The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-04-09
PARTY LEADERS MEET
SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT DECLARED TO
BE THE DOMINANT ISSUE
The Outlook for Its Passage Thought
to Be Bright

representative democrats from
Baltimore city and the different coun-
ties met at the Hotel Rennert We'd
nesday and discussed the suffrage
amendment to the constitution, the
| object of which is to eliminate the
negro vote.
1t was declared at the conference
that the Democratic party organiza-
ton, in both city and State, proposes
to make the amendment the vital is
sue and the paramount principle in
the coming campaign; that it intends
to omit no effort to secure its ratif1-
cation by the people; that it con-
| siders the party united behind this
measure, which it is contended, meets
all of the objections urged to the
former amendment by Democrats, and
that the ticket will be subordinated
to the amendment rather than the
amendment subordinated to the ticket
There were present at the confer
ence several leading Democrats who
were strongly opposed to the former
amendment, such as Senator Rayner,
X-Attorney-General William Shepard
Bryan, Jr., and Mr.. Charles T. Crane,
who was one Of Ex-Governor War
fields warmest political friends, and
one or two others.
To the proposition to make the
amendment the paramount issue there
was but one dissenting voice, and that
was Mr. Bryan, who, while declaring
himself absolutely and without reser-
walton for the amendment and assert
ing his intention to do all he can to
secure it's passage, said that in his
opinion the ticket was more important
than the amendment.
. Senator Rayner said he considered
the ratification of the amendment of
far more Importance than his own
election. He declared the situation
was vastly different from that of four
: years ago and believed the amend
ment would be adopted. He said he
would stump the state in it's favor.
Senator Smith was emphatic in his
} declaration that the amendment is
the vital thing and that it would be
poor policy on the part of the Demo
cratic party to even have the appear
l ance or suggestion of being luke
5 warm on this proposition. He saiC
!, that he did not believe any man mo-
: in favor of the amendment and un
| willing to say so should be nominated
J. He said that his observation is tina
i, there is tremendous change in opin
IOu III CuG IdSI lew years dLuOuS ne
: publicans as to the wisdom of dis
? franchising the negro. He saiC
l among Northern Republican Senators
} there is no disposition to interfere
t with the Southern States in dealin;
with this problem and that many o
them realize that the disfranchise
ment of the negro is the only guaran
tee in these States for sare, sound anC
good government.
Mr.. Poe also spoke strongly agains
: Mr.. Bryan's idea of not tying up the
: candidates to the amendment and sale
: it would mean surrender of the prin
l ciple upon which the Democratic
L party had been elected, and to which
it had pledged it's faSrn to the people
: He said he believed the conference
should not adjourn before expressing
; it's emphatic dissent from this view.
Governor Crothers presided and hit
was the last word. What he sale
aroused applause.
"'This is not" he said, "a Demo
} cratic question, nor is it politica
| proposition. 1t is a question which
: we are for, because we know it is
: right, and in which we know is wrap
ped up the welfare of this whole
community / am in favor of this
amendment, not from prejudice, but
: because it will eliminate from the
politics of this State a power that is
J incapable of graphing with the prob
lens of government with which we
have to deal. We, as citizens, not as
, Democrats, but as citizens, who are
, trying to lift up the State and to have
here clean, good, progressive, honest
government, should boldly proclaim
: our belief that this measure comes
above party success and above the tri-
, umph of candidates, no matter whom
they may be. | am in favor of bold
an unequivocal stand on this propo-
sition. Let us go before the people
on this principle. Let us make our
fight on it, and make it in the right
way, and tell you we will not only
carry through the amendment, but
we will elect our ticket
The following resolution was then
adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense. of
this meeting that the adoption of the
constitutional amendment on the suf-
frage question is the vital issue in
the coming campaign"
The State Central Committee will
be called to meet at the Eutaw House
April %.
Benz F. Grouse represented Carroll
county at the gathering.
Good CurroSf;ou