FOR Tue MEASURE
Believes Ignorant and Vicious Heqroes
Should Be DISTINGUISHED


ing, could not be present, and sent the
following letter:
Dear Mr. Shreeves.
Since accepting your polite invita-
ton to attend and to speak at the
Democratic banquet at the Hotel Rem
merit on Thursday evening, January 4.
have learned that It will not be
practicable for me to be present. I
therefore send you my regrets.
understand that one OF the OBJ
iecta OF the dinner is to discuss the
suffrage amendment 10 be submitted
TO the voters at the general election
next November
Il Is proper that ! should state that
intend voting for that amendment At
the polls.
voted against the amendment sub
mitted at the general election in 1905
on account OF the great. and az
thought, dangerous discretionary pow
or given 10 the registration officers.
and because whether that amendment,
II adopted, would disfranchlse the IL
literate blacks depended upon whether
the party opposed to negro suffrage
controlled the appointment OF the cleo
ton and registration officials.
The present amendment Is not open
20 this objection. II preacribes IN def
mite terms the qualifications Of the
voters and does not leave the rights
Of the citizen 10 the discretion or
within or caprice OF the officials CON
Quoting the registration
This amendment IL an honest,
straightforward measure. for which
all persons desiring 10 dlsfranchisethe
ignorant and Illiterate negro should
vote. and against which all persons
should vote who desire 10 preserve
the franchise for the ignorant and ~
liierate negro,
read with great Interest the letter
Of December ~ last from President
elect Taft 10 Collector Stone on the
subject OF this amendment
have great admiration and re-
apect for Judge Taft. ] hope and be.
lieve that he will be great improve
meni on the headstrong and turbulent
gentleman who is now President. I
believe that Judge Taft has had bet
ter preliminary training for the great
office he II about TO fill than any
President since John Quincy Adams,
and with all due respect 10 Mr.. Nc
injury A1BA ~ AAls NtD0tFNtlkN IN
pect Judge Taft 70 make the best
President We have had since Grover
Cleveland. ! therefore discuss Judge
Tafts letter In no spirit OF hostility
or personal disFespect.
In this letter Judge Taft says oi
this proposed amendment: ut ID not
drawn 10 the spirit OF justice and
equality, having regard to the Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments. and
! sincerely hope that no Republican
and no Democrat who desires equality
OF treatment 10 the black and white
races will vote for Il.
Judge Taft wrote this because he
IL sincere and consistent Hcpubil.
can. and because he looks NJ the F1f-
/ teenth Amendment from the Republl-
can point Of view.
There are a great many OF ua who
look at II from 9 different standpoint
and who think that the Fifteenth
Amendment waH a gerat political
mistake. II turned over the Govern
nient OF the Southern States already
| impoverished by the Civil War "a
the degraded and unprfnsipled white
men who became the political leaders
OF the ignorant blacks, who had not
| yet become accustomed 20 freedom
and II produced bankruptcy aud ruin
/ and all the other lila OF misgoyern.
ment In that soreiy afflicted section.
| And 90 my mind not the least Of ihs
/ evils which thn Fifteenth Amendment
/ wrought was the conviction II gave
many OF the most conservative mem.
bers of the community. that prevent
Ing negro domination. or rather the
domination Of the more degraded
white leaders and allies Of she negro
| 10y means OF the negro vote, was CO.
sential 10 the preservation OF civilian
ton. and that, therefore. from the
necessity OF the case, force or fraud
az elections was iuEtihable to pre-.
serve white supremacy and a decent
administration Of public affairR
Consequently In the black belt there
are 70 be found men. In all other re-.
| spectR honorable and hIgh-minded
whom anyone would be willing 10
trust rs executor or guardian or trus.
tee. but who at election look on Il M
a matter OF course 20 cheat and de.
fraud the negro, and who in doinF
so will frankly tell you that the end
justifies the means.
4
which have followed IN the train OF the
Fifteenth Amendment. many OF IA
bear In mind that It's ratification was
caused by the coercion Of the South.
/ ern States during the reconstruction
period. and that voting for It's ratiilca.
ton was made the price OF the read
mission OF these States into the Union
Therefore while for all practical
] rsttr L.
Ignore the existence of the Fifteenth
Amendment as part OF the supreme
law OF the land, ], for one, see no NOR.
al sanction which II imposes. II suf-
frage measure would be otherwise
proper, the only question which NE
Fifteenth Amendment causes to arise
with me Is the bald question OF law.
Will this measure stand the test
In the Supreme Court?
4 Whether the Fifteenth Amendment
can be avoided, or whether, notwIth.
standing ita termn, there can be draft.
ed measure restricting the Negro
suffrage. is therefore In my view, and
In the view OF many thoughtful men
who agree with me. not at all ques.
ton Of morals. but only a question
OF legal skill
Judge Taft being lifelong and sin.
cere Republican, and never having
lived In community where there was
a large negro vote, OF course, takes
an entirely different view OF the Eff.
teenth Amendment, and his letter will
appeal TO those who. fike him in mat
ters political, desire equality OF
treatment 10 the black and white
racesU
| Whether this proposed amendment
will stand the legal test IN the Su.
preme Court IL matter on which nc