The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-20
MEETING OFTHE DEMOCRATIC
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
Speech of Hon. a. p. GOrman-AddreSs
to the PeOPle-ResOlutiOns -Dates of
Conventions. &c.

met on Tuesday at Barnum Hotel, Baltimore,
and arranged for the primaries and conven-
! tons for congressional and judicial nomina-
TONS besides drafting an address to the voters
of the state. The committee met at noon, and
pretty full representation was present from all
the counties except Calvert, Charles Dor
chester and Garrett.
SPEECH OF MR. GuRNAN.
Hon. A. P. German, in calling the commit
tee to order, said they had been summoned
because it is necessary that prompt action
should be taken on several important matters.
All will agree that provision should be made
forthwith to secure full and complete regis
tration of the Democratic voters of the state
under the act passed by the last General As
semblv, and that the time should he fixed for
holding the primary meetings and conventions
for the nomination of candidates for Congress
and other officers to be elected during the pres
ent year. Ineed not dwellupon the Importance
of making provision for securing a full regis
tration of all the Democratic voters of the
state. You know that our opponents, the Re
publicans, will have, under the provisions of
the federal statutes, during the progress OF the
registration, the assistance of supervisors and
deputy marshals paid by the federal govern
ment, who are in general political agents
busted only with efforts to maintain or increase
the registered vote of their party. We. on the
contrary, have no resources upon which to
rely except individual eXertions and such aid
as the members of our party may see proper
to supply. Notwithstanding this. If we do but
do our duty as Democrats, and organize for
the purpose OF securing full and tair regis
tration, the result will secure our success in
the autumn contests.
1t is for this committee 10 determine the
character of the organization which shall be
Il, f,4 tho
a fair but full registration. The times and
places for holding the primaries and couycn-
tons to nominate the various officers. aud the
manner of conducting these primaries aud
conventions, are OF greater importance at this
time than at anv other in the past history Of
the party. With a united party we have moth
ing to fear from the Republicans. The state
Is Democratic. There Is not now, nor can
there be IN the near future. "a possibility OF ihss
Republicans carrying the state five are united.
Our party has controlled the state from lSf7
until to-day. aud we point with pardonnhls'
pride to the record which II has made. The
verdict of the people is that the affairs of the
state have been managed as well as those ct
any commonwealth in the | mon. In matters
Of detail there may have been errors OF com
mission and omission. because 20 err Is human.
When minor mistakes hare hcen made th.
representatives OF the party IN state conyen-
ton. IN the Legislature. and IN high offices Ut
trust have quickly relledjed such errur~.
II Is remarkable fact that, notwithstanding
all the criticisms Of our opponents and of some
members of our own party, there has not been
n single measure formulated introduced and
passed that has not cunanaied from Democrats
in good standing in their party. 4 notable
instance may he sven Ia the registration law
recently passed.
This Is a subject which has been prominent
in our politics for the PAST four year,, A hiil
prepared by a committee appointed By the Lass
state convention, after consideration hy the
General Assembly. was deemed perfectly
fair aud iusg that il received nearly a unans-
nous vote in hotb branches ~ the Legislature.
No completely has every pledge made by the
party been carried ogt sAai ~carts-ly aR i'm
pruycuieHt can hr made in shc cunduc; 81 the
affairs 81 the state. lts eNpcudi'arrs arr Ts-
duced 10 almost 81 Ininimum. is e-rdit a, the
highest point IN IT, history, while the aEen:slt
has selected have done credit "a themselves
and the state. Theirs should b. nn Ftason Tor
discouieu; within the party, aud yri j. wUgld
b. weakness not to recognise the fact that
have had differences. that thcrg have hevu
disssnssous IN oar ranks which have thrratanei
the supremacy Of ;he party "a thr state. O. -
our duty "a inquire into the cause Vt these dli.
fereuces and apply the remedy J kHgw 81
no cause involving any serious question alssai
which Democrats diftcs ] believe that ugr
differences arv mainly 20 the internal affairs
Of the pAriy. it, conduct az the primary meet
ings and nominating conventions. and ~ >r-
lcciicn 81 persons for the yarious positions In
the state. know Of no cause Of complaint
bat what can be properly removed.
