The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-03-25
SHALL WE TRY ANOTHER AMEND
MENT.

According to present indications the
leaders of the Democratic party Will
advise the legislature to pass bill 70
again submit to the people suffrage
amendment. We've just gone through
the second fight for similar measure
which though it was not, has been
made a party issue, and lost; shall we
try again :?
The amendment il not popular tn
this State, outside the Eastern Shore
and Southern Maryland. The people
of Western and Northern-Central
Maryland are either opposed or indif-
ferent to it. Southern Maryland and
the Eastern Shore have the Wilson
law to help them out. Why can't they
be satisfied and not continue to call
on Western and Northern-Central
Maryland to sacrifice themselves in a
vain effort to carry through meas
ure which il not for their benefit
Different parts of the State should
not be arrayed against each other, but
it is time the delegates from the West
ern Shore, from the big, rich, populous
counties of the State, realize that they
are being used. Southern Maryland
and the Eastern Shore have been
dominating affairs II The Legislature
for many years and this was but nat
ural, owing to the high class of men
they have had as their representatives.
With them first, last, and all the time
has been self. Wouldn't it be wise
for our Delegates to follow their ex-
ample and get together and stand for
this section of the State ?
And what's to be gained by it's adop
ton ? Maryland was safely Demo-
cratic by a large majority before it
was thought of and we believe that its
passage instead of helping the Demo-
cratic would strengthen the Repub-
lican party, as it would bring to the
front it's best men who are now I'M
willing to come forward and be found
fraternizing with their colored adher-
ents. 1t might help Southern Mary
land and the Eastern Shore, but why
not let them be satisfied with their
Wilson law
The type of people who make up the
population of Western and Northern
Central Maryland are entirely differ
ent from Southern Maryland and the
Eastern Shore; 1t is composed princi-
pally of people of German descent who
were non-slave holding. Southern Mary
land and the Eastern Shore is domi-
mated by the descendants Of the Eng
lish settlers who were slave holders;
consequently we find that although
portions of Carroll, Baltimore, Har-
ford and Frederick counties have
many negroes, being the parts where
people of English extraction settled,
yet the major portions of these cOun-
ties have none, and the whole of the
three Western counties have hardly
any. Thus their people are not inter-
ested in the elimination of the negro,
but are concerned chiefly in cherishing
their present rights Some of these
men can hardly read or write
English, though their families have
lived in the counties for generations
and are among their most prosperous
and we'll to do citizens. They are not
afraid of the negro, but are afraid of
trifling with the election laws. Our
large and cumbersome ballot has been
sore trial to them and has disfran-
chised many of the olG men. This has
naturally made angry their sons and
grand-sons and the Democratic party
has suffered as the majority of them
are Democrats. This Is true in Car
roll county and we suppose il true in
the others.
Now why should the people in the
three Western counties of Maryland,
Garrett, Allegheny and Washington
and the four great Northern-Central
counties of Frederick, Carroll, Balti-
more and Hartford, which border on
Pennsylvania, be made to suffer for
the benefit of Southern Maryland and the
Eastern Shore Is it because these
counties have more Democratic votes
in the Legislature, and that Baltimore
city stands by them III so, this is a
mistaken business and political policy
on the partof our metropolis. A wrong
business policy, for our trade goes to
Baltimore and practically all the East
Bad politically, for Baltimore il inter-
ested in having Democratic State Off
Gals. Does Baltimore realize that the
three Western counties, have as many
Democrats as the five Southern Mary
land counties, and that the four
Northern-C Central counties, have more
Democratic voters than the nine East
ern Shore counties ? In State cleo
ton a Democratic vote is worth as
much in one part of the State as an
other
80 stand up you big counties Of
Western and Northern-Central Mary
land and raise your voice in protest
in the council of our party against
riding to a third fall. Do not sacri-
flee your local interest in vain effort
to help others. Charity begins at
home, we've got all to lose and nothing
to gain by such measure and Baltimore