The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-06-14
1901 JUNE 1901
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

TIE EULll 1IAL u 1 VA xO1Ns
Last week, we took occasion to en-
ter into the discussion that is now
common all over the State regarding
the dissension that exists within the
ranks of the Democratic party. 1t
should be stated in this connection
that there is no cause for much ofthe
criticism, that has been made, to ap-
ply to local matters. Harford's po-
1itical affairs seems to be in excellent
shape. There is a disposition to
nominate a strong representative
ticket, about which there can be no
question of success at the November
election. 1t might be we'll to state
however, that this condition of
affairs has been largely brought
about by the men who possessed
some little personal ambition. They
have seen the wisdom in harmony,
and therefore, with the success ofths
party only at heart, Withdrew from
the contest, so that there will be less
contention at the primaries.
To come back to the discord, how
ever, we would say that it exists
largely in State affairs and has for
it's place of origin, Baltimore City.
1t dates back to the time of the
primaries for the Municipal places.
The result of those primaries was not
satisfactory and as every one knows
the city went strongly Republican.
elimination and recrimination has
been made by both sides as to the
causes of the defeat, the merits of
which we do not propose to enter
into. What deserves the criticism of
every party man throughout the
Sta tie, however, is that after the
ticket had been nominated it should
have been allowed to be defeated.
Not that we on the outside care one
whit so far as the State itself is con-
cerned, but only for the moral effect of
the result of succeeding elections. 1t
hashad the affect Of discounting the
merits of the recently enacted ballot
law. 1t was not an issue nor did the
election indicate the feelings of the
rank and file of tn. yoters.
We think that he bottom of all
this agitation tn and of l. Freeman
Rasin is manipu ,ating the secret
wires. There can be no doubt but
what he is in bad repute with the
better element of the party and the
dislike, both for him and his methods,
has permeated the whole organiza-
ton so far as to reach the Chairman
of the State Central Committee,
whose scalp he is now after.
The better element of the party
should stand by Chairman Vandiver
in his efforts to free the organization
from the milestone that has been
around its neck for the past twenty
years. Until it is gotten rid of, sue
cess is an extremely probable matter.
So long as this gentleman kept under
cover, we had no difficulty in carry
ing every election, but as soon as his
hand is shown, victory perches else
where. The fight last spring against
Mayor Hayes, which undoubtedly
possessed much merit, was finally so
manipulated as to become Rasin-
Hayes personal controversy and
many persons who are opposed to
the present Mayors drastic political
regime were compelled to support
Rasin candidates.
At the election in May, however,
the matter of Furnishing this political
Boss should have been forgotten,
simply for the moral affect, that the
defeat of the ticket bearing upon it
the name of Democracy, would have
elsewhere. Democrats throughout
the State feel sore that this apathy
was shown and they will not be slow
to forget it, 1t is never a good re-
form to go outside of the party for
help. Reform within our own
borders is always commendatory but
nothing can be more despicable than
to attempt to get rid of any one
particular man by defeating the
whole party.