Frous isss7 pominsiton has hser cgu5sa-
lent TO an election. aud hence the struggle has
men II ,he party have naturally controlled
your primaries and conventions With the
registration lists As existing until recent date
ii was charged aud believed by verY large
portion Of the party. that a comparatively
small number 81 mrH cs1ld absolutely control
and dictate the nominAtiops without regard 80
the vail IT the people. These chargg-s have
been made for wears. sometimes b. disai,-
pointed asrirants. ire4aeutiv BY gentlemen
who Wefy casual observer, II the coaduct @;
the party. and believed by many others vho
had no interest except the welfare at the
party.
Il Is not necessary, ia my Judgment, 60 dts
cuss the questions that have b-cn raised II i
enough 10 kR0w ,hAi those who have hcssi dis
satisfied proclaim that II she primaries and
conventions can b. 50 conducted that every
Democrat shall have an equal opportunity for
prefsrmcnt, that then they viii abide and stand
hy the party organization. Therefore, uo
matter whether the charge made are weil
foguded or nul, lea Hs resolve to-day that such
provisions shall he made for conducting cur
internal affairs, thst Il aill not b. IN the nputh
of any gentleman 20 DENY THAI the rights 81
each end every one are amply secured. Take
away the sltghlesi ground sor complaint. 4
Democratic Legislature has provided the INA
ehIneTy for new registration. which vii nor
permit any name 10 be placed on the poll.
books which Is not that o.; an actual. bona idc
voter. Let rs make provision for holding uEr
primary meetings ia every precinct IA the ,
state, - that ONLY ihose Democratic voters |
who are known to be- such can vote az these I
primary meetingS that when the vote Is 50
taken il shall be- taken in the presence of q /
OF every candidate, and shall /
be counted openly before szid representative. 1
ths,S when the return is SO made. Il there IS 4
the slightest ground for the belief tina; Is Is no,
fairly taken and honestly counted, il shall 20 4
back % the people and then, when We have 4
secured a. perfect fairness a. human agency .
can provide, Il there l. a contest among our
selves, il must BE the duty of every Democrat 4
to abide by the viii Of the people thus fairly f
expressed aad recorded. Without organiza-
ton and fealiy 20 that organization no party
can succeed. Determined that no jus, ground
Tor NUAl llAAlA slStt exist icy Us EFNfctAt gen
tlemen Of the committee. 90 place oar organ
ization upon basis 80 fair and uuassailable
that he who, calling himself Democrat, shall
decline to support our ticket. shall thereby
exclude himself from all claim 10 share the
honors to which faithful allegiance 70 principle
and a. party alone entitle any man.
ADDRESS To THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.
Il was resolved that an address be issued 10
the Democratic voters Of the state IN the name
and by the authority OF the central committee,
and tina; the same be signed by the chairman
Of the committee. The committee on address
was named as follows: II, W. Talbot. Mont
gomery county; +. +. Jackson. Wicomco
W. NJ. Price, Allegany; Morris A. Thomas,
Baltimore city Thos. ii. Hunt, Howard NJ
d. X. Smith, Kent;W. J. Hill. Prince Georges
The committees report was adopted. with
slight verbal change, without dissent, and
signed as follows;
To the Democratic Fofers Of the STATE Of
Maryland The Democratic state eonyen-
ton, at its meeting in 1881, pledged its repre-
sentatives in the General Assembly of 1852 in
substance and effect to the following reforms:
First To the enactment of law providing
for the accurate registration of the names of
all persons entitled to vote in this state.
Second. To the enactment of laws sufficient
to remedy the defects existing in local laws
relating to the selection of grand and petit
Jurors.
Third. To such changes in the criminallaw
Of the state as were necessary to make Il eff