The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-04-01
DISFRANCHIsEMENT BILL.
The Diggs Bill For the Disfran-
chisement of the Negroes.

The plan of the Diggs Bill for the
disiranchisement of the negroes in Mary
/ land. at State and municipal elections.
| as proposed by Mr.. w. Mitchell Diggs,
of Charles county, is briefly as follows:
A bill repeating the present registra-
ton law OF the State and enacting new
law is the first step. This bill will be
based upon the assumption that the FIT
I teenth Amendment is void, and the
reasons why it is believed to be void
are set forth in the preamble of the bill.
1t is further declared in the preamble
that the exercise of the elective franchise
by the negro is moi consistent with his
own best interests or the welfare of the
white race.
The bill then prohibits the registration
OF negroes for State or municipal cleo
tons.
The present registration books are to
be used for the Congressional elections
this year and the right of the negro to
vote at the Congressional elections is to
remain undsturbed.
The first registration under the bill
If enacted, will take place for the
general election next year, when a Gov
ernor and Legislature and nearly all
State officers are to be elected.
Unless the terms ofthe present Baltimore
officials are extended until the general
election in November, the next election
of Mayor and Council in May, 1917. will
be held by the present registration books
and the negroes will vote at that election.
The method and machinery for the
registration OF voters will remain prac-
tically unchanged, just as under the
present existing laws.
The negro is not TO be absolutely dis
franchised, as he will still vote at the
Federal elections-thai is, for Congress
men. For use at elections of Congress
men a distinct set of registration books
shall be prepared in 1912, the present
books being used in 1917, 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, a distinct
ballot must be used, and only those per-
sons 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. Presidential elect
ors are State officials and would be voted
for on the State ballot
The present right OF appeal from the
decision of the officers of registration is
retained.
1t is provided, however, that a person
appealing to the court from an officer
OF registration for registration under the
act, shall be deemed to have based his
right TO register upon the act and is es-
tDnDan IN cat I'll I
any other ground This is intended TO
prevent any appeal to the State courts
for claim to register under the Federal
Constitution or laws ;of Congress.
Section 35A of the bill provides that
the right to register under it shall be
limited to the white male persons, and if
any register shall refuse to enforce the
provisions of this section such refusal
shall ibS0 tact0 work vacation of his
office
If the provision of the act restricting
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 repeal
various sections of Article e of the Code
relating to JUDGES and clerks of election
and registration which are inconsistent
with the other bill. This bill also pro-
videS for the punishment of those who
have committed otlenses against the
existing law
These two bills, if enacted will 90
into effect before the State election next
year. They are accompanied by third
bill proposing an amendment to the Con.
sttutlon TO be submitted at the election
in 1911. At that election it is proposed
that whites only shall vote, and so the
amendment will be decided by the white
vote, and the negroes will not be per
mltted to vote upon it.
The proposed amendment provides
that all State and municipal ele ,tions
shall be conducted by an Australian bal
lot system; that the Legislature shall pro-
VIDE uniform ballot for the whole State
with the political party of each candidate
after his name; for equal representation
OF the minority party among Judges and
clerks OF election. These provisions shall
not be abolished except by vote of
tour-hiths of each house
The General Assembly shall pass no
law for the registration of NEGROES for
any State or municipal election.
II any other class than white males
shall become legally entitled to register
at State elections, then the whole OF the
new section shall become void and pres
ent conditions shall be revived.
Mr. C11 5.,is