Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-08
Agreement to Advance Grand
father Law Case.
ACQUITTED BY GRAND JURY
Clean Bills Are Given Baltimore Con-
gressional Candidates.
SEGREGATION IN SALOONS
Prosecuting Attorney Would Prohib-
it Whites and Blacks From
Drinking Together.
special Correspondence Of The.star.

SpCcihl Correspondence or i hesStar.
BALTIMORE. Md, January :. 1911.
An agreement has been reached by the
opposing counsel I'm the Annapolis grand
father law case to hasten action by ad-
vanctng the appeal to the Supreme Court
Of the United States as rapidly as pos
sible. The attorneys for the registers OF
election, it is understood. will not dispute
the statements of fact when the case
comes up for trial before a jury, and IL
the verdict favors the plaintiff an appeal
will promptly be taken from the decision
of Judge Norris in overruling the de-
murrer
1t will not he possible. until the final
disposition of the case is made here, to
take the appeal. the broad question OF
jurisdiction being the main one at issue
All Of the preliminary steps have been
taken and it is more than probable that
the trial will take place within the next
month. Owing to the large number OF
cases now before the Supreme Court.
many Of which will take precedence over
this one, a final decision is not expected
for year at least. Meanwhile the deci-
sion of Judge Morris is binding and eff
fective unth it shall have been reversed
by the Supreme Court.
Wilson Law Case.
Another case which involves the state
election laws is now being pushed in the
southern Maryland courts. where the va
lidity Of the Wilson act and tho manipu-
lation OF the ballots are to be passed
upon. Suit was entered some time ago
by Attorneys Allison Wilmer and Charles
1t Is understood that In the near future
the case will be decided on Its merits
and an appeal promptly taken to the
state court Of appeals. The action was
begun before the circuit court Of Charles
county Immediately after the last cleo
ton, when the f1ve-foot ballot. with its
blank spaces, was foisted on the voters.
The republican candidate for sheriff con-
tested the election OF his democratic OPP
ponent, claiming he was not entitled to
the office because OF the illegality OF the
act. and also because 1t was not complied
with.
The criminal proceedings Instituted
last month in the federal court against
the democratic election supervisors OF
Charles county will be passed upon by
the grand jury at this term. and II an
indictment Is found it is the purpose of
United States District Attorney John
Philip Hill to have an early date set for
the trial.
Candidates Are Exonerated.
The grand jury. which was finally dis
charged this week. gave a clean bill OF
health to the candidates in the recent
congressional primary who were charged
with violating the corrupt practices act
The report also declared that the grand
jury disagrees with the, construction
placed by Attorney General Straus on
that part Of the law which deals with
subtreasurers. and where he says that
no list Of names need accompany the
accounting OF the money spent for chal-
lengers. watchers and messengers In the
precincts.
One recommendation made by the
grand jury Is that the corrupt practices
act be so amended as to prohibit the
wife or other relative OF the candidate
from contributing money without limit
toward the nomination or election OF
as very little will have been
gained to protect the integrity Of the
ballot IL. after having limited the
amount which may be spent by the can
didate himself. a wife, brother or friend
of that candidate Is permitted to con-
tribute an indefinite amount to further
the election of the candidate"
The grand jury, In conclusion, urges
the next legislature to remedy this de-
feet in the corrupt practices act. and,
above all, phrase the amendment in
distinct and comprehensive language"
Saloon Segregation Next.
Stdlo 3 AtIOIucy OWCAS 40 plCpdiSN W
begin warfare on saloons where both
whites and blacks are served. Mr.. Owens
in extending the segregation idea
to the wet goods emporiums. and will
bring before the grand jury any saloon
keeper who persists in allowing negroes
and whites to drink at the same bar.
He says that his idea OF the law Is that
any saloon where there is such practice
is a disorderly house. MT. Owens has
a list Of places and says he will start
after the proprietors at once.
''If the law is not specific enough to
prove that these saloons are disorderly,
said the states attorney today. Il will
soon find evidence that they really are.
Any white man that mixes with negroes
and drinks with negroes Is a disOrderly
person. So is any negro who mixes and
drinks with white men. And I will go
further and say that any white man
who stands behind the bar and serves
drinks to negroes is a disorderly person"
Asked whether q partition in a saloon
drawing the color line would eliminate
the disorderly feature OF a place, the
states attorney declines to answer. There
are 1.411 saloons in this city, and obser
walton shows that there are many bars
where drinks are served to blacks and
whites in the same room.