The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-06-15
A Model Convention and I'M
partial Chairman.

The Cumberland Times has
this to say of the recent State
Convention:
The Maryland State COnven-
ton of the Democratic party has
done its work well and fairly.
1t has selected delegates and
electors with due regard to the
best interests of the party and it
has adopted platform broad
enough, comprehensive enough
and strong enough to enable
every Democrat in Maryland to
stand upon it, and from its cOign
of vantage unite in the defense
of the party and contribute to
the success Of Mr.. Bryan.
Never in the history of Mary
land politics has majority so
arge as that of Tuesday been so
considerate and so generous to a
minority So small as that which
followed DR.. Wells, and rarely
has a minority shown such patri-
otism and such true party fealty.
With DIR. Wells motion that
the majority report be the unani.
nous report Of the convention,
the reuniting Democracy of
Maryland became reunited, and
the forces that called Governor
Smith TO the head Of the State
government were aligned afresh
to place Maryland in the Nat.
ional Democratic column this fall.
Such very unusual occurrences
do not come haphazard, they re-
suit from some great underlying
principle and they presage Ger.
tain victory. DR.. Wells and his
able lieutenants had the full
courage of their strong convic.
tions, and Lloyd Wilkinson and
General Poe were equally posi-,
tive that they were right, but
personal ambition, individual
preference, local interests, all
gave way to party devotion and
true and loyal determination to
carry Maryland for Bryan and
the republic.
And so great a victory could
not have been secured under
leaders less able, less fair and
less generous. Without dis.
senting voice Colonel Baughman
was placed at the helm of the
party's deliberations, and we
challenge the records of this or
any other State to produce facts
that will show fairer, more liber.
al or more generous course than
that which resulted from Colonel
Baughman's rulings and his Just
conduct of the convention.
1t may be that some of the ma
Jorlty feel that in throwing down
the bars and placing minority
and majority on absolute equali-
ty, Colonel Baughman was tax
ing unwise chances, but these
gentlemen, if any such there be.
must not recognize the fact that we
are not only going to nominate
Bryan, but elect him, and that in
a Democratic Convention there
must he freedom of speech, free
dom of action and absolute liberty
of conscience.
Col. Baughman knows this
lie has too often felt the pulse OF
the Maryland Democracy not to
realize that the time and place
for divergent views to become
cOnvergent is in the State Con
vention. Knowing that there
was a condition of this character
confronting him, he wisely and
well waived the caSt-iIon rules OF
parliamentary practice and gave
to every man and every delegate
the fullest and fairest Opportu.
nifty to express himself upon the
! floor of the convention as well as
in committee.
The party is under obligations
to Colonel Baughman, as it is to
DIR. Wells, and we take the first
opportunity to record for our
selves, and we believe for the
Sixth District, our appreciation
of their successful efforts.