The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-31
Mr.. Archer's ..Party" Measure.

Mr.. Archer's 'Party" Measure.
In respect to the redistricting bill, Mr..
Stevenson Archer, Chairman of the State
Democratic Central Committee, in an inter-
view Published in the Sun of Tuesday, de-
clared it to be a party measure. Mr.. Archer
says:
aThe facts concerning this bill as party measure
did not come out in the debate in the House because
they were overlooked in the personal discussion
that ensued 1t is in more ways than one nationai
Committee measure. Both the Democratic and Re
publican national committees are looking over the
field to secure the majority in the next House OF
Representatives The Democratic majority in the
present House is u. The Republicans. who had the
adyantagein their movements throughout the coun-
try have redistricted in Pennsylvania, Ohio Michi-
san and Iowa SO as to give them more Republican
congressional districts. All that the Demoerauc
assure five Coneressmen as at present This is the
motive for the redistrietng bill and nothing more
There is no personal question involved
Mr.. Archer must excuse us if we decline
to credit any such statement. When this re-
districting bill was first introduced the i'm
polling reason for it was assigned to be the
changes caused by annexing part of Balti-
more county to Baltimore city. This change,
it was asserted, would necessitate new law
arranging the congressional districts. Then
it was asserted that the bill was necessary,
because thu two districts of Baltimore county
now in the Fifth District should be restored,
and because it was desirable to break up the
continuity of the canal counties. And now
comes the party measure declaration, and an
attempt to make it appear that the National
Democratic Committee have asked for and
approve the bill.
The National Committee has had but one
meeting recently, that held in Washington on
February 22d and 23d, and its whole time was
devoted to fixing time and place for holding
the national convention. The committee is
not organized for work, and is doing none that
we are aware of. Mr.. Archer's statement
that the National Committee have asked
Maryland TO assure five Congressman, we be-
lieve was made solely to carry the bill through.
If it was made, to whom was it made, and
when? And why was not the request made
public when the bill was first introduced in the
Legislature, or before it was presented? 1t
that request is the basis upon which the bill
was drafted, why were two other reasons in
turn assigned why it became necessary to re-
district the state?
Mr. Archer says the Democratic majority
in the House of Representatives is only II,
and the National Democratic Committee are
looking over the field to secure the majority
in the next House. He then remarks that
the Republicans have so Fedlstrieted Pennsyl-
vana, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio. as to give
them fourteen more congressional districts.
If this be true, and the Democrats don't make
gains elsewhere, the Republicans will have
sixteen majority in the next House. Now,
says Mr.. Archer, the National Committee
want to secure the majority in the next House,
and a part of their plan is that Maryland send
Just the same number of Democrats to Con-
gress us at present. If the National Commit
tee know anything about the political situation
: in this state, and they would scarcely Volnn-
I tss adyice nor make any requests unless
they did, they are cognizant of the fact that
the first FIVE districts are surely and safely
Democratic, and that the sixth district, now
represented by Republican, at the last Con-
gressional election gave but Alb majority.
Now does anybody suppose that, as the Demo-
Gratis are to lose fourteen districts in Pennsyl
vania, Ohio, Michigan and Iowa, according
to Chairman Archer, the Democratic National
Committee would advise the changing OF this
debatable district into a strongly Republican
one? Is the Committee SO obtuse as not to
know that 413 majority is very slender one
in vote Of over 10000? and advise that,
instead of making effort to redeem it, it be
made sure for the Republicans? OF course
not, and no one believes that it did. If the
Committee made any request at all, it asked
that the Democracy of Maryland send solid
delegation to the Fifty first Congress. If il
gave any advice, it most likely advised that
a few more Democrats be put into the Sixth
district, in order that one Congressman might
be gained to help to Offset the losses we are tc
suffer in the states Of Pennsylvania, Ohio
Michigan and Iowa. 1t wonld be very wise
~ committee that desires TO have majority
in the next Congress, and is already assured
of a LOGS of fourteen seats, that would advise
the throwing away of q chance to gain dis
trict. flour National Committee has done So
every member should resign and give place to
better men.
Further on in his interview Mr.. Archer says
with Carroll in the Sixth district there is lnort
than fighting chance for one of the popular Dem
oerats ofthat district to go TO Congress this year
The managers of the redistricting scheme
claim TO be Democrats, and that the bill is it
the interests of the party. If so, they mus
regard the Sixth district as past redemption
They then agree 10 let it remain so, and. Il
meet the request Of the National Committee
set to work to strengthen two Democratic
districts, in order to send five Democrats II
Congress, as requested. Mr.. Archer, how
ever, forgets the position he assumed in the
beginning of his interview, that the bill is ;
party measure, and therefore in the interest
of the party, and closes with the paragraph
Just quoted, that with Carroll iG the Sixth
district there woald be More than a fighting
chance for a popular Democrat TO be elected
If the substitution of Carroll for Montgomery
would give the Democrats more tkan a fight
ina chance, the district as it now is must en-
courage Democratic hopes. Carroll's Demo
cratic majority is not above 500, while that o
Montgomery ranges from $50 to 800 and thu
difference between their majorities is th,
number by which the Republican majority il
the district is to be increased by Mr.. Archer
party measure.
The scheme is an infamous one, and instead
of being party measure it is justine reverse
IL proposes to throw away a chance TO gain q
Congressman by Strengthening the Republi
cans in close district.
-
Veto 1t.