The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-24
The State Democratic Convention.


The State Democratic Convention.
The Convention assembled 10 the Mary
land Institute, Baltimore, Mt IL NJ. on
Wednesday, the 2lst inst, and was called
n order by Hon Joshua Vansant, who
said he had been requested by the friends
Of the several candidates to call Hon. s.
Archer, of Hartford county, to preside over
the convention temporarily.
Hon. Stevenson Archer, Of Hartford
county, presided over the preliminary pro-
ceedines Of the convention, and the per-
mancnt organization was effected by elect.
inc Hon. I. j. Heating, of Queen Anne's
county president, with six presidents
from various sections of the State, and
Morris A. Thomas. of Baltimore city, and
Francis Brengle, Of Frederick, secretaries.
The rather unexpected withdrawal the
night previous of Governor Groome sim.
plifed the contest very materially, and the
result seemed foregone conclusion. The
greater part Of the session was consumed
in debate over the vitality important cues
ton whether the Baltimore city d Aegates
should be permitted to vote on questions
incidental TO permanent organization
and the appointment Of committee on
credentials, growing out of the fact that
three wards Of the city were carried in the
interest Of Mr.. Hamilton for Governor,
and that the city convention as a body
ignored that result in those wards and
selected delegates from them in the inter
est of Mr.. Carroll for Governor, thus ruling
out the three delegates to the State con-
vention whose tickets had been successful
in the wards referred to.
There was much very earnest debate on
this point Messrs. Freaner, of Washing
ton; Gordon, Of AllegaDy; Keedy, Of
Washington; Dove and Prettyman, of
Montgomery, presented to the convention
arguments against tho right of the city
\ delegates to vote on such preliminary
questions Responses we're made by Mcssrs.
Woottsn and German, Of Howard county,
and Mr.. Fenton, of Baltimore city The
subject was cut of in all its preliminary
stages at this point by the decision of the
chairman that the city delegates, having
credentials from the city convention was
prima facie evidence that they were emit
tied to vote in the premises. From this
decision an appeal was taken, aud the con-
yention BY vote of "a TO 45 sustained
the chair, thus evincing unmistakably that
the Carroll interest had majority of votes
in the convention.
After all this skirmishing had been gone
through committee ON credentials and
permanent organization was constituted,
consisting Of one from each county and
legislative district Of Baltimore city, aud
the convention took recess, while the
committee labored with its burden.
On the reassembling Of the convention
there were majority aud minority reports
presented, the majority report Endorsed by
the Carroll delegates on the committee,
and minority report by the Hamilton del
egates. The majority report claiming that
in the case Of the three contesting dele.
gates from Baltimore city they are con-
WINGED the delegation who presented ere
dentials from the city convention were
elected in conformity to usage, yet virtually
admits error by recommending that here
after each county and each legislative
district of the city shall be represented in
the State convention by delegates equal
in number to their representation in the
two houses Of the Legislature, to be elect
ed by and in each county and legislative
district of Baltimore city respectively, and
that such election shall be held at such
time and places as may be designated by
the local committee or conventions after a
call by the State central committee
The minority urged that the action of
the city convention ignored the rights Of
the minority. In the tenth and twentieth
wards delegates were elected in favor Of
Groome for Governor in the sixth, thir
teenth and nineteenth for Hamilton, and
in all the other wards for Carroll that
the city convention, as n unit, ignored the
preference of those five wards for Hamil-
ton and Groome respectively, and gave
the entire city representation in the State
convention to Mr. Carroll for Governor
II Is chained that each Legislative district
should have held convention, Just as
each county in the State did and should
have chosen its delegates in like manner.
1t is also asserted that all this action was
taken as forestalling the dictum of the
State central committee of the Democratic
party in Maryland, and was, therefore,
Illegal But waving all minor objections
and looking to the unity of the party, and
conceding the right of the city to a full
and fair representation in the convention,
the report comedies to Mr. Carroll the ward
representation he secured at the primary
election, and claims for Nessrs. Hamilton
and Groome representation from the wards
which were carried by them.
The majority report was adopted in com.
mittee by vote Of 3 to IL, and in con
yention by vote of SO to 40. There was
much and excited debate over these re-
ports both in committee and in convention,
considerably acrimony being evinced on
the part Of the warning factions.
Many hours were spent in dilatory de-
bate and efforts for recess by the Ham
ilton men, without opportunity having
been afforded even for the presenting Of
names of candidates or preparation of a
platform. AT twenty five minutes past
four the convention adjourned until 1890
a. IN. Thursday Bdtto. San Of Thursday
The Convention assembled on Thursday
ut 1890 a. IN. and proceeded to'ballot with
the following result