The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-04-05
NEGRO CAN'T VOTE
Maryland Legislature Bars
Over $4,000.
FEDERAL tlFCTlONS STILL OPEN
Property Qualification Was Left in
the Bills 70 Battle Their Test
ing the New Law in
the Courts.

Annapolis. Nd. April More than
5000 negroes in Maryland will De dis
s. franchiSed 50 far as state and munici.
pal elections are concerned by the pas
sage in the legislature of the bills of
Delegate W Mitchell Digges. of
d Charles county. Il is the most sweep
Ing method Of Acknowledgement ever
attempted in any state. and even lead.
Ing statesmen OF the far southern
states have expressed a doubt as To its
I constituuOnality. But the scheme Is
SO ingeniously worked out that no real
test can be made in the courts until
after the next state election.
The bills were passed by both the
houses and viii be sent to the gov.
ernor.
There are four bills in all The first
/ repeals the existing registration laws:
/ the second enacts a new registration
measure providing that none but white
men shah be registered in the future
as voters: the third carries the con.
| stitutional amendment designed 20 re
strict registration for all time 10 the
1 white persons OF the state. as II pro
hioits any future legislature from ex
tending the registration privilege to
negroes. except those owning $500
/ worth Of property
White Vote on Amendment.
This amendment viii be voted upon
In the fall OF 1911 by white men only
A provision has been inserted which
VIII permit the white voters n they
so desire. 10 extend the privilege OF
registration and the ballot box TO no
groes owning and paying taxes ca $500
worth Of property. II was thought best
10 insert this provision as the Demo
cratic leaders desire to shut out only
| the thriitless and ignorant negroes
and are willing TO admit 10 the ballot
box those who have sufficient thrift to
accumulate $500 worth Of property.
This property qualification is
thought preferable to an educational
qualification. because it Is believed
that the negro who has accumulated
property will prove better worthy Of
the franchise than the educated negro.
who may be weighted with all the
shiftlessness OF his race.
The fourth bill extends the terms Of
the mayor and other municipal officers
Of Baltimore city. so that their succes-
sors will De chosen at the November
state election. spring elections being
abolished. The bills are based upon
the assumption that the Fifteenth
amendment Is void. and IL Is declared
In the preamble that the exercise Of
the elective franchise by the negro is
not consistent with his own best In.
terests as the welfare OF the white
race.
The present registration books are
10 be used FOR the congressional cleo
tioas this year and the rieht Of the
negro TO vote at congressional elec-
lions is TO remain undisturbed. The
first registration will take place for
the general election next year. when a
governor and legislature and nearly all
state officers are TO be elected. The
method and machinery for the regis
tration OF voters viii remain practi
caliy unchanged. as under existing
laws
Federal Elections stin Open.
The negro Is not 10 be absolutely
DISTINGUISHED. as he still will vote az
federal elections-that Is. for con
| gresham. For use at elections Of con
| gressmen a distinct set OF registration
books viii be prepared in 1912. and
upon these books the names OF all per.
sons entitled 10 vote for congressman
I will be entered. II any state officer is
TO be elected at the election for con
'gressmen a distinct ballot must be
used. and only those persons qualified
/ TO vote at state elections will be per
mitted to vote for them. This will
happen at the presidential election in
q 1912. when both congressman and
electors viii be elected. Presidential
electors are state officials and would
be voted on the state ballot.
The present right of appeal from
the decision OF officers OF registration
Is retained Il is provided. however.
that person appealing TO a court
from an officer OF registration for reg
q istration under the act shall be deem
ed 10 have based his right to register
upon the act. and shall be estopped TO
set up any claim OF defense on any
other ground. This is intended to pre-
vent any appeal TO the state courts for
claim to register under the federal
constitution OF laws of congress.
The bills also provide that the right
TO register shall be limited 10 white
male persons. and If any registrar
shall refuse to enforse the provisions
Of this section. such refusal shall ipso
faeto work vacation OF his office. nj
the provision Of the act restricting the
suffrage 10 whites shall fail or be in
capable of taking effect. then every
part Of the act shall be void