The Washington times., 1910-04-09
Governor Withholds Ap-
proval of Disfranchisement
Act Pending Legal Tests.
LAW A FAILURE is
THE GENERAL BELIEF
Constitutional Amendment Law Is
Signed and Attorney General
Will Take It Into Court.

BALTIMORE. Nd. April s.-GOvernoF
Crothers has decided to withhold his
signature from the Digges disfranchise-
neut bin until there can be had a legal
construction. II is generally believed
today that the bin is a failure.
In a lengthy argument Governor
Crothers vigorously defended the
friends OF the measure. and says he
has endeavOred 10 give he question the
serious consideration which its gravity
and importance demands
7 have always thought that the
granting OF the unrestricted right OF
suffrage TO the African race in this
country was a dreadful blunder." said
the governor 1T was n great wrong
10 both races, being the cause. and, in
this State, as well as IN the other
Southern States, the only cause, Of
irritation and friction I therefore ap-
proach the consideration Of these bills
with every disposition to give them my
approval
Business Troubles Unlikely
Most OF The arguments which have
been advanced-sOmetiTnes in somewhat
noisy and Incorporate fashion-in OppO-
sition 10 these measures. have seemed
10 ma 10 have little merit For in
stance, cannot find any warrant IN
Jaw for the fear, expressed by some
that the doubt as TO the constitutional
validity OF the registration law WOULD
occasion business disturbances
The law. especially in this state, IS
vel settled - the effect that even
where an election IS held 70 be VOID
an official acts OF those holding under
such election are legally valid N ever
respect until the courts have actually
adjudged the office vacant and the va
Cancy has been filed
Neither do 7 find any justification for
the criticism that the law IS 50 framed
as 10 prevent the testing OF It's consul
tutiOnal validity in the courts
Question Should Be SETTLED
1T seems TO me that the people who
are most afflicted with this perpetual race
issue in politics have right TO have
This question settled. and I feel con
strained to say that deemiit most I'm
justin fact. little less than an outrage
uuOn OecenCy-that they should be de-
nounced as they have been by some be-
cause Of the expression which they have
given TO this desire in the passage OF
these bills
That is the way I feel about this
matter Nevertheless after the maturist
reflection I have come 70 the COuclu-
sion that IL Mould not be proper to en-
act this registration law IN advance OF
ruling from the Supreme Court OF the
United States upon the question OF its
constitutional validity. ] feel that Sucn
action on our part might be regarded
as putting the State Of Maryland in an
attitude Of defiance toward the Federal
Government. that Il would be generally
misunderstood and miSrepreseuted and
might DO our people and the people OF
the South generally much harm.
WIthhOIds bis Approval.
81 shall, therefore. withhold my sig
nature from these bills AT the same
time 7 shall request the Attorney General
r Il meets with his approval acting IN
behalf Of the state and IN obedience TO
the wish Of its people, as expressed and
manifested in the passage OF these bills
by a majority OF more than three-ffths
Of both houses Of the General Assembly.
10 take occasion at the first opportunity
10 bring this question to an isue in the
courts
Signs Constitutional" Bill
The act providing for the submission
OF the constitutional amendment would
become q law without my signature,
but I snail sign il because am Of the
opinion that II held to be constitutional
81 VIII prove a most beneficial measure
1qr both the white and the c0IOred
people Of the state while the question
Cf It's conSIituuOHality may be settled
iu &dvonce Of its going into effect. some
l1eD ---asS hence with proceedings which
The Attorney General win institute