Evening star., 1909-02-14
Disfranchisement Amendment
Not to Be Prime Issue.
ABANDONED BY RING MEN
Increased Representation for Balti.
more Fought by Country.
DIRECT VOTE FOR SENATORS
German Declares Against Oregon
Plan and Straus Advocates It as
Peoples Desire.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RALTIORE, Md, February l3. 1a0o
The disfranchisement amepdment. that
carefully framed instrument which has
for its principal purpose the establishment
OF a political oligarchy that would cause
the old-time ring to blush for shame. is On
siding now as paramount issue In
the fall campaign, SO far as the demo
cratic bosses are concerned.
The valiant leaders OF a corrupt ring
are awake to the fact that many demo
Gratis are still opposed to the Amendment.
even In its present sugar-ooated form.
and know that the same forces within the
party that brought about defeat in 1856
will be found battling against the old
measure in a new guise in 1909
These ring leaders are an astute bunch
Of politicians and always keep their ears
close to the ground.
They have heard certain rumblings
which did not assure them. Hence the
decision to give the amendment issue IN
the coming campaign a sort Of pass up
Unless the. tide should change. there
fore. the Straus plan will have TO trust
to pot luck" next November. for tho
wire pullers do not intend to place the
legislature in jeopardy.
There is too much at stake in the COM
ing eiecton tnlS 1all I'd take any cnanceS
The question OF the passage Of the amend
ment is most doubtful. The question OF
the election Of a democratic legislature
is most vital. because a United States
senatorshfp is at stake. as we'll as the
control of the board of public works. Il
OF a politician that the ringsters are not
going to take any chances on the high
stake.
Increased Representation.
In pursuance Of an agreement reached
at secret conference Of the big guns in
the party, the leaders will only discuss
the plan for increased representation for
Baltimore city and the Oregon plan for
electing United States senators. II
le ader happens to be from the city, he 10
In favor OF more senators and delegates
from Baltimore: II he is from the coun-
ties. he is dead set against any increase
in the number Of lawmakers from this
city.
1, is a curious fact that out OF the en-
tire general assembly only two state SEN
ators were willing to commit themselves
in regard to the plan to give this cHy
Increased representation at Annapolis
These two are Senator Jesse d. Price OF
Wicomico county and Senator Lewis M
MilbOurne of Somerset county.
The former says bossism, concentrated
power and the fact that there Is no neeo
for an increase commensurate with the
size of the city are the reasons why ne
would oppose a population basis for the
increase. Senator Milbourne said merely
that he could see no good reason 1or
granting an increase upon tho oasis OF
population. and deprecated the effort be-
ing made to overshadow the eunfa80
amendment with other issues.
1t is not hard to forecast, therefore. that
Baltimore city will continue TO wobble
along paying the bulk Of the state ex-
penses and without proper representation
In the halls of the legislature.
But the party bosses have had named
by Gov Crothers an increased representa-
ton commission to serve the purpose or
diverting attention from the really Dig
Issue Of the fall campaign-the disfran-
chisement amendment.
At Odds Over Direct Vote.
Among men who follow the game in
Maryland there has been much gossip
over the fact that Gov. Crothers and
former Gov. Warfield stand in favor of
the Oregon plan of electing senator's.
while the machine" is for the conven-
tion Some are even unkfnd as to say
that Crothers is only b'uffing and Is in
reality heart and soul with the regular
organization.
State Senator German during the week
declared himself against the Oregon
plan, which he says evades the section
Of the constitution providing that the
state legislature shall elect senators. And
there is no doubt that young German
in opposing the direct vote plan reflected
the sentimen of every cld-line boss In
the democratic party in the state.
Attorney General Straus. on the other
hand, tavors the Oregon plan. and openly
asserts that he would like to see II ap-
piled in Maryland.
TO The Star correspondent today. lis
undoubtedly the best method yet devised
for registering the will CT the people
concerning the question as to whom they
States Senate. The time is past when the
idea that the people are not to be trusted
is held by any thinking man.
THE whole tendency Of the times is
toward placing more and more In the
peoples hands the things which the
Constitution took away from them In the
beginning. The Oregon method OF choos-
ing senator's is a thoroughly satisfactory
plan of doing this in reference TO the
United States senatorship, and L want
to see it applied here.
As to Maryland Law.
The senatorial primary election law
In Maryland" continued Mr.. Straus, Ii
q big step in advance over the old plan.
1t is along the right line and upon the
right principles. 1t has its defects. but
it is foolish for any one to say that
the law is not a step forward. Still.
why should not the democratic party.
having taken this one step forward and
finding that II does not go quite as far
as the people desire. take the bigger
stride and give them the real thing
the Oregon plan?
1T not only would not hurt the demo-
cratic party but il would be a great ad-
vantage The republicans. as a national
party. are opposed to the election cf
United States senators by the people. and
the Maryland republicans in the last
convention voted against ii. Therefore.
the people have nothing to expect from
the republicans in, the way OF this sort OF
legislation.
..The cnly party they can look TO is
our party, and the more we give the
people of what they want the better il
will be for the party. That q vast
ma jority of the people favor the direct
election of senators is. I think, without
question.
Sl,;,1 r.