Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-03-19

% taken, and in legal way they should b,
DISTINGUISHED
Then there is Mr.. Thomas Parran tn,
q chairman of the Republican State Contra
: Committee, man noted for his poltica
!, shrewdness and sagacity. At dinner Of
:, Republicans called to denOunce the amend.
ment Mr.. Parran stated that in his opinion
, the adoption of the amendment would ul-
,, timately make the Republican party strong
, er than it now is.
EX-GOVERNOR WAKEFIELD.
There. too. are the stirring words of ex-
Governor Warfield in his inaugural address
upon taking office in 1904, which show his
attitude and that of the many men who
thought with him at that time in reference
to a proper amendment Mr.. Warfeld
then said:
of all planks in the platform that which
became paramount in the campaign de-
manded the elimination of the Ignorant
unrefecting, irresponsible voter. The re-
suit of the election demonstrates that
large majority of our best citizens favor
such election reform. They demand that
the State shall be governed by those citi-
zens who because of their intelligence,
their heredity and their interest in the
material welfare of the Commonwealth,
are best fitted to properly. practically and
wisely exercise the high duties of citizen
ship. This result can only be obtained by
an amendment to the Constitution fixing a
higher standard of qualification for the
exercise of the elective franchise
NEGRO DEVELOPMENT SLOW.
II quote from these gentlemen to show
| the realization upon the part of men of
prominence of both parties that the time
has come when the wheels of progress can
no longer be arrested to wait for the doubt
full development of the negro to a point
where he becomes good citizen.
1.-THE Republican party has reached
stage now where its leading men openly
admit that the negro is not fit to govern.
If this is true. then they must admit he is
not fitted to vote. Good citizenship is the
first qualification of the voter. If he has
this qualification he is fitted to hold Office.
If he has not. he is not qualified either to
hold office or to exercise the suffrage. The
position of the Republicans in this matter
is not one that can be sustained or just-
fed.
AS ballast"
"And as another argument more remark
able and even weaker is made by those
who admit the negrO's lack of qualifica-
ton to pass upon questions of government
and men and who admit his vote is con-
trolled solely by prejudice, but claim that
it is necessary to hold on to this vote as a
ballast in order to prevent the white peO-
pie of the State from going wrong.
Il have read with great interest the in |
terview recently published in The Sun from |
Bishop McSherry. now visiting Cardinal |
Gibbons. and whose opportunities for OBJ |
servati0n of this race question have been |
great indeed, and whose statement abun-
dainty confirms the theory upon which the
amendment is predicated
MEN Who DREW THE LAW
THE amendment was drawn by COM
mittee of the most prominent and distin-
guished lawyers in the State. Many of
them were men who have not affiliated
with nor been allied with the organization
of the Democratic party and who have
always maintained an attitude of indepen-
dence. Some of them were opposed to the
former amendment. II Is a difficult thing
to believe that the late Senator Whyte,
Senator lsidOr Rayner. ex-AttorneyGe ner-
al William S. Bryan, Mr.. William L. Mar
bury, Major Randolph Barton and the other
men on this committee of equal standing
would devise a measure calculated to In
jure their State.
These men are Of the type that has al
ways been animated by desire to serve
their State. to better its conditions and up
hold its standing and reputation. That
they would deliberately devise an instru-
ment to injure it is inconceivable. and do
not think the clamor of the opposition
will persuade the people that they would.
FoREIGN-BoRN VOTERS.
1.-THE amendment has been carefully
drawn. Under it no native-born citizen
and no foreign-bo born citizen will lose his
vote. The provisions to protect our for
egn-born citizens, of whom we are all
proud, and who are in sympathy with our
destines, are aiding in the development of
the country and its growth, and helping to
work out the great governmental problems,
have been well thought out. and they are
fully protected.
Those who are here now will vote with
out being subjected either to an education
al or property test They stand upon the
same ground as the native white citizen
and their registration Is as unhampered.
Those who come into this country in the
future will also be able to vote If they can
pass the test provided by the naturaliza
ton laws enacted by Republican admins
traton, which require them to speak, read
and understand the English language II
they can do this, there is no question about
their passing the tests prescribed by the
amendment. The welfare and advance
ment of our large and intelligent labOrng
classes will be greatly advanced by the
adoption OF the amendment, more. per-
haps, than any other class of our people.
In DEMOCRATIC HANDS.
AS TO the fate of the issue. II rests alb
solutely in Democratic hands. If, in the
coming campaign. the Democratic party
will put its faith in such Legislation as
characterized the last session at which
were passed the Corrupt Practices act, the
Good Roads law, the General Corporation
law, the Rarratry law; if it will surround
the primary elections with the legal safe
Guards demanded by the people and take
the position that the election laws enacted
to prevent the possibility Of negro domi-
nation and control shall be repealed in the
event Of the adoption of the amendment,
and an election law passed for the whole
State 80 plain and honest in its provisions
as to absolutely prevent even the suspi-
cion Of unfairness; If it will provide for
the passage of an act electng United States
Senators by direct vote Of the people and
make peremtory what is now optiOnal--the
nomination by direct vote Of all candidates
for office II ii will exercise the most rigid
economy in the expenditure Of the people 8
money; If it will take its stand to give
Greater power to the people and greater
publicity in all public matters, appointing
competent and honest Democrats to Office,
but not relying solely upon patronage and
party organization for its strength; III
will give to Baltimore city adequate rep
resentation and pass such amendments TO
the Oyster Culture law as to perfect that
wise legislation--if it will do all these
things it will attract to its standard Dem
ocrats who are not seekers Of public Office,
but who cherish the principles Of the party
as promulgated by its great founder and it
will be in position where fractional differ
ences will not count nor disappointed am
billions check its triumph and the carrying
out Of these policies.
What it already has done along these
lines dives irrefraoable Droof of its SINGER