The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-08-31
A Word to Democrats.

A call Tor primaries and county conven-
ton appears at the head of this column.
Democrats have been aware Of the dates for
some weeks and candidates have done some
canvassing. The hours for the primaries are
given for the respective districts and the no.
tice is official.
Every Democrat who desires public office
has a right to be candidate, but ii is bad
politics to try to build up ones self by trying
to pull down some other aspirant for the same
place. Every candidate desires the full
Democratic vote. In the event of his noml-
nation he mast have it if he desires TO poll a
safe majority in November. No candidate
will get the full vote ifbe estranges the friends
of other candidates by belittling the merits OF
their favorites. If an aspirant for public
Office has no merits Of his own-if he IS only
depending on the dement's of rivas--he had
better retire from the field. But whether he
has merits or not no candidate should traduce
other aspirants, because he would be hand-
capped in the event of his failure of nomina-
ton in getting his friends to support his sue
cessful rival; and he would be handicapped,
should he be nominated, in getting the votes
of the friends of the candidate or candidates
he has criticised or discussed during his can
vass for the nomination. We, therefore, adj
wise all aspirants for nominations to stand
upon their own qualifications and let other
candidates alone.
We advise Democrats generally to cast aside
personal likes and disikes in voting at the
primaries. Do not vote for man because he
is a good neighbor. Weigh his merits, con-
slider his popularity generally and his ability
as a vote getter. And the delegates chosen
to the county convention should be men of
good Judgment and independence, and not
stubbornly stand by the man they were elected
to serve or allow themselves to be traded off
to vote for any candidate in exchange for
votes for their candidate. A convention
ought to be a body for consultation as to the
best interests of the party, not a machine to
be controlled by candidates or party leaders.
This does not mean that every delegate should
rely solely upon his judgment, but listen to
the advice, counsel and opinions of others,
weigh it all and then act as his judgment die
tates for the interest of the party, not for the
interest of individuals.
In the selection of ticket delegates are
not obliged to confne their choice to an
nounced aspirants. Many good men do not
thrust themselves forward and contest in the
primaries. These men should be considered
also in the selection of ticket. This has
been done a number of times in Carroll and
these persons have always made good polls.
Notable instances were the nominations of j.
Oliver Wadlow for Register Of Wills, David
Stoner, who served as County Commissioner
longer than any other incumbent of the Office;
Col John X. Longwell, who served in the
Senate and also as County Commissioner;
COL William G.. Polk, who served twice as
County Commissioners DR.. Howell Billingslea,
present Clerk of the Circuit Court; DR.. j. W.
Herring, who was elected to the Senate in 1895
and present Comptroller of the Treasury of
Maryland and nominee for reelection; and
Hon. Frank L. Shaw, who reluctantly ac-
cepted a nomination for the House of Dele
gates in 1889. There are other instances
where men have been called by the people to
accept nominations, but those mentioned are
sufficient to show that conventions have not
always chosen from self made candidates.
If candidates and delegates heed the advice
given above there will be no difficulty in Sc
lecting winning ticket.