Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-09-26
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

O6lIAV Vlu1IlV ! kaBAA VllIIA'
Administration of Governor
Smith Heartily Endorsed
Legislation for Good Roads
if the Democratic Candi
dates are Elected.
The representatives OF the Democratic
party of Maryland. in State convention
assembled, heartily commend the ad
ministration of Gov. John Walter
Smith.
He has diligently and faithfully dis
charged the many and varied duties Of
his Office and fully made good his as
surances to the people that under hi!
administration as Governor the laws
would be vigorously enforced, the pub
lie revenues carefully guarded, ant
peace and good order resoluteIy main
tanned.
The efficient and successful manage
ment of the affairs of the State in Dem
ocratic hands for the last four years
justly entities US to claim a continue
ton of the confidence and support oil
the people.
The good government which we are
now enjoying under Democratic admin.
istration cannot possibly be made better
by the Republican party; but. on the
contrary, dependent for it's existence az
that party IN this State is upon it's solid
negro vote, it is manifest that the de-
feat of our ticket at the coming election
will bring back upon us the evils and
dangers from which our triumph in
1899 so fortunately delivered us.
We believe that the political destinies
of Maryland should be shaped and con.
trolled by the white people of the State,
and while we disclaim any purpose to
do any injustice whatever to oul
colored population we declare without
reserve our resolute purpose to preserve
in every conservative and constitutional
way the political ascendancy of our
race.
The continuance in power of the
Democratic party in this State means:
First-The continued rigid enforce.
ment of the laws which have insured
safety to person and protection to proper.
ty.
Second-Continued economy in the
expenditure of the peoples money, but
without parsimony, and progress with.
out extravaganza.
Third-It is a guarantee of the early
extinguishment of the State debt and a
speedy reduction in taxation.
Fourth-It will result in such amend.
ments to our present excellent election
law, which has done so much to lessen
the evils of bribery, to assure the
secrecy Of the ballot aud to promote
intelligent voting, as experience has
shown may be necessary to preserve the
purity of our. elections, without which
good government is impossible.
Fifth-The success of our party
means that the public schools of the
State will be further fostered. expanded
and improved, so that opportunity shall
be given to every child to obtain fair
education.
Sixth-Maryland. among the first of
the States in the Union to recognize
that the welfare of all the people large.
ly depends upon the improvement of
public highways, created facilities for
cheap transportation. That policy re.
suited in greatly increasing our prospect
ty and gave to the city of Baltimore
an opportunity to share in the com.
merce of the country. The time has
now arrived when we must return, to
some extent, to the former policy of
the highways. Good roads
will cheaper the cost of the transporta.
ton of Maryland's products and will
add greatly to the value of property
and to the comfort of all the people of
the State. Our success will assure legis
lation to this end.
Seventh-The products of the Chesa
peake bay and it's tributaries have fur.
nished remunerative employment for
of our citizens. Their right,
their opportunity, to pursue their voca-
lions must be guaranteed, and it is alike
the duty and the interest of the State to
foster and increase the supply of the
natural products of our great inland
sea.
Eighth-The Democratic party has
shown by example that public improve
ments in the State and in the city of
Baltimore can be made with economy
aud without suspicion or faint of
tobbery. We propose to continue that
policy, so that Baltimore city shall have
the opportunity to construct it's system
Of sewerage and the improvement of its
under such restrictions as will
insure strict economy by business
methods absolutely divorced from party
advantage.
Ninth-The Primary Election law,
passed by Democratic Legislature and
signed by Democratic Governor, has
produced good results, and we are of
opinion that its provisions, with such
notifications as local circumstances
may demand, should be extended to the
whole State.
Tenth-The election of Democratic
majority in both branches of the Gen.
eral Assembly will strengthen the
hands of Democratic Governor and
contribute greatly toward the main
tenance of good government in the
State. 1t will also make certain the
election to the United States Senate of
a man who will truly represent the
essential principles which the Democra-
tic party has advocated from jefferson s
time to our own, and who would scorn
to malign and attack the white people
of the South in their efforts to properly
solve the great questions resulting
from the enfranchisement of the
negroes.
H. -