Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-04-16
Cry CHAIRMAN SHREEyrs REPORTS.

The words of Mr. B. B. Shreeves chair
man of the City Committee, were listened
to with special interest, as the city is rec
ognized as the crucial point in the fight.
Mr.. Shreeves started out by telling what
had been done in the way of furthering the
cause of the amendment among the for
eign-born voters. and declared his belief
that as soon as the amendment is properly
understood and properly presented to the
foreign voters their support can be gained,
Mr.. RAYNER OFFERS To STUMP.
Senator Rayner said the situation is vast
ly different from four years ago and that he
believed the amendment could be adopted
The moment the foreign voter under
stands that he is in no danger of losing his
vote, said the Senator. there will be big
change. The trouble was the last time the
foreign voter thought he was being placed
on the same plane as the negro and he re-
sented it. | believe the party is united be-
hind this measure and that we will carry
it. intend to stump the State in its favor.
Mr.. John j. Mahon Endorsed what Mr..
Shreeves had said about the city situation.
Mr.. BRYAN's Proposition.
Mr.. Bryan was then called upon. He
said that he is heartily in favor of the
amendment, which is in striking contrast
to the former one, and is clear-cut, def
mite proposition which no thinking man
can believe contemplates trickery or I'M
fairness. He spoke of his intention to do
all he can to aid in its success, and then
pointed out that one danger in the city
here is the apathy existing toward the
amendment To dispel this he urged a
short campaign. and he then advocated
his proposition that caused everybody, with
one or two exceptions, to sit up and pro-
test.
He said that he thought the success of
the ticket is more essential than the sue
cess of the amendment, and that he was
more interested in seeing Judge Sans,
Judge Heuisler and Mr.. Max Ways and
Senator Rayner elected than in the amend
ment, although he is extremely DESTROYS of
its passage. He thought it wisest that
the candidates on the Democratic ticket
should not be tied up with the amend
ment, but should be left free, so that in
the event of the defeat of the amendment
they would not 90 down, too.
There is no use. he said. "acting like
an ostrich and putting your head in the
sand. We might as well face facts. To
carry the amendment is difficult PROPOSE
ton. want to see it carried and will do
what can, but with the apathy existing
and other difficulties it is hard fight, and
If it is not successful do not want to see
the ticket lose, too"
Senator Smith. Mr.. John p. Poe, Mr..
Miles. Governor Crothers, Senator Rayner,
Colonel Schley and several others strongly
and emphatically dissented from MIR.
Bryan's views on this proposition.
SENATOR SMITHS POSITION.
Senator Smith said that he did not be-
lieve any man not in favor of the amend
ment and unwilling to say so should be
nominated. He said that his observation
is that there is tremendous change in
opinion in the last few years among Re-
publicans as to the wisdom of disfranchis-
ing the negro. He said among Northern
Republican Senators there is no DISPOSE
ton to interfere with the Southern States
in dealing with this problem and that
many of them realize that the disfranchis
ment of the negro is the only guarantee
in these States for safe, sound and good
government.
Mr.. Poe also spoke strongly against Mr..
Bryans idea of not tying up the candidates
to the amendment and said il would mean
a surrender of the principle upon which the
Democratic party had been elected, and to
which il had pledged its faith to the peO-
pie. He said he believed the conference
should not adjourn before expressing its
emphatic dissent from this view.
Mr. Frank A. Furst, Mr. De Warren Rey-
nolds, Senator German and others spoke.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Col. Schley offered his resolution, which
was adopted by a rising vote, everybody
rising except Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. Bryan said
he was as much in favor of the amend
ment as anyone else, but he differed with
the others as to the policy to be pursued,
and he did not intend to talk one way and
vote another. Therefore he would not rise.
The resolution follows
Res0loed, That it is the sense of this meet
ing that the adoption of the constitutional
amendment on the suffrage question is the
vital issue in the coming campaign.
The adoption of the resolution ended the
conference, which was called with view
of ascertaining the sentiment in the c0un-
ties and letting it be known where the men
regarded as party leaders stood on this
question.
At the close of the meeting Chairman
Vandiver announced he would call the
State Central Committee together on April
28th at the Eutaw House, Baltimore
Besides those who are mentioned as
speaking, there were present at the con-
ference Gen. Ferdinand C. Latrobe, Mr..
Samuel X. Dennis, State Senator Blair Lee,
Mr.. Charles T. Crane. Mr. Max Ways, Mr.
John Hannibal, Mr.. j. Frank Smith, Col.
John Heating. of Allegany; State Senator
W. b. Clagett, of Prince Georges county ;
Mr.. X. Lee Manning, ex-State Senator Jas.
Young and others.