The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-02
A STRONG DECLARATION
Democratic Success Means Government
by Intelligent Whites.
GORMAN SHAPES THE DECLARATION
In the Event Of Democratic Victory He Will be
Chosen as Senator to Succeed Yelling
ton, The Present Comptroller and
Clerk Renominated.
(By the Associated Press }

C.J
Baltimore. Nd, August 1.-The DEM
ocratic State Convention, which met
here today, declared the purpose Of the
party, if successful in the coming cleo
tion, is to eliminate the negro from
politics in Maryland. If such a thing
be possible under the constitution of
the State. Upon this, the paramount
issue of the campaign, will stand the
candidates nominated today for State
offices and those chosen in the various
county and district conventions as cam
didates for places in the Legislature of
1902, which body will elect a United
States Senator to succeed George l..
Wellington. That his successor, in the
event of Democratic victory. will be
Arthur Pue German, is settled beyond
question, although no formal announce
ment of his candidacy has as yet been
made.
The nominal purpose for which the
convention met was to select candidates
for the offices Of Comptroller and Clerk
of the Court of Appeals, and it fulfilled
this task b unanimously naming DIR.
Joshua w Herring, of Carroll, and j.
Frank Turner, of Talbot, to succeed
themselves in the places nominated.
This action, however, was a foregone
conclusion and the real business of the
convention was the formulation and
adoption of a platform The combined
sagacity of all the Democratic leaders
in the State was called into requisition
for this purpose and under the advice
and guidance of Mr.. German, the fol-
lowing declaration upon the chief point
in issue was evolved
"The Democratic party represents
more than 10000 majority of the white
people of Maryland. They, in common
with their brethren of other States in
which large masses of colored voters
have been injected into the body poli-
tic, recognize that the peace, good or
der, personal safety and proper devel-
opment of our material interest depend
upon the control of the commonwealth
by it's intelligent white residents With
out the aid of the $4,000 colored voters
the Republican party in Maryland
would be a hopeless minority.
1--WE, therefore, without hesitation
proclaim that the success of the Demo-
cratic party will mean that while we
shall deal with perfect fairness in Sc
curing all the benefits of good govern
ment and full and free opportunities for
education to all classes, such action
must be taken as to prevent the con-
troll of the State government from pass
ing into the hands of those who have
neither the ability nor the interest to
manage public affairs wisely and well"
The other planks in the platform re-
affirm the devotion of the local party to
the principles enunciated by Thomas
Jefferson; assert that Democratic con-
troll is necessary to the welfare of the
State; command the administration of
John Walter Smith as Governor; pledge
the party to amend the oyster and
school avs in such manner as may seem
proper; declare the course of the gov
ernor in calling a special session Of the
Legislature and the action of that body
in passing laws to limit the exercise of
the right of the franchise to those who
are able to read and write to be pa
triotic in the extreme; denounce the
federal authorities for frauds and irrug-
ularities in the late Federal census:
commend the State authorities for the
manner of which recount of the peo-
pie was ade and pledge the party to
the adoption of such laws as will make
the primary elections as fair as those
held under the general elections law.
The platform went through without
dissenting voice or vote. The only rift
in the lutte of perfect harmony came
when the announcement of the MEM
bers of the New Central State Commit
tee was made and it was discovered that
every opponent of /. Freeman Rasin in
municipal politics had been dropped
from the list and their places filled with
those whose loyalty to the organization
is unquestioned.
Both Mr.. German and Mr.. Rasin were
present throughout the proceedings,
but neither of them appeared on the
platform, nor did they ocupy seats i'm
the body of the hall. After the conven-
ton adjourned Mr.. German held an in
formal reception behind the scenes and
great enthusiasm was shown by those
who crowded forward to shake his hand.
~Nrw