Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-04-15
Governor's Reasons for Vetoing the
Digges Bill.


Il have endeavored to give to this Ques-
ton the serious consideration which its
gravity and importance demand.
a have always thought that the grant
ing of the unrestricted right of suffrage to
the African race in this country was
dreadful blunder that it was a great
wrong to both races, being the cause, and.
in this State, as well as in other Southern
States, the only cause. of irritation and
friction between the two races. therefore
approach the consideration of these bills
with every disposition to give them my
approval.
Most of the arguments which have been
advanced-sometimes in somewhat noisy
and Incorporate fashion-in opposition to
these measures. have seemed to me to have
little merit. For instance, cannot find
any warrant in law for the fear expressed
by some that the doubt as to the constitu-
tional validity of the registration law would
occasion business disturbances. The law,
especially in this State, is well settled to
the effect that even where an election is
held to be void all official acts of those
holding under such election are legally
valid in every respect until the courts have
actually adjudged the Office vacant and the
vacancy has been filed.
Neither do find any justification for
the criticism that the law is so framed as
to prevent the testing of its constitutional
validity in the courts. The provisions of
Section 23 and Section Ssh as printed
prior to its introduction were carefully
omitted from the law as enacted. The
purpose Of this act, as stated by its author.
Mr.. Digges, was to raise in proper and
orderly way the question of the validity of
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Federal
Constitution and the further question
whether. assuming such amendment to be
valid and to have been validity adopted. it
should be construed to apply to State cleo
TONS With this purpose have the heartiest
sympathy.
1T seems to me that the people who are
most afflicted with this perpetual race issue
in politics have a right to have this ques-
ton settled, and feel constrained to say
that deem it most unjust. in fact. little
less than an outrage upon decency, that
they should be denounced as they have
been by some because of the expression
which they have given to this desire in the
passage Of these bills.
That is the way feel about this mat
ter Nevertheless. after the maturest re-
Election, | have come to the conclusion that
it would not be proper to enact this regis
tration law in advance of ruling from
the Supreme Court of the United States
upon the question Of its constitutional va
lidity. feel that such 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 misrepresent-
ed and might do our people and the people
of the South generally much harm.
81 shall therefore withhold my signature
from these bills. At the same time shall
request the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. IL it 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 majority of more
than three-fifths of both houses of the Cen
eral Assembly. to take occasion at the first
opportunity to bring this question to an
issue in the courts.
What we desire to do Is not to raise any
question as to the validity Of the laws
which have been enacted in the States Of
the South, all of which have been framed
upon the assumption Of the validity of the
Fifteenth Amendment. For II Is far from
our desire to disturb the settlement of this
question. which has been effected In those
States Our desire, on the contrary, is to
raise only the question of the validity Of
the Fifteenth Amendment itself, or whether
If valid. 1t applies to State or municipal
elections in legal and orderly way.
"An adverse decision on this question
would not disturb the existing situation
in the South in the least. II seems TO me,
therefore, that our people have everything
to gain and nothing to lose by raising the
question. and am advised that II may be
done even under the present law.
Il am advised that it might seriously
prejudice our case to have the question
presented as 1t would be under this bill II
II were enacted into law. The act provid-
ing for the submission Of the constitutional
amendment would become law without my
signature. but shall sign II because am
Of the opinion that II held to be constitu-
tional it will prove a most beneficial
measure for both the white and the colOred
people of the State. while the question Of
its constitutionality may be settled in adj
vance Of its going into effect. some two
years hence, with proceedings which the
Attorney General will institute"