The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-01-22
Work for the Legislature.

The Maryland Farmers Association held
the most successful meeting last week in
Baltimore that the Association has ever had.
A road law was presented by Mr.. Harlan,
Of Hartford county, that had been drawn and
carefully considered by a convention Of the
most public spirited and intelligent men of
the county which was endorsed by the
Association and lis passage by the Legislature
recommended. The bill provides for q
general State law with competent civil
engineers who have graduated from school
Of approved standing. The bill is such a
one as the JOURNAL has been advocating
for some years.
A radical change was recommended from
The present assessment law to law for the
annual listing of property and other impor-
tant changes in the systems under which the
State has been numbered for generations,
and checked in her prosperity.
The Association appointed Legislative
Committee TO act 10 concert with a similar
committee appointed by the Maryland
State Grange, to visit Annapolis during the
session Of the legislature and urge upon
members the importance Of such legislation
as recommended by these representative
bodies. The member from Cecil is Mr..
Joseph Coudon, of Joseph, an excellent
selection. Mr.. Coudon is young mau. Of
education, public spirited and representa-
tive farmer session as lobbyist in the
interest Of the farming class will be Of much
advantage TO him and his associates. Every
interest except agriculture has been repre-
sented by able Hobbies at sessions Of past
legislatures, and the present session is the
first the farmers of the State have appointed
representative body whose presence will
be felt by the members.
The fundamental reform in our legisla-
ton must begin with a radical change in
the primary election, which has become an
engine Of corruption and political power,
By years Of practical experience the profess
sional politicians have learned the art Of
manipulating the primary meeting SO as &c
form such ticket as they desire. The
party tickets once formed the people are al
clay in the hands of the potter. They are
absolutely without redress. The primary
is in greater need of reform than the cleo
law, which in many Of the States has beer
superseded BY the Australian Law or lawl
based on that principle.
The Australian law secures secret ballo
and prevents cheating at the polls, but it
influence does not extend back to the for
nation Of the ticket. What is most needed
is primary election law with provisions
similar to the Australian law. And there
is the strongest of reasons why the primary
or nominating election should be held on .
day named BY Law, and that the nomina-
tions of all parties should be made on the
same>day with an election judge to represent
each party. Each party should be restrict.
ed to maximum number Of candidates for
each Office, to select from, and the ballot be
blanket ballot containing the names Of all
tine parties. Such q system would insure
representative candidates on the tickets and
eliminate the scalawags who I'LL Legislative
halls and are there for the money that can
be made out of the Office. 1t would also
create race Of independent voters, free the
voters from the party slavery under which
they .haYe long suffered. bring the better
class Of people out more generally to the
primary and the election, and give us a class
ofoficers that would reflect credit on their
constituents. A reformed primary is the
base rock on which pure political system
must be bull. There is no other safe
foundation.