Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1910-04-07
The DIsses Election Law.

The DIsses Election Law.
The General Assembly OF Mary
land has passed the Diggs Election
Law and the Governor has announc-
cd shat he will sign il. The legal
propositions involved will no doubt
be adjudicsted by tie proper tribu-
malls ct the proper time and news
paper discussions Of them avail
nothing. We are glad that the L.
sue has been so squarely made that
there can be no evasion Of 10. and
will welcome the day when 10 will
be finally settled. The principal
features Of the measure arei
The bill repeats the present reg
istration law of the State and enacts
o new law. based upon the assump-
ton that the Fifteenth Amendment
is void. aud the reasons why IL Ia
believed 10 be void are set forth In
the preamble OF the bill.
II is declared In the preamble
that the exercise OF the elective
franchise by the negro Ia not con-
sistent with his own best interests
or the welfare Of the white race.
The bill prohibits the registration
OF negroes for State or municipal
elections.
The present registration books
are TO be used for the COMPRESSION
al elections this year and the right
OF the negro to vote at Congression-
al elections is to remain undIsturb-
ed.
The first registration under the
bill will take place for the general
election next year, when q Governor
and Legislature and nearly all State
officers are TO be elected.
The terms of the present Balti-
more city officials are extended un-
ill the general election in Novem-
Der, 1911.
The method and machinery for
the registration OF voters will re-
main practically unchanged, just as
under existing laws.
The negro is not to be absolutely
DISTINGUISHED. az be will still vote
at Federal elections-that is, for
Congressman. For use at elections
OF Congressman q distinct set OF re-
gistration books shall be prepared
in 1912. the present books being
used in 1910. and upon these books
TO be SO prepared in 1912 the names
Of all persons entitled TO vote for
Congress shall be entered. II any
State officer is TO be elected at the
election for Congressman, Q distinct
ballot must be used, and only those
persons qualified to vote at State
elections will be permitted TO vote
for them. This will happen at the
Presidential election In 1912, when
Congressman and electors will both
be elected. President electors are
State officials and would be voted on
the State ballot.
The present right OF appeal from
the decision OF officers OF registra.
ton is retained.
Il is provided. however, that q
person appealing to court from IN
oficer OF registration for registra-
ton under the act. shall be deemsd
10 have based his right 10 register
upon the act and Is estopped to set
up any claim or defense on any
other ground. This is intended TO
prevent any appeal to the State
courts for claim TO register under
the Federal Constellation or laws of
Congress.
Section 33A OF the bill provides
that the right to register under 10
shall be limited to white male per-
sons. and il any register shall re-
fuse TO enfore the provisions of this
section, snch refusal shall ipso Jaeto
work q vacation OF his Office.
II the provision OF the act restrict
ing the suffrage to whites shall fail
or be incapable OF taking effect, then
every part OF the act shall be void.
Another brief bill proposes TO re-
peal various sections OF Article 80
OF the Code relating to judges and
clerks Of election and registration.
which are inconsistent with the
other bill. This bill also provides
for the punishment of those who
have committed offenses against the
existing law.
These bills. IL enacted, will 90 into
effect before the State election next
year. They are accompanied by q
third bill proposing an amendment
70 the Constitution TO be submitted
81 the election in 1911. At that cleo
tion 10 is proposed that whites only
shall vote. and so the amendment
will be decided by the white vote.
and negroes will not be permitted
to vote upon II.
The proposed amendment providss