The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-12-25
REORGANIzING THE PARTY.
Prominent Democrats Meet to Exchange
Views-Reforms Demanded.


A number of Democrats of this State, who de-
sire reform within their party lines, held meet
ing in Baltimore on the 18th inst, to formulate
some plan to bring about that result. Ex-Gov.
William 7. Hamilton appeared to be the leading
spirit and presided at the meeting, Baltimore
county's only representative being Mr.. G. Lyon
Rogers, of the Sd district. The meeting sat with
closed doors. 1t was decided to call public
meeting to be held in Baltimore, January 18th,
1887, and committee was appointed to make the
necessary arrangements.
An address to the Democratic voters of the
State was adopted. 1t says that the democratic
party has control of all departments Of the State
government, and is and should be held RESPONSE
Bile for wrongs, abuses evils in the public SER
vice. That wrongs, abuses and evils do exist in
legislation and administration, as in party organ
ization and management, is undoubted and ap-
parent. There is certain and general discon-
tent and an evident longing among the disnter-
ested masses of the party for better methods and
practices in party organization and for better
government. Party ties are weakening, and in
late years they have been fearfully strained,
threatening q wreck of the party. The address
says the time has come, and is the more oppor-
tune and necessary as the call is now pending for
a convention to revise the State constitution when
direct and practical efforts be made toward re-
newing the inner life of the party. TO this end it
is set forth, there must be organization for meas
ures, policies and methods, as distinguished from
the contests for men or merely for Offices. If ex-
listing abuses, wrongs and evils are once reformed
or removed and good government re-established,
and better, fairer and purer party methods and
practices accepted, everything involved in this
movement is accomplished. With fit, capable,
r
is but little danger to the interests of the people
either from imperfect or even bad laws or the abb
sence Of law. Party primary meetings have an
important function. They should have the pro-
lection of law from violence and fraud, and every
democrat should take an active interest in these
meetings and in conventions to secure fit nominal
tons. Among the reforms demanded are the
following:
A more complete and perfect registration Of
voters for Baltimore is necessary, together with
thorough revision and reformation Of our election
laws. Bribery and the extraordinary and unne-
cessary use Of money at elections should be sup
pressed with firm hand. The lobby should no
longer be tolerated. useless Offices should be abol-
ished, salaries be made moderate and fair, and
extra allowances or gratuities cut of, rigid econo-
my in public service enforced, and public officers
held to a strict responsibility. Taxes should be
reduced to the lowest point necessary. The spe-
einc taxes ieFled 10 pay LUG puoiic ueos enouu oo
reigiously applied, and the laws for the creation
and preservation of the sinking fund enforced.
Offices necessary for the purposes of govern
ment are public trusts and it is the patriotic duty
of the democrat to serve the public when reason
ably required. The assessment of oficeholders for
political purposes should be prohibited by law.
Rings bosses and leadership within the party for
personal interest or aggrandizement should be
discountenanced and abated. These purposes
cannot be accomplished until the fraudulent cleo
lions in Baltimore are superseded by fair vote
and honest canvass of the votes.
The address, in conclusion, says that the ques-
ton is not whether success shall certainly attend
upon their efforts but whether the efforts shall be
made with courage, sincerity and zeal that shall
deserve success. With these general purposes in
view, and impressed with their importance for the
good of the people and the supremacy OF the
democratic party, the democrats of the counties
and of Baltimore city in sympathy with these
purposes are asked to attend a general meeting in
Baltimore city Tuesday, January IL, 1887.
They are on that occasion "to take into full con-
sideration what action nay be thought nececessary
and expedient to be taken in the premises"