Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-08-05
MARYLAND DEMOCRATS.


Baltimore, Md, July 80. = Harmony
of the old-fashioned kind prevailed at
the Democratic State Convention to-
day, and ii was clearly demonstrated
that United States Senator German
still has his hando the Lever that con
trolls the mnvements OF the organization.
The candidates nominated BY the con-
vention we're selected by him, and the
revolutions adopted were Of his inspira-
tion. AS chairmanof the committee
on resolutions he read the platform, and
read it in such way 40 to Indicate
that he knew it almost without looking
at 1t. At his suggestion one of the
candidates for comptroller withdrew
whYn his nomination seemed assured,
and another was taken up by the cob.
vention, al d. at his request, both gold
and silver men waived their convictions
for the nonce and voted to adopt plat.
form that declares for bimetalism, but
is silent as to the vital question OF
"ratio.n tF
There was salvo of handclapping
and some cheering when Mr.. German
entered the auditorium, and took his
sent among the Howard county delega.
tion, which the seniur Senator smilingly
acknowledged. Col. Buchanan Schley
of Washington county, former surveyor
of the port of Baltimore, was appointed
temporary chairman. which be &C.
copied in brief address in which hs
discussed the currency question, assert
ing that the Republican party having
enacted all the currency laws nov upon
the status books are alone responsible
for the present condition of affairs.
a committee on resolutions, consist.
ing of member from each county, was
then selected, and it was unanimously
decided to refer to this committee
without debate all resolutions presented
from the floor. When Howard county
presented Mr.. Gorman's name for this
committee there was more cheering.
The convention then took recess while
the committee deliberated.
The committee took long time to
deliberate and at the end OF tive hours
returned and presented a platform de.
voted largely to State questions, which
was read by Senator German as chair
man.
This resolutions DECLARE that the fun
damental principles OF Democracy re-
main unchanged; that the Democracy
OF Maryland balieye now and always
have believed IN "honest money, the
gold and silver money OF the Constitu-
tion, and the ceinage OF both metals.
without discrimination against either,
into standard dollars OF final payment
and redemption" and assert that the
recent action Of President Mckinley in
asking for a Currency Commission is
the result of the demand of more than
six and one-half millions OF Democratic
voters expressed at the polls in the last
national election. The Dingley Tariff
law is termed q more odious measure
than the Mckinley act of 1890, and it
is asserted that it will 1e more signally
condemned in 1898 than was the Nc
Kinley act in 1892, A demand ia made
that the United States Government
take such action as will ameliorate the
atrocities now being committed in
Cuba and to fully protect every Ameri-
can citizen there in the enjoyment OF his
life and property.
In regard TO State affairs the platform
accuses the Republican party of favor
ing the rich corporations ami oppress-
ing the small householder, of increasing
taxation by eStrayagaht appropriations,
OF unseemly chickering's over the distri-
button of Offices and of humilating the
State by Wholesale scandals in the
public service. 1t charges the Repub.
licans with having enacted an unfair
election law, and with permitting cor
porations to default in their paymop Ia
TO the public school funds, thus max
ing it necessary to borrow money to pay
the salaries OF teachers. Finally, it
INSERTS that "the attempt OF the Repub-
llcans to destroy the independence OF
the police force of Baltimore City and
to make its members their allies and
tools in their bold attempt to perpetuate
their political power will not be toer-
ated by the people of Maryland,
The platform out of the way, nomi-
nations we're declared TO be in ORDER
and the names of Thomas A. Smith Of
Caroline county, and Johu Il. Pattson
OF Dorchester county were presented for
nomination for the comptrollership
Mr.. Pattison, who was looked upon as
the candidate OF those who favored an
out and-out free oliver plank in the
platform, got but 30 votes, while Mr..
Smith, who was Mr.. German selec.
tion for the place, received 81.
There was no opposition TO the nomi.
nation Of Frank Ford of st, Mary's
county, as candidate for the court of
appeals clerkship, and the nomination
was made by acclamation.
The currency plank was naturally
the most troublesome, just year ago
Mr.. German presided over State con
vention here which adopted platform
declaring in the most unequivocal
terms for gold. standard Of currency,
and pronouncing in language equally
strong and unmistRkable against the
unlimited coinage Of silver at the ratio
Of IL to |. What has happened since
then is history, and Mr.. Germans sun
port of thR national platform was as
earnest ami energetic az ii II had con
tanned the currency plank adopted by
the Democrats of Maryland.
The Convention actually meant the
opening of campaign which will in
all probability decide whether or NOT
Arthur Pue German will lose his seal
in the Senate uf tile United States and
his place at the head OF the Democratic
party OF Maryland. Two successive and
crushing defeats bave materially lUos.
ened ths hold he formerly had upon the
| organization, and the fact that the Re
publicans are now ia complete coniro
of all the State and municipal offices
has diminished his chances Of success
in the coming fight. Neither of the
conditions appears, however, to have
lessened his popularity With the ranL
add file OF his party. anu it was plair
thut he was far and away the master
mind and the controlling epirit in thu
ante convention deliberations. =
a surprise was sprung upon thu dele
| gates Just prior to the assembling O
the convention by the withdrawal O.
George a. Deakyne of Caroline county
| and mo anhatitniinn Of STATE EnnntII