The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-08-10

50 pruuenlly anu ecOnOmlcally managed the
public institutions owned by the State as 10
make them equal to the very best in the Union.
Governor John Walter Smith has strictly
and impartialy enforced the laws. The tur-
bulence and disorder which Republican sue
cess encouraged and engendered in class oi
our inhabitants have been largely repressed,
so that safety to person and property is now
assured.
ssThe record of the Democratic party dem
onstrats that while it has always favored and
promoted the development of the material in.
terests of the State and the people by proper
encouragement of corporate enterprise, it has
at the same time kept itself free from obliga.
tions TO corporate wealth and power, steadily
acting upon the sound Democratic doctrine oil
equal advantages to all, special privileges to
none; and we feel that it may safely be trusted
without explicit pledge to adhere to this wise,
just and conservative policy.
THE OYSTER QUESTION.
"Confessedly difficult as is legislation affect
ing the development and protection of the
oyster and other kindred products of the
Chesapeake bay and its tributaries, we are
especially gratifed TO be able to declare that
the act passed at the session of 1900 relating
to these important interests has thus far met
the expectations of its trainers.
w uiit IL HIS uOl pTnSiQcu TcftlueS Sutll-
cient to put back into the treasury the def
cheney of $35, 900 left US by the Republicans,
it has nevertheless made our State fishery
force more than self-supporting, and will un.
doubtedly give US handsome surplus at the
end of the fiscal year.
Moreover, under its provisions, encourag-
ing progress has been made in the develop
ment and preservation of our oyster beds,
which constitute so vast a source of State
wealth, and full protection is given to the
large numbers of worthy and sturdy men who
are engaged in the prosecution of this great
and valuable industry.
COLLECTIONS to some of its details which
experience has developed, as well as some
defects, which have beeu noticed, can be
remedied, and we favor such appropriate
amendments as will remove all reasonable
ground of complaint and make the law
thoroughly effective and satisfactory.
TO EXAMINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
''The Democratic party of Maryland, al
ways the advocate and supporter of a broad
and liberal public school system, reafirms 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 edu-
cation of the masses. free people must be
developed and educated by free schools.
"We have good reason TO be proud of our
admirable school system, but as the State
advances and education becomes more gen
eral the methods of administering our public
schools must be improved to keep pace with
| the public demand, and to remove we'll
founded complaint and dissatisfaction.
"Above all things they should be conducted
without reference to politics, and should be
absolutely free from partisan interference OF
dictation.
Teachers should be appointed and re-
tanned for their fitness only, and should be
safe from removal except for cause, after rea.
sonable opportunity TO be heard in their own
| defense.
"We accordingly recommend the passage
! by the next Legislature of an act providing
| for the appointment by the Governor OF q
commission of prominent citizens, selected
irrespective of their political views, from
among those who are personally interested IN
the improvement and efficiency of our public
schools, whose duty it shall be TO examine
into their condition and management, and to
report what amendments of our existing Law
are necessary to reform whatever shall be
| found defective in their administration, and
in the method Of appointment and tenure ot
the commissioners.
THE EXTRA SESSION.
"We 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 Demo
cratic Senators and Delegates for the admir-
able and conservative legislation enacted al
that session in the face of many and serious
| difficulties.
THE STATE CENSUS.
''The painful and disgracefu disclosures
made in the recent trials in the Circuit Court
of the United States in Baltimore city of the
parties charged with falsifying theFederal cen
| sns in some of the counties of the State amply
demonstrate the wisdom and necessity of oui
late State census.
'sWhatever doubts may once have existed
upon this subject have been thoroughly dis
| PEELED, and the result attained, viz, an alb
| soutely fair and proper representation OF the
counties in the House of Delegates is well
worth the money which it cost.
SIN taking the important step of calling the
extra session the Governor was simply exer.
cising the express power conferred and per-
forming the special duty imposed upon him
by the Constitution. Had he omitted the
performance of his duty the results of the
| fragrant frauds in the Federal census which
judicial investigation has so fully exposed
would have been fastened upon us for 10 years
without possibility of redress.
''Indeed, the alternative presented TO the
Governor of accepting as true a false and
| fraudulent enumeration of our population,
deliberately made to serve dishonest political
| purposes, or of putting the State TO the ex
pense of an extra session of the Legislature
to Illustrate SO disreputable conspiracy, was
one as to which there was no room for serious
hesitation, and we confidently appeal 10 the
people to indorse his action in this important
matter and TO approve by their votes the
prompt response of the Legislature to his call.
ELECTION AND REGISTRATION LAW.
''The experience of 10 years having demon
strated that changes in our Australian ballot
system were necessary to put an end to the
intimidation, bribery and fraud for which, as
enacted in Maryland, it has been found to af-
ford such ample facilities, and, the demands
for these reforms being great and urgent, the
Governor felt it to be his imperative duty to
give to the people an opportunity for relief,
and although the calling of an extra session
necessarily involved considerable expendi-
ture of money, yet the cost was not to be
weighed against the benefits of free, honest
and enlightened suffrage.
''We stand by the emphatic utterances of
the State Central Committee on this subject
at its meeting in Annapolis on the 10th day
of March last and approve ofthe amendments
to our Election law made at the extra session,
believing that they are free from valid consti
tutional objections, in all respects impartial,
fair and Just; that they will do much to purify
and elevate the suffrage and make the votes
cast what for many years they have not been
the real expression of the will of each and
every voter.
1--WE believe that our elections should be
controlled by the votes of our own people ex-
cusively and that persons who permanently
reside outside the limits of the State should
not be permitted TO register and vote. We
therefore declare our hearty approval OF the
amendment passed at the special session COW
ering this important subject.