The Democratic advocate., 1891-04-18
THE NEW POLITICAL MOVE.
It's Professed and Real Object.
From the Baltimore Sun, April 10.


During the past winter steps have been taken
which, it is understood likely in the near future
to result in the organization of new Democratic
club association having its headquarters in this
city but with a membership drawn from all parts OF
the State. Shortly after the November elections a
conference held in this city, attended by several
gentlemen of political prominence in the counties
well the city, to consider whether the popular
movement throughout the country in favor of tariff
reform did not present favorable opportunity for
inaugurating in this State a concerted movement,
within the lines of the Democratic party in favor of
certain other legislative and administrative reforms
in the general direction of the principles advocated
by Mr. Cleveland. The fact that the next election
in this State would be purely State election, the
partial success achieved at the last session of the
Legislature in the passage of the new ballot and
registration laws, and the pendency of six impor-
tant constitutional amendments to be voted upon
by the people of this State next November, it was
considered all combined to make the occasion op-
perfume for such movement and furnishing the
strongest possible argument in favor of making the
experiment. Several other conferences followed in
January and February, and it being deemed essen
tal to that the move should have the united
and concurrent support Of Democrats in the coun-
ties particularly, committee on correspondence
was appointed, whose duty it was TO ascertain the
sentiments of Representative Democrats in various
parts of the State.
As the result of the correspondence thus inaugu-
rated and the receipt of a sufficient number of
favorable responses from prominent men in the
city and counties it is understood that the club will
shortly be organized by the election of officers, &c
From the Baltimore Herald, April H.
some talk was occasioned in Democratic circles
by the announcement in morning paper yester-
e.,
ton of State Democratic Club for the purpose, it is
said to promote certain necessary reforms in the
legislation of the state and nation"
As far as can be learned none of the active party
leaders have been taken in consultation the sub
ject. The general opinion prevailing is that the
organization has to considerable extent been in
spired by a newspaper antagonistic TO Senator Cor
man. II is regarded the outgrOwth of the Tariff
Reform Club gathering held last summer. Those
who were invited to that affair." it was current gossip
at the time, were mostly men who we're either open
enemies or lukewarm fIends of Mr.. German. He
was entirely ignored and so were other prominent
admirers of the Senator in the city and State.
Although Ex-Mayor Hodges has for years been a
conspicuous exponent of tariff reform, and one of
its earliest advocates, his name was studousy
omitted from the invitation list. As though to
emphasize the "cut" given Senator German, his
tnc laIe senator W lSON wis iskcu
tend the gathering.
The opinion is general that the proposed organ
zation is the step to be taken by the gentlemen
who got up the Tariff Reform Conference
There is no doubt in my minl," said old
political observer yesterday that all the talk about
state and national reform being the object of this
organization is blind. The real purpose is to at
tempt to stir up opposition to Senator German with
in the Democratic party of Maryland.
a morning paper which has long enjoyed the
patronage of the party, but which has of late as
sumed to be a party dictator, is behind the whole
scheme. 1t doesn't like Senator German because it
can't bulldoze him, and will leave stone unturn
ed to try and prevent his reelection to the United
States Senate. Under the guise of forming an
organization for state and national reforms, it
thinks that it capture the party machinery from
the friends of Mr.. German and thus accomplish his
defeat. Mr. Germans friends and all those Demo-
crats who know and appreciate his work in behalf
of the national Democracy in the last Congress have
their eyes open. They won't be taken in by such
thin device. The Democratic party knows what is
needed and it will measure up to the requirements
of the times without any outside assistance