The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-11-04
Minority Representation.
In an article under the above caption
the Sentinel says:

In an article under the above caption
the Sentinel says:
The principle of minority representation
obtains in "A number of States and is practi
cally recognized in a measure in others.
Even in Maryland, where Democratic parti-
sanship is extreme, some representation is
given the minority in election boards, and in
our own county the principle has been recog-
nized in the school board. This is very
small concession, to be sure, as the schools
should be fully divorced from all partsanship,
even in appearance. But it is concession,
nevertheless, to just principle. Now, the
people have it in their power to extend it,
with benefit to the public service, in another
direction The board of County Commission
ers is safely Democratic for two years longer,
having one member who holds over for that
period and another for four years. But one
Commissioner will be chosen at the ensuing
election. If the Republican candidate shall
be chosen the Democratic preponderance in
the board will not be broken, but the large
body of Republican tax payers will be repre-
scented as they should be, by a citizen of
their own choice, in the body which levies the
taxes they are compelled to pay and disburses
the large sums drawn from them for the sup
port of the county government.
The Sentinel is new convert to minor
ity representation. Itwould like it carried
out in all matters, but how long would it
hold to this position, if the Republican
party were in power? The Republican
party has been steadily nominating candi-
dates for all positions, and the Sentinel has
Iabored zealously for the election Of HE
lchole ticket 1t did not advise Republicans
10 vote for two Republican candidates for
County Commissioners and one Democratic
candidate, in order to have minority repre-
sentation. And this year it stood by its
party in contending that the new commits
sioner law was unconstitutional and advo-
Gated the nomination of three Commits
sioners, as heretofore. Three candidates
were nominated, and it has been sound
ing the praise of all three and advocating
the election of all.
But it knows its ticket will be badly
defeated next Tuesday. 1t knows that
their candidate for Sheriff, upon whom all
hope was centered, will be badly beaten
also, and it suddenly becomes converted to
the 'just principle" of minority represen-
tation. 1t wants to save something from
the general wreck of the party, and pleads
for this one favor
When the Republican party was in
,oo,ro, -, tb;s etota on1 in tbie oountv did
it recognize this "just principle of minor
ity representation Oh no; but while it
was a minority party, it took all, under
bayonet rule Enough Democrats were pre-
vented from voting, by the force of Federal
bayonets, to give the Republicans power.
They were insulted, inundated, and ar
rested upon false charges, beaten and
driven from the polls. Under Republican
rule every judge and clerk of election was
Republican, and the ballots were counted
with no minority representation to look
on. No Democrat was drawn to serve as
Juror, and in the trial of cases Democrats
were more likely to get injustice than JUS
tice. A Democrat was not even allowed
to teach school in this county, and yet the
Republican organ is not satisfied that the
Democrats have conceded minority repre-
sentation in the Boards of Election Super
yisors. in the election officers, in the School
Board and in the boards of Road Commits
sioner. 1t wants this ''just principle" of
minority representation extended to the
Board of County Commissioners, also. If
the Sentinel were honest in its plea, why
did it not advocate the 'just principle"
when its party was in power2 And we
challenge it to produce from its files one
sentence condemning the high handed acts
of its party from 1868 to 1867.
The Sentinel as the Republican organ,
win deceive no one now. The party has
a record too well remembers ed to awaken
any confidence in its newly espoused gust
principle"
The County Commissioners are local
legislature, dealing with county affairs.
The party has managed the affairs of the
county, through this legislature, for TWEEN
ty-fve years, and it is proud of its record.
1t points the people with pride to the fact
that Carroll has much lower tax rate
than any other county in the state. And
with this lower rate it has wiped out a
debt of some s84 900 left by the Republi-
can party when it was driven from power,
built many bridges, opened new roads, met
the increased expenses which an ever in
creasing population necessitates and built
substantial school houses in all parts of
the county.
And on the condition of the school
houses in Carroll when the Republicans
were driven from power, Mr.. Jacob Fl.
Christ, President of the School Commits
sioners, in his last report said
aThe larger portion Of the school houses
in the county are unfit for any civilized man
10 teach in, and the furniture is in a worse