The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-09-04
Fraud and Bribery Characterize
Republican Primaries.
IF REPUBLICANS WILL CHEAT
EACH OTHER WHAT WILL
THEY NOT DO TO THEIR
OPPONENTS2
Is the State Government Safe
in the Hands of Bribers ?
FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE TO
CONSIDER.
Published by authority of the Maryland
Democratic Editors Association.

IF Republicans will deceive, defraud and
cheat each other what would they not do
to the public to maintain power in this
state?
This is a question for not only Demo
Gratis to consider but for all good citizens.
Waving the question as to whether the
Republican party, constituted as it is, is
competent and fit to administer the affairs
of the State of Maryland, with its great
and varied interests, and including, as it
does. one of the great cities Of the coun-
try, it is proposed only to direct public
attention to the character Of the white
element that is prominent in the party, and
the means employed by it to remain potent
in party affairs.
Nearly every leader, state, county and
district, is a practical politician, without
care for public interests, and in the con-
tentions and rivalries the eolored voter, by
reason of his purchasable character, is the
controlling element. From Garrett to
Worcester and from Cecil to st. Mary
the party is divided and torn by factions.
A number of persons are striving for the
United States Senate; county leaders are
struggling for the mastery, in order to re-
ceive recognition in the distribution Of
Federal patronage or in securing the best
of local offices, and district leaders are
struggling for minor local. state and fed
eral positions.
No such disgraceful scramble end strug
Gle was ever witnessed in this quiet and
peaceful state before Fraud deceit and
bribery have been everywhere practiced.
Lowndes, the goody goody Governor,
as he would pose, in order to reach the
goal of his ambition has prostituted the
patronage of his office, and sent his hench
men home TO carry primaries in his inter
est.
Mudd has invaded every county of the
fifth congressional district and sought by
foul means as well as fair to put up tickets
in his behalf
Clabaugh. more modest than the others,
has only dictated the Legislative nominees
in his county, Carroll, but hoping through
his friend and law partner, Gather, to get
a portion at least of the Baltimore city
delegation
McComas, federal Judge, in the city
of Washington, left the bench and manip-
ulated the politics of his county, Washing
ton, where he clashed interests with Wei
lington, his old political antagonist.
Wellington is gathering up, so far as he
can. enough legislative nominees in the
sixth congressional district, to hold the
balance between the rivals for the Senate,
in order to be in position to punish his
enemies and reward the candidate who will
be subservient to him and be loyal to his
leadership.
Not one of these senatorial candidates
has the least interest in the public welfare.
The legislative candidates everywhere have
not been selected because of their fitness
for legislative duties the rather, they have
been selected because of their loyalty to
individuals The Republican leaders have
subordinated everything to self interest.
One would think, from their course, that
there was nothing to enlist public attention
at Annapolis next winter but the election
of a United States Senator.
In nearly every county Republican pri-
maries have been marked by bitterness,
and those contending for the mastery have
hesitated at nothing to accomplish their
ends. The purchase of voters has been
open and shameful, and corrupt bargains
most general.
In Baltimore disgraceful spectacle was
presented Three candidates were con-
tending for the mayoralty nomination
Wellington named Marburg, of the To-
bacco Trust, as the cal didate, because he
was rich and would freely spend his money,
and the organization backed him. Frank
Supplee, subservient to the Boss, entered
contract to run as a side show to Mar
burg, but went before the people almost
nightly and declared he was bona fide
candidate for Mayor. Malster would not
agree to the organization rules, and held
separate primaries The count of ballots
showed an unusual vote polled probably
| 0, 900 more than were cast. Each side
accused the other of fraud and padding,
and both accusations are doubtless true
What must be thought of men, high up
in the party council, some of them holding
distinguished places, engaging IN such
practices. and what spectacle it is that
Maryland, one Of the old and proud orig
ina states, noted for the culture, refine
ment and integrity of its citizens, should
be under the control of such men. What
must those Democrats, who, mislead by
false cries Of bossism and mismanagement,
think when they behold the spectacle
What are their thoughts when they con-
slider how they were deceived by the honed
words of Lowndes and the promises of
purity What do they think when they see
patronage used for personal ends rather
than the good of the public service? What
do they think when they discern that the
illiterate colored voter is the determining
factor in controlling the party and in reality
controlling the state? What do they think
when they contrast the past with the
present?
Returning to the fraud deceit. treach-
cry, bargaining and bribery used by rivals
for the mastery, is it not to be believed
that if the Republicans will use such means
against each other, they will use the same
to maintain their hold upon this state ?
If entrusted to power again will they not
so legislate as to make themselves safe
against the power of the people to dislodge
them Can they not so change the reg
istration and election law as to permit the
grossest frauds And in view of the dis
graceful conduct, the fraud and the bribery
that has characterized Republican prima-
ries in nearly every county and in Balti-
more city can honest, liberty loving, tax
paying citizens trust the state in the hands