Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-08-08

next for the State and local candidates
OF our party, because we believe lis.t
their success ID necessary TO secure tn the
State q continuance of the good govern
ment which our citizens now enjoy I'M
der Democratic control.
AFTER four years experience of Re-
publican rule the people cast IL OF, and
since the beginning Of the year 1900 all
branches OF our State government have
been administered by Democratic OFF,
Gals. These officers have performed
their duty with absolute fidelity TO the
interests Of the people. They have
guarded with care the States invest
ments and have so prudently and eco
nomicaliy managed the public instiiu-
tions owned by the State as 20 make
them equal TO the very best in the Union.
Governor John Walter Smith has
strictly and impartially enforced the
laws The turbulence and disorder
which Republican success encouraged
and engendered In o class of our inhab-
itants have been largely repressed. so
that safety 70 person and property rs now
assured.
THE record Of the Democratic party
demonstrates that while il has always
favored and promoted the development
the people by proper encouragement OF
corporate enterprise, il has at the same
time kept itself free from obligations TO
corporate wealth and power. steadily
acting upon the sound Democratic doe
trine Of equal advantages TO all, special
privileges TO none; and we feel that IL
may safely be trusted without explicit
pledge TO adhere to this wise, Just and
Conservative n0licv
''Confessediy difficult 10 Ia legislation
affecting the development and prOtec-
ton Of the oyster and other kindred
products OF the Chesapeake bay and Its
tributaries, we are especially gratiled 10
be able TO declare that the act passed al
the session OF 1900 relating to these inn
portant interests has thus far met the
expectations of its trainers.
while IL has not provided revenues
sufficient TO put back ineo the treasury
the deficiency Of $35, 900 left us by ~.
Republicans, il has nevertheless mad
our State fishery fore more self-sup-
porting, and will und ,ubtedly give US "a
handsome surplus al the end Of the f.
cal year.
Moreover, under it's provisions, en-
couraging progress has been made in the
development and preservation of our
oyster beds, which constitute so vast
source of State wealth. and full protec-
ton is given to the large numbers of
worthy and sturdy men who are engaged
in the prosecution OF this great and val
liable industry.
OBJECTIONS to some of its details
which experience has developed, rs well
as some defects, which have been no
ticed, can be remedied, and we favor
saNo a ,Hs.,a
move all reasonable ground of complaint
and make the law thoroughly effective
and satisfactory.
"The Democratic party OF Maryland,
always the advocate and supporter of
broad and liberal public school system,
reaffirms its belief that the problem of
popular education Is among the most
important with which the State must
deal.
"The progress, comfort and happiness
of the Commonwealth are advanced by
the education Of the masses. A free
people must be developed and educated
by flee schools.
I'VE have good reason To be proud of
our admirable school system, but as the
State advances and education becomes
more general the methods of admins
tering our public schools must be i'm
proved to keep pace with the public de-
mand, and to remove well-founded COM
plant and dissatisfaction.
Above all things they should be con-
Quoted without reference to politics, and
should be absolutely free from partisan
interference or dictatIon.
Teachers should be appointed and re-
tanned for their fitness oaly, and should
be safe from removal except for cause,
after reasonable opportunity to be heard
in their own defense.
I'VE accordingly recommend the pas
sage by the next Legislature of an act
providing for the appointment by the
Governor of commission OF prominent
citizens. selected irrespective of their
political views, from among those who
are personally interested in the improve
ment and efficiency OF our public schools,
whose duty II shall be TO examine into
their condition and management, and to
report what amendments Of our existing
laws are necessary TO reform whatever
shall be found defective in their admin
istration, and in the method Of appoint.
ment and tenure OF the commissioners.
I'VE heartily commend the wisdom
and courage of Gov. John Walter Smith
in calling the recent extra session of the
Legislature and we feel that our thanks
are due to our Democratic Senators and
Delegates for the admirable and conser-
vative legislation enacted at that session
| in the face OF many and serious difficult
ties.
"The painful and disgraceful disclos-
ures made In the recent trials in the Cir
cult Court of the United States in Balti-
more city of the parties charged with
classifying the Federal Census in some
of the counties of the State amply dem
onstrate the wisdom and necessity Of
our late State census.
Whatever doubts may have once ex-
listed upon this subject have been thor
oughly dispelled, and the result attain
ed, viz an absolutely fair and proper
representation of the counties In the
House of Delegates Is well worth the
money which il cost.
ain taking the important step of call
ing the extra session the Governor was
simply exercising the express power
conferred and performing the special
duty imposed upon him by the Constitu-
ton. Had he omitted the performance
of his duty the results of the fragrant
frauds in the Federal census which
judicial Investigation has so fully ex-
posed would have been fastened upon
rs for 10 years without possibility of
redress.
Indeed. the alternative presented to
the Governor of accepting as true q false
and fraudulent enumeration of our pop-
ulation, deliberately made TO serve dis
honest political purposes, or of putting
the State to the expense of an extra
session of the Legislature to Illustrate so
disrerutable conspiracy, was one as TO
which there was no room for serious