The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-22
SUFFRAGE IN FREDERICK.
Mr.. Grinder Says Many Republicans
Are Supporting Amendment.

MIR. ]. 81 G. Grinder, Of Frederick
county, who was in Baltimore Mon
day, said to a reporter of the Sun
he was certain that the counties Of the
State would turn In big majority for
the amendment
In Frederick county," he said. II
have heard Republicans say that thev
were going to vote to eliminate the
negroes from politics-the illiterate
and vicious negro. Although a Re-
publican county, and although the RE-
puDl1cans are there, as elsewhere. try
ing to make people believe that this
is not an amendment to take AWAY
the vote OF the illiterate negro, but
OF the foreign-born white man. they
are not succeeding in this misrep-
resentation, and the people of the
county are going to vote for the
amendment because they want the
negro voter eliminated. There is
great enthusiasm for the measure
among the Democrats of the county.
Ihey are all working hard for its pas
sage. We all believe 1t will greatly
improve conditions in our county and
the State at large.
the Republican party in our eoun-
W would be better off without the ne
groes, and the whole tone of political
conditions would be improved. In
Frederick city the people have already
found 1t necessary to eliminate the
negro to some extent from the local
elections, but we who are farmers In
the county have not had the benefit
OF this, and we want it.
The restriction of negro suffrage
in the small towns of the State has
been such a decided advantage that
none of these towns are clamoring
for his return. They want to keep
him out all the time and out of all
parts of the counties That is why
there Is such a strong sentiment for
the amendment through the State.
The negro does not elevate politics.
The Republicans are afraid to come
out and say that they think so, for
they do not think SO. Even up in our
county, where we have few foreign
born voters, the Republicans are con-
dent TO fight the amendment by the
Spectous cry that II will disfranchise
white foreigners. Such a cry can
have little effect In the county, be-
cause there are few foreigners 10 be
misled by It.
The farmers OF this State are not
negro haters, and the Democrats treat
negroes under them as we'll as and
better than a great many of the Re-
publicans do. | know Of cases where
Republicans have used negroes for
political purposes, but when the poor
negroes have died and II has come
up as a question Of providing means
for their burial the Democrats have
paid the expenses OF burial. Many OF
the farmers OF the State who are work
ing for the amendment are large en-
Dloyers OF negro labor. but they know
that the best interests OF the negroes
will be served by an amendment that
will release them from the political
control OF the Republican politicians
who try to lead them like drcves OF
cattle to the polls every election.
"A negro who gets his franchise
through the provisions OF the amend
ment viii appreciate the privilege
The amendment will have the effect
OF making the negroes elevate them
selves. The Republicans never tried
TO elevate the negro and they do not
care anything about him except TO use
him to help TO elect them TO office"