Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-09-28
COLORED RACE is
ESPECIALLY ACTIVE

Today. the first day of registration
! in Annapolis and the county, found
the women of lawful age stirring
about early. anxious to have their
names enrolled on the books so that
they may exercise their right of fran
chise. granted them under the pro-
visions of the National Constitutional
Amendment, which has been ratified
by more than the Constitutional num-
ber OF Sc States of the United States.
and for which the recent special ses-
sion of the General Assembly OF Mary
| land enacted legislation to facilitate
their becoming registered.
1t was the first day of registration
here and throughout the State. There
will be three more days upon which
nmaes OF the women voters or new
male voters may be enrolled, namely,
| October 5th, 9th and 18th. Here
in the city, as we'll as in the rural
precincts, the registration officials are
sitting at the respective polling
places. The registration Offices open
ed at o'clock this morning and will
not close until o'clock tonight.
Heavy Enrolment Expected
While apathy exists in some sec
tions, the general indications are that
there will be heavy registration
among the women voters. A feature
of more than noteworthy interest is
the fact that anti-suffragists, realizing
|. fully that solemn duty now devolves
upon them to register and vote in spite
of the fact that they fought for lost
cause, were among the earliest to get
out and have their names enrolled on
the books. Particularly was this true
In the Third Ward, where number of
/ them had lined up waiting for the
registration officials TO begin their
days work, and it is tedious work too.
or course, there are some who de-
voutly maintain they have not the
slightest intention of registering, be-
cause they do not intend to fote under
any circumstance.
Have Three More Days
While there are three more days for
| registration, today's indications are
that the colored women have jumped
at the opportunity of getting the right
| of ballot, and they have crowded about
the Third and Fourth Ward polling
! houses throughout the day. 1t is in
these two wards where the great pro-
portion of the negro population is cen
tered; the Fourth Ward especially is
+, known as the "colored belt" The last
registration for that ward, conducted
in October, 1919. showed total OF 5S4
voters, and OF this number 495 are
colored. or the remaining SO, about
so are affiliated Democrats. Up to 2
o'clock this afternoon 85 names had
been added to the books of that ward.
All were women, and of the number,
only two were white.
MisinfOrmed OF Hours
Not having been informed as to the
correct hour of registration, which
had been changed by an act of the ex-
traordinary session of the Legislature,
formerly from a. m. to p. m, to- 0
a. m. to p. m, many women appeared
in the Second Ward before, o'clock,
only to be turned away and told to
come an hour later.
OF the number were several school
teachers of the precinct, who wanted
to register before going to school to
teach, but had to return at noon or af-
ter school hours this afternoon.
Registered there up to 2 o'clock
were IS, and the number was split
$3.50 by party afIiliation.
At o'clock, the poll room was pret-
~ well filled with women, and thore
, was a long line formed awaiting their
turn to register. All seemed eager to
get ION the books" and it is to be re-
marked that no women seemed afraid
to tell her age or ashamed of it,
Bouquet From Former Mayor
: James F. Strange, former Mayor,
and president of the Board of Super
visors Of Election, had placed pretty
bouquet of roses and dahlias on the
desk, which gave "womanly touch
to the new surroundings for women at
the polls
: The manner of registration was sim
pie. but the waiting took time. One
: family Of women were 100 per cent.
Democrats, and of the women regis
tering up to 10 o'clock there was
only one who declared her party af-
, filiation to be Republican"
| There were all ages over q, and one
! who registered as "76" Some looked
their ages and some did not, but any
group of women in that room at the
I same time was made aware of the
ages of the others in the grouu. az