Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-05-19


scented by the committee on resolutions, H.
w. Talbot, Esq, of this county, chairman,
and unanimously adopted:
To the Democratic Voters Of Maryland:
The Democratic State convention, at its
meeting in 1881, pledged its representatives
in the General Assembly of 1882 in sub
stance and effect to the following reforms:
First. To the enactment of law provid-
ing for the accurate registration of the
names of all persons entitled to vote in
this State.
Second. To the enactment of laws suffi-
cient to remedy the defects existing in local
laws relating to the selection of grand and
petit jurors.
Third. To such changes in the criminal
law of the State as were necessary to make
it effective as a means for the prevention
and punishment of crime.
Fourth. To the exercise of strict economy
in the management of public affairs.
Fifth. To the maintenance of the purpose
of the State to subject to taxation all forms
of wealth within its territory which were
not exempted from taxation by irrevocable
contracts.
The convention, in order to give effect to
the pledges thus made, assumed the duty of
the duty of preparing and presenting to the
General Assembly of 1882 the bills intended
to give effect to the proposed reforms. The
majority of that committee accepted and
executed the trust reposed in them, and
submitted their work to the Senate and
House Of Delegates early in the session Of
1882 The proposed measures provided, first,
for the redivision of the city of Baltimore
into new election precincts and wards of
equal population, measure essential to ap-
plcation of any proper new and permanent
registration system TO that city; second, for
the complete and accurate registration of
qualified voters in such new election pre-
cincts and wards of the city of Baltimore
and in every county of the State, under pro-
visions of law which compelled accuracy
and good faith on the part of all concerned
in the work; third, for the selection of grand
Jurors in the city of Baltimore by method
better adapted than the plan then in use to
secure the choice of competent persons to
fulfill duties of such importance; fourth, by
the extension, under careful limitations, of
the powers of the police justices in the city
of Baltimore.
These measures were subjected To close
scrutiny, not only by the Senate and House
of Delegates, but also by the press and
by the people. 1t was found that they had
been framed with the single purpose of eff
fecting the reforms TO which the Democratic
party of the State was'pledged, and were
sufficient TO accomplish the designed objects
if they were faithfully executed by the ex-
ecutive and by those whom he appointed,
and by all others charged with performing
the duties imposed by the particular laws.
They were therefore accepted with little
modification and with great unanimity.-
The General Assembly OF 1882 gave further
effect to the pledges of the State convention
Of 1881. 1t firmly maintained the taxing
system of the State. 1t practiced strict
economy in legislative expenses. 1t made
sufficient provision for the maintenance Of
the public credit
This brief review of particular laws en-
acted by the General Assembly of 1882 is
sufficient to demonstrate that IL fully re.
deemed the pledges made by the Democratic
State convention of 1881, and has removed
or remedied every complaint heretofore
made against the administration of the pub
lie affairs of this State by the party to which
we belong.
The only causes for dissension and dis.
content which now exist among us arise
from complaints that the primary meetings
in our party held for the purpose Of making
nominations are not fairly conducted. II
may be that legislation will fail to provide
an adequate remedy for this evil II it should
hereafter occur. Your committee, however
is not without power TO correct such mis-
chief 1t may refuse, and will refuse, to
: recognize any nomination which is fraudu.
lently made, and will in any such case order
that new primary elections shall be held In
the locality in which the wrong occurred
The obligation of seeing that the registra-
ton law, which is the most important OF all
these measures, is faithfully executed rests
upon the Governor
Unless the duties imposed by the law are
executed by honest and capable officers il
must prove inefficient. 1t must be remem-
bered, moreover, that even IL the duties i'm.
posed by the new registration law are prop.
erly executed by the officers Of registration
the law will fail TO accomplish the objects
which it was intended to achieve unless il
is hereafter supplemented by the choice Of
proper judges ol election for all the election
districts and election precincts in this State
The Governor has no responsibility fol
the choice made of such officers in the coun-
ties of the State He and we can only ex.
press our earnest hope that those who arc
charged with the performance OF this duty
may execute it with the single purpose OF Civ.
Ing full effect to the will, lawfully expressed
at the ballot-box, of those who are entitled
to vote in each election district of this State
In the city of Baltimore the case is widely
different The judges of election for each
election precinct of that city are appointed by
the supervisors of election for the city of Bal
timore. Those supervisors in the year 1885,
and 1888 will be appointed by the Governor
acting in the exercise of his single discretion
We confidently expect that this discretion
will be wisely exercised by the appointment
Of Officers whose very names of all who may
he selected as such officers will be guaran
ties to the community in which they live
and by whom they are known; that theii
powers will be so rightly and purely exer
cised as To insure during their tenure Of of
flee lair election and an honest count IN
every election precinct OF the city of Balti
more.
1t is necessary TO add, In conclusion, somt
practical counsel addressed TO each one o.
you:
You are citizens of the State, but your
right TO exercise the privilege of voting in
your respective election districts and cleo
tion precincts depends upon your doing
what the constitution aud laws Of this State
have made it necessary that you should dc
before you can vote. If you wish to enjoy
in its full measure your privilege as a citi-
zen of sharing in the government of your
country, State, county, city or town, you
must in due season enroll your name AS u
qualified voter, in the manner provided by
law, in the election district or election pre-.
cihctiin which you are entitled to vote. II
yUi wish that your right TO vote, when thus
obiained shall be, effectual in producing re-
suits, you must see to il that all other quail.
fled persons residing in your election dis
trict or election precinct, who share your
opinions, are also duly registered; and each
man among you must also exert himself, by
the use of the amply sufficient means pro-
vided by the registration law itself, 10 pre-
vent the name Of any person who is not
lawfully entitled TO be registered from being
placed 0ngtile registry Of yoters,fpr list Of
registered and qualified voters of his cleo
ton precinct or election district You must
bring 70 this work 0f registration a degree
OF honest Zeal and a spirit of earnest coop
Grafton not inferior TO any which has marked
ypny conduct IN the most active contest in
which yQp have been engaged in this State
ainna f&tTsHHfH NEW SS NJ TTT,
I Remember that you must oppose your er.
forts To tlB organized work OF supervisors
and deputy marshals, paid to render To the