The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-01-27

There would have been different story
to tell had the counties on the Eastern
Shore and in Southern Maryland been
given an opportunity to give expression
to their sentiments. When the Gov
ernor, however, practically counte-
nanced fake candidates and trick bal
lots he disfranchsed white as we'll as
colored voters and dug his own political
grave.
1t seemed to have been the policy of
this administration as we'll as those who
favored the amendment, to place the
dollar above the right of franchise. 1t
was all wrong to deprive the State of
money, but it's all right to to take from
a citizen an inalienable right guaran-
teed him by the constitution. 1t is the
proper thing to yell stop thief" and
froth at the mouth when some member
of the other party makes a raid on the
treasury and grabs a few thousand
| dollars, but not bit improper to vio-
late the organic law of the State and of
the country IN order to retain power
and control. Governor Warfield made
mistake in making economy, or more
properly speaking money, the para
mount issue, and his successor should
have profited by his experience Well
might both eXclaim, with apologies to
Wolsey. Had l served my people with
half the zeal | served the treasury, they
would not in my last days have left me
at the mercy of mine enemies.
Nor is the Governor alone in his mis-
cry. Senator John Frank Harper is
reaping the whirlwind. Like the great
majority of Democrats he placed his
party above the State and his failure to
impress his colleagues with the neces-
slty for reform is due to this fact Two
years ago Senator Harper, at the behest
of the bosses of Queen Annes, intro
, duced and had passed bill extending
the Wilson ballot law to his county.
This change made it possible to impose
fake candidates and a rank ballot on
the voters of Queen Anne and took from
/ hundreds of whites the right of fran
chise. Granting that the senator had
no intention OF depriving members of
his own race of their votes, the fact re-
mains that he made it possible to do so.
And even if only colored men had been
affected the OBJECT of the law being to
deny them their rights, then Senator
Harper knowingly helped to violate the
Fifteenth Amendment, which is part of
/ the federal organic law.
Under the circumstances it seemed
rather inconsistent on his part to advo-
cate from principle the adoption of his
order which took from the President of
the Senate the appointment of en-
( ployes because he believed such a dele
cation of authority on the part of the
! Senate technical violation of the State
| Constitution. There is surely as much
of principle involved in one PROPOSE
ton as in the other Indeed, the direct
attack upon the rights of people is far
more reprehensible, it being a palpable
and an unquestioned violation of both
the State and Federal Constitutions.
The delegation of power objected to is
at best technical interference, if one
at all. From Mr.. Harper's standpoint,
therefore, it would appear to be justifi-
able, when political expediency de-
mands, to disregard the mandate of the
organic law, but not otherwise.
There is probably no member of the
Senate who is held in higher esteem
than the Senator from Queen Anne,
whose honesty, integrity and ability are
acknowledged by the representatives of
both parties, and the comparisons cited
are simply presented to demonstrate
that commendabe as may be the course
of such man in trying to protect the
finances of the state, he can be politi-
callY so biased and bigoted as to over
ride the law of the land to benefit his
party.
The Republicans have still another
crow to pick with Senator Harper.
They hold him responsible for the fail
ure of the Senate to confirm the Repub-
can supervisors who was nominated to
succeed the relative of the county boss.
The minority in Queen Annes has not
now a representative on the board who
is recognized by the party organization.
The Governor nominated Mr.. Mallalieu.
but as the Senator from Queen Annes
failed to insist upon report, the nomi-
nation died in the Committee on Execu-
tive Nominations, and the incumbent,
who is repudiated by the party, held
over.
When it comes to adopting reforms
in the Senate and House the Republicans
will always be found on the side of
right and justice. Their course in the
House of Delegates on the report of the
Committee on Organization, which
recommended number of additional
and unnecessary appointments, proved
this. They voted against this steal and
repudlated an arrangement bV which