The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-05-18
DEMOCRATS IN COUNCIL.
The Democratic County Convention.
Full Delegations in Attendance-A Har.
mOniOus and Enthusiastic Meeting
STIRRING Speeches by Messrs. Archer,
Farnandis and others.


met in the Court House, Bel Air, on Tuesday
afternoon.
On motion of Mr.. Franklin Whitaker, Dr.
David Riley Of the 9th district was called
to the chair Mr., John Price of the 1st dis
trict, was appointed Vice President, and
James w. McNabb, of the 9Th district, Sec
rotary.
On motion of Mr.. Murray Vandivcr, a
Committee on Credentials, consisting of one
from each district was appointed.
While the delegations were preparing to
hand in their credentials, Mr. Henry W. Ar.
cher moved that the Executive Committee be
invited to participate in the deliberations of
the Convention, since they no doubt had had
under consideration the subject of changing
the system of nominating, and would there
fore be able to give the convention good adj
vice. Mr. Archer's motion prevailed He
said
Any mode of nomination may become liable to
serious objection, and it was abuses of the old
| convention system that led to n trial of new
| system. The old convention system had pre-
| vailed from the time of Jefferson, and all that
was necessary to perfect it was for the people to
|
bargain, trade Or log-roll, but deliberate for the
best interests of the party. In operation it was
f he in this respect and change
gives us the right to select candidates according
| to our views, is almost sure to give us ticket Sc
| lected by a majority of the party.
While the ticket thus selected may be accepta-
BILE to the majority of the party If not acceptable
to the entire party it can not succeed. The re-
| suit has been that our majorlties have been
| dwindlng down.
Another objection to the present mode is that
tn al not ann Rtnlr md
| against each other and it leaves our forces dsor-
ganized and opposed to compact minority.
| Both plans, therefore, have Objectionable fea-
lures, and 1t rests with the people at the primary
| meetings at last. Either system, if properly at
tended to, would result in giving usa good ticket
| AS Tor his part he would supportany ticket NOM
| mated.
The chair then announced the Committee
on Credentials;
First District, James Norris; I'd, Benjamin
Silver, Jr.; Sd, James X. Keech 4,h, S, w.
James; 9th, Robert E. Morgan 9Th, DR.. ID.
w. Hopkins.
The committee, James Norris, chairman,
reported the following delegates entitled to
seats in the convention:
First DiShct.-B. Frank Hanway, Charles
A. McGaw, Howard A. Bateman, James Norris,
John Price, Charles f. Crcswcll, James b. Pres
ton, William Ady, John II. Bradford and Thos.
Second DiStrict.-lIalrs Cross Roads.--Chas
w. Michael, II. Keen, r. +. McGaw, Jas.
W. McGaw, b. F. Cronin, Sr.
Level. Frank Reasin, b. Silver, DR., VIM.
c. Wilson, John Craig Lawson Cooley.
Third District-Bel Air.-Hcnry w. Archer,
Humphrey Wilson, Alex. Norris.
Fallston.-F Franklin Whitaker, James X.
Keech, Frank c. Norris.
Churchville.-No meeting was held
AT Large.-Herman Stump, j. r G. Hopkins,
| Il, w, Richardson. James NJ. Cain
Fourth Ditric-Jarrettsvllc. Graf.
ton, Thomas b. Jarrett, VIM. A. Hope.
Upper Cross Roads.-S. W. James, James V.
| Whiteford, John A. Lamb.
Norrsvile jacob Metzel, james A. Wiley,
D. Wiley Norris.
At Large.-Martin Calder
ftM Observation-Disclosures. David Riley,
Johns IL. Janney, James s. Chcnworth, j. Fred.
Crew, Samuel Hopkins.
arns's.-Robert f. Morgan, Archibald
Heaps, JAS. W, McNabb, II, Cm. Whteford,
Robert d. Orr.
Sixth ct-Havre de Grace H Court.
ney, Jr., II. G. lawder, c. j. Dugan, Murray
Vandiver, DR.. d. W. Hopkins, A. A. Fletcher,
Joseph l.. Mackin, Robert Seneca, Joseph
Chamberlain, r. A. Magowen.
The convention being declared duly organ
lied, Johns H. Janney moved the appoint,
ment of a Committee. on Resolutions, to
which all resolutions offered should he refer
red without reading.
After some discussion, in which Messrs.
Janney, j. Il. G. Hopkins, Stump, Archer
and Grafton took part, a substitute, offered
by Mr.. Archer, that the resolutions be first
read before being referred TO the committee,
was adopted, The chair appointed as the
committee, one delegate from each district,
| GNll II A D. W
Michael, ii. W. Archer, Nathan Grafton,
Johns II. Janncy and Murray Vandiver.
Nathan Grafton offered the following reso.
lutions, which were referred to the committee,
by whom they were unanimously reported,
without amendment, by Henry w, Archer,
chairman:
| ReSOired, l. That in view of the near approach
| of the time for nominating candidates and of the
small attendance at the precinct elections, this
convention, without expressing an opinion as to
| the merits of the two systems known as the Dele
gate system and the Crawford County system,
consider change OF the mode of nominations at
this time ineXpedient.
2. That the solicitation of votes by candidates
| for nomination, particularly the votes of persons
not identified with the Democratic party, and the
elimination and recrimination of candidates by
each other, are detrimental to the party and
| should be discouraged.
| B. That the voters be AID are hereby requested
not to pledge themselves to candidates before all
the announcements are made and before the day
designated by the Executive Committee for the
| primary election.
| 4. That this convention earnestly recommend
the burial OF past differences and the selection of
| candidates who will inspire confidence, unite the
| party anC command the allegiance of all who be
| Heve in Democratic principles.
Samuel w. James, of the 4lh district, op.
posed the resolutions, for the reason that they
did not express an opinion MS to the relative
merits of the two systems. He thought if a
candidate stayed at home and chopped wood
instead of going about to advocate his own
nomination he would not be nominated
G. W. Richardson also opposed the resolu-
tons, and moved rs substitute that the
convention make definite expression in ia
vor of the Crawford County system
Mr.. Richardson's amendment was laid on
the table
Mr.. ii. W. Archer said that the resolutions
were accepted by the convention, but were still
| to be put on their final passage. From the re-
marks made by Messrs James and Richardson,
he thought the resolutions conceded with their
| views. We were not sent here to make change,
but 20 consult together. We have RETAINED,
and properly, from expressing opinions as TO
either plan. But we should not Keep alive dis
| sessions in our ranks The resolutions say, let
us bury them and act together cordially vigor-
ously and earnestly under the present SYSTEM
The resolutions say that if adopted we mean to
abide by the present system and give it another
trial If attendcd with evil results we can here.
after adopt some other plan. He saw DISPOSE
ton on the part of the whole Democratic party
| to unite in nominating ticket that will COM
nand the approval of the voters of the county.
| The Democrats have majority, but dssensions
in our ranks will result in defeat
We are determined TO fight this battle with
united columns and allow no discordant ele-
meDts to come in and do harm to the party
He therefore moved the adoption of the resolu-