The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-09-10
THE "SUN" DO SHINE
BEAMS BRIGHTLY UPON DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES AND POLICIES
Comes Out IBrGSerVedIg for The SuI.
fFage Amendment
FIoa BaI.Inofe So q -.

his denomination Tor Comptroller by
the Democratic State Convention the
campaign IN Maryland has passed It's
initial stage and will soon enter the
warmer zones OF political conflict. The
Sun has up to this time purposely
refrained from defining It's position
with regard 20 the pending State CON
test, because Of the unusual number
Of important issues presented BY the
platform Of the two parties and be-
cause Il desired to consider them care
fully, deliberately and thoroughly.
Having done 30. IL feels that II would
be lacking In its duty 10 itself, 90
we'll as 10 the people Of the State,
10 defer any longer the statement Of
It's attitude.
In announcing. as II does now, that
Il will support the Democratic candi-
dates and the Democratic platform Il
Is not BY any means TO be un-
derstood az expressing entire salts
faction with all the planks Ia that
platform.
We do not hesitate 10 say that The
plank on legislative representation
for Baltimore is not what this city hid
a right 10 expect and 10 claim at the
hands Of the Democratic party, and
that the Republican plank on that
subject IL far more satisfactory. But
In the political world, as in the bust.
ness world. II IN not always 4 aues-
tion os what wo want. or what We
have an abstract right 10, but what
we can get Unfortunately for the
Republican party, II r. not In po-
siti0n 70 carry out It's promise on
this point except by the aid of po-
litical tidal wave, Of which there "a
not the slightest Indication. Tho
Democrats have ten hoidnyer aena.
tors. and without uuch a tidal wave
the Republicans cannot control Che
Senate. even II they should carry the
House Of Delegates. With a Democrat.
ic Senate and a Demucrasir Governor
the Republicans wUJld be- heipieaa
20 pass any disputed Legislation. 80
mat " Baltimore le ho set the promise
OF Increased representation from the
next Legislature. II IL safer 10 de-
pend on the Democratic party than
on tho RepuhiirAn.
There IA also another practical con.
sideration % be taken into account
In this connection Tho county yos,
ers- Democratic and Republican alike
--nre not disposed TO look with favor
upon the bfll of the Just Representa-.
ton League. The bill 10 BE- passed
by the Legislature viii have 10 b
submitted for ratification 20 the voters
Of the State. There were In 1905
III .T80 registered voters in the conn.
,ies aud 1885 In the city. n tina,
Dill nronses the suspicion and an.
tagoniann OF the county voters by civ.
Ina Baltimore what those voters con.
slider undue representation, the result
VIII be that II will be defeated when
it u submitted 60 them. and that We
shall Ent no increase at aIi IN our rep.
reAentatiop X IN. therefore. a cundi.
ton. not theory, which confronss
ns--a question Of arithmetic and facts
rather thaa of abstract right II ID
. case OF half loaf or no bread, and
u seems wiser 10 make sure Of halt
ionf.
On abe issue of direct popular pri.
maries both platforms sin alike. but
here again there IL more TO be hoped
for from the Democrats than from the
Republicans, In tho matter OF local
nominations, city and county. the
Democrats have made a beginning
and not an altogether bad beginning.
IN large number OF counties. AZ we'll
90 the city OF Baltimore. they adopted
this year the plan OF direct popular
nominations, and as Governor Croth.
ers and many leading Democrats are
In favor Of making this system com
puinory, there is good reason for be-
lieying that with the Democrats In
power at Annapolis the people will
secure their full rights IN this matter
The Republicans naturally fight shy
OF the issue, as the elements which
make mp their electorate are not
homogeneous, and the results which
might e1isue from direct primaries
would prove disastrous 20 the party.
On the issue OF public utilities
commission both parties are nnreserv-
ediy committed to the creation OF such
an agency as will control all public
service corporations alike, so that on
that question, other things being
equal, there ~ nothing TO choose be-
tween them.
We come now to the suffrage
amendment. which both parties have
declared TO be the paramount issue of
the campaign. We are frank 10 say
that II the pending suffrage amend
ment contained the Objectionable fea-
lures OF what n known as the Poe
amendment, defeated I'M 1905. The
Sun would not support Il. But II Is
free from the objections urged to
that amendment, and as far as the
qualifications prescribed for the col
ored voter are concerned. is very
similar In principle TO the amendment
advocated by Ex-Governor Warfield.
II will not disfranchise any white
voter In the State, native or foreign
born. II will have the effect OF dis
franchising most coIored voters, and
IL Is frankly intended to do this. But
under II many colored voters win still
be able TO vote--all can do 30, In fact,
who have $500 worth Of property or
who can answer a limited number OF
designated questions, none OF which
are inherently dificult. Nor does II
close the door of hope against the
masses of the colored electorate. IL,
in fact, holds II open by the property
and educational qualifications and Of
fers stimulus to thrift and literacY
which would, In the end. prove a VAL
uabie aid to negro advancement.
Without dwelling IN detail at present
upon an the arguments in favor OF
the amendment, we believe that its
general effect would be not only to
promote good government In Mary
land, but to promote the best interest
OF the colored people OF the State and
to advance them ultimately to high
er plane OF citizenship.
Thus believing, the Sun unreserved-
ly advocates the passage OF this