The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-03-07
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM
MIR. POE.

The following is an editorial from
the Baltimore SIM of Wednesday; and
deserves attentions:
The letter published in The Sun
yesterday from Nj. John Prentiss Poe
on the keeping of Democratic pledges
is in the highest degree significant, as
coming from a Democrat who has
always been, so to speak, of the strict
est sect. There is nobody who can
question Mr.. Poe's loyalty to the
Democratic organization. He has, in
his own language, always stood by it
il every vicissitude"-in good rep, t =
and in bad repute, in fair weather and
in foul-and the warning in yesterdays
Sun, therefore, comes from one who
has earned the right to speak with
authority. Those Democrats who are
inclined to wave aside the criticisms
of opponents and Independents as un
worthy of consideration should read
carefully what Mr.. Poe has to say With
regard to Democratic obligations and
as to the result which may follow the
failure of the Democratic majority in
the Legislature to redeem the party
pledges. In earnestly endorsing The
Suns editorial Of last Saturday on this
subject Mr.. Poe: after referring to tie
rebukes sustained by the party in re-
cent years because of its failure to
keep its promises, and to "the largely
reduced majority" Ivy which it was
sustained in 1861, warns those who,
like himself, belong to the old guard of
the Democratic party that "we cannot
expect renewal of this generous trust
unless We keep our word fairly and
fully. 1t is said that it is the last
straw that breaks tie camel's back,
and it is easily possible to strain the
loyalty Of the most stalwart until it
cracks" Abiding to the pledge to
pass primary election law be says:
ut is plain to me that if we break this
pledge altogether we might as we'll
spare ourselves the trouble of nomi-
mating ticket in Baltimore city IN
1908. Men who have never yet fall
tered will desert US then. Pens that
have never yet failed to give us their
best service will turn against us then
all their destructive fire. Voices never
before silent in past campaigns will
no: only not be heard then on our side,
but will most probably be outspoken
against us. Excuses for broken party
pledges which once passed current will
not then be accepted. Beaten then,
when will We deserve TO be again for
given or again trustcd?''
While the Democratic platform did
not expressly promise Corrupt Prac-
tices bill Mr.. Poe declares that it sis
so completely on the line of the re-
forms enacted in our election law at
the extra session of 1901 that we ought
not to hesitate to go even beyond the
letter of our pledges" and SO thorough
ly is he impressed with the necessity
of aetion in this direction that he is
willing to accept even the Reform
League bill, distastcful as anything
coming from that source must neces-
sarily be to stalwart Democrats like
Mr.. Poe. After urging also the re-
demption of the pledge for the appoint
ment of non-partisan commission to
investigate the condition of the public
schools Mr. Poe adds: "In sending YOU
this brief communication do not mean
to criticise or censure, much less to
presume to dictate. But | feel so
deeply that we have reached crisis
in our political situation, and that our
future depends so absolutely upon the
way we meet it, that trust | may be
excused for this outspoken utterance
We should stand to our platform
pledges at all hazards
These are plain words from a Demo
cratic veteran who has never split
ticket or failed to rally round the flag