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I think history has vindicated the strug-
gle of people without property, the poor
people in America, to get universal suf-
frage. The same arguments we have heard
here were given when women fought that
long struggle for the right of suffrage. In-
deed, in 1920 when the Nineteenth Amend-
ment was enacted only fifteen states had
enfranchised women.
I believe that the core of the problem
here is universal suffrage. I believe that in
a democracy the universal participation of
the various classes of our society, of the
various interest groups in our society, gives
vitality to the decisions that are made.
I submit that if more of our young
Americans had been given the right to
vote that we would have had for years in
Maryland larger appropriations for our
public school system, larger appropriations
for recreational facilities from the lack of
which our young people suffer.
I would respectfully urge this Conven-
tion to enfranchise the class of young
Americans who have been too long over-
looked, the nineteen-year-olds. I say vote
against the amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for
the question?
The question arises on the adoption of
Amendment No. 2. A vote Aye is a vote in
favor of the Amendment, a vote for age
twenty. A vote No is a vote against the
Amendment, a vote for age nineteen.
Cast your votes.
Has every delegate voted?
Does any delegate desire to change his
vote?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the vote.
(Applause.)
THE CHAIRMAN: There being 50 votes
in the affirmative and 76 in the negative,
the motion is lost and the amendment is
rejected.
Delegate Hutchinson, do you desire to
offer your amendment?
DELEGATE HUTCHINSON: No sir, I
do not.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any other
amendments to section 1?
Delegate Cardin.
DELEGATE CARDIN: Mr. Chairman,
there is an amendment which was incor-
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rectly drafted and drawn. There is an
amendment to section 1 which would be an
addition to the last line of section 1.
The amendment would read, "The legal
majority by the General Assembly be estab-
lished the same as the voting age".
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair would
rule that amendment out of order as not
being germane to the subject matter of
the section.
Is the amendment written?
DELEGATE CARDIN: The amendment
is written.
THE CHAIRMAN: Is it printed or do
you mean just one copy?
DELEGATE CARDIN: The page did
bring me a copy of the amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Dulany.
DELEGATE DULANY: Mr. Chairman,
I believe Delegate Cardin refers to the
amendment which actually reads —
THE CHAIRMAN: Let me see a copy.
We will have a ruling.
Delegate Cardin, this is not to the last
sentence. Is this the amendment of which
you spoke?
DELEGATE CARDIN: No, this is not.
As I stated, this was not the way the orig-
inal amendment was to have been drawn.
However, if this amendment is in order, I
would like to have the merits of it studied.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair believes
this amendment would have been proper as
an amendment to the amendment, but I
have grave doubts that it is in order at
this time in view of the —
Well, wait just a second.
The amendment is in proper form and
is in order.
Do you wish it distributed?
DELEGATE CARDIN: Yes, please.
THE CHAIRMAN: Please distribute
them.
For what purpose does Delegate Schnei-
der rise?
DELEGATE SCHNEIDER: Personal
privilege.
THE CHAIRMAN: State the privilege.
DELEGATE SCHNEIDER: I am pleased
to announce in the balcony to the rear of
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