The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-07-31

distribution OF state ana municipal 0ceS II Is nc
wonder the Republicans have mismanaged the af
fairs of the State and that the State has been hum
lated by the wholesale scandals in the public ser
vice.
The enactment by the last General Assembly
under Republican CONTROL of an election law SC
defective as to permit election officials TO disclose
with absolute impunity and without fear OF prose
eutiGn and punishment how voters cast their bal
lots is deplorable and outrageous omission that
illustrates of the most important objects OF the
law.
our system of public schools has been carefully
guarded and protected by the Democratic party
from the beginning That system must not W
permitted TO languish. 1t must be tostered
and protected. And yet Il Republican Admlnistra
ton has permitted default in the usual payments
dine from corporations which are By law dedicated
to the free-school fund without taking any action
looking TO the enforcement OF the paymnet OF
amounts so due thus compelling the Scnool b0afuS
to borrow money 10 pay The salaries OF teachers
The Democratic party, if intrusted with power
win see that tic school fund is not placed IN Jeop
ardy
The fragrant and admitted shortcomings of The
Republican party i'll the conduct of State affairs
its t.& trlyagance in expenditures and multiplied
ton OF Offices its neglect of the public schools and
surrender 10 corporate influences, 10 which mus
be added the ineXcusuble attempt to destroy tnI
the independence of the police force Of the Gils
of Baltimore and to make It's members their al ite
or tools in their bold efforts TO perpetuate the Rolll
cal power, cannot be tolerated by the people o.
Maryland
The Democratic party for an unbroken period oil
2S years administered with ability and success thC
public affairs of the State and gave to her cltlzeh
the blessings of good and conservative govern
ment The peoples interests demand a return o.
the government of the state and city OF Balumort
to the care of the Democratic party and 10 tnat enc
we call ON the Democracy of Maryland 10 Jay ASIDE
all past differences If any exist and nominate inc
strongest and best qualified men, to whom shal
only be applied the test that they shall be hltniu
to the Democratic party ana shall use tnelr utuios
endeavors to correct the abuses which the Repupli
can party has inaugurated. such wise ana Pitrl
otie action will surely be crowned with complete
and gratifying success. ~.
The work of the convention was speedily
accomplished. There were two candid ties
for COMPTROLLER. Thomas A. Smith, of Caro-
line. and John r. Partiison, Of Dorchester.
A ballot was ordered but before it was an
nounced the Dorchester delegation moved to
make Smi, h S nomination unanimous. The
position was conceded to the Eastern Shore
of the nine counties five voted sohdly. tol
Smith. one for Pattison and three divided
their votes.
For Clerk of the Court of Appeals Mr.. }.
Frank Ford, the present incumbent, was Inc
only candidate and he was nominated by ac'
clamation.
SKETCHES OF CANDIDATES.
State Senator Thomas Alexander Smith
was born near Greenwood, Dell, September
), 1850. His parents removed to Caroline
county, Nd, when he was Il boy, and he was
educated at the Denton Academy. Later he
taught school in Delaware, Maryland and
Michigan. Returning to Maryland in 1872
Mr.. Smith engaged in merchandising Al
Ridgelv. Caroline county, and in 1874 was
appointed agent of TIE Pennsylvania Railroad
at that place, position he has since held
In 1890 he was appointed school commissioner
for the county, and in 1898 was elected State
Senator.
Mr.. j. Frank Ford is about fifty years o.
age and is native Of st. Mary 5 county,
After finishing his education he taughtschool
Il short time, and was then appointed county
school examiner. In 1873 he was elected
clerk of the court of St. Mary's, and was
twice reelected, at one time beng the oaly
Democrat to escape defeat. In 1891 MI
Ford was elected clerk of the Court Of Ap
peals.
EMBLEM ADOPTED.
The usual formal adoption of jackson anC
the liberty tree as the emblem of the party
upon the ballots was varied by talk from
Rev. Dr. j. b. Purcell, Of Carroll county
who introduced the resolution TO that etfee
and then followed up with general address
saving that democracy was his theme.
s'You may ask why |, clergyman, shoulc
be here today as delegate and take part II
this Democratic gathering, he said. but |
have been told that every good citizen ough
to add his influence for good government, nj
matter whether he be in the pulpit or not
$50 do | throw the influence Of my good
citizenship against the deeeitfulness anC
hypocrisy of a newspaper which pirates ofgoot
citizenship and holds that Democrats cal
alone vote as that paper would have then
vote. Its hypocrisy today is fully opened up
revealed, exposed.
''We are here today not to straddle any
thing, not to shirk any duty. We are here
under the leadership of one whose constanc,
of character, perseverance, PATRIOTISM an'
every virtue, both of the home and OF thu
State. enables him to sit in his easy-chair ant
smile while anathemas are tiercely hurled
against him.
ssIfI have gene forth and preached tht
doctrine of free silver and Bryan and We
have had nothing to say of that here today.
is because we have platform drawn here to
day which de6es the Sun, defies the News
defes the Morning Herald, defies all thost
sheets.
''We have the testimonial of Il Republican
Senator that if the Republican government
does anything at all with the currency plat
form, there is going to be a Democratic ad
ministration four years hence. We are goln!
to get it. fellow Democrats, upon such plat
form as we have here adopted. That IS m.
belief.
81 cannot sec for one why there should b
man in this State, in this city. who call
himself Democrat, and yet will vote for an,
of these birds of evil omen who have disgrace'
themselves in Office during the past two years
"We can offer no better emblem TO De
mocracy than old jackson with his hekor
stick. ready to whack the Republicans
ana a Democrat from the tip of my toes to tn
crown of my head. say the tip of my toes
but there is boot there to kick every Re
publican out of office.
"And | for one prefer jackson and libert
to that so-called advocate of good citizenship
which would put enc arm around the fgur
of Democracy, give us a Judas kiss, Will
holding dagger in the free arm ready +
sock it into the vitals of Democracy up to tn
very hilt.'