Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-11-14
HON. JOHN WALTER SMITH
is A CANDIDATE FOR
u 6. SENATE.


u. S. SENATE.
We are sure the Democracy
of this State feels and appreci-
ates the good work done by
Governor Smith in redeemlng
Maryland from Republican con-
troll. When he accepted the
nomination for Congress in 1898
he overthrow Republican ma
jority in the First Congressional
District of 600, and turned it
into aDemocratic victory, with a
majority of nearly 1900, making
a change in the vote of this dis
trict of nearly 1900. This was
no easy task and could not have
been accomplished by any other
Democrat in the district. He
found confronting him a solid
Republican phalanx. In his
own party were dissensions of
every kind; we had Gold Demo-
Gratis, Silver Democrats, Popu-
lists and Anti-Gormanites, all
pulling in different directions
and swearing vengeance
against each other. He realiz-
ed that he had a herculean task
before him to get these elements
together and bring order out of
chaos and victory out of defeat.
The leaders in every county
recognized that the party in the
First District was making the
fight of it's life, with the chances
all against Col. Smith being
elected. Mr.. Smith is a never
firing worker, a man who be-
lieves in himself and his ability
to do things, and never did this
confidence serve him better
than in that memorable cam
paign
There was trouble all over the
district, and word came from
here and there that Mr.. Smith
was the man to smooth matters
over. He rode night and day,
visiting farm houses in the re-
hottest sections of the District,
and making personal appeals to
the voters. He was on the 90
every hour of the day, and
slept only a few hours each
night during the campaign. He
would no sooner get a Popuiist
in the humor to vote the Demo
cratic ticket in Talbot or Caro-
line than he would learn that
the man had changed his mind
again, and as he had a follow
ing that went whichever way
be did, it kept Col. Smith on a
lively run to keep them straight
until election day. But he did
it, and he returned the Old First
to her Democratic mornings.
Then it was his opportunity to
enter upon an even more hercu-
lean task.
Governor Smith did not de-
sire a seat in Congress. he had
made the fight for the good of
the party, to bring it back once
more to it's own in this District.
Now his desire was to see the
State of Maryland back in the
Democratic column. Governor
Lowndes was in the Executive
chair. His appointees of the
Republican faith filled the State
offices, and most of the counties
had Republican officials. The
Governor had also catered to
the Independent Democrats,
and otherwise made good the
chances for his party to succeed
in the next campaign. The
prospects for Democratic, Sue
cess were not the brightest, and
it took all the courage a man
had to face the difficulties of
overcoming such an apparently
strong combination. Col. Smith
made a contest for the Guber-
material nomination, he was the
unanimous choice of the con-
vention, and again started on a
whirlwind campaign. Old cam
paigners fell by the wayside,
acknowledging that they could
not keep his pace. Again he
not only visited every county
seat in the State but he also
visited the farm houses, mer-
chants, manufacturers, mechan-
les, and went anywhere there
was possibility of securing a
Democratic vote. The result of
this untiring energy and the
confidence the people had in
John Walter Smith, brought
success to the Democratic par
ty. He was elected by 1923
plurality over Governor Lloyd
Lowndes, and his party was
once more entrenched in power
in the State. 1t not only was
done at the sacrifice of consid-
cradle time and energy, but Mr..
Smiths usually robust health
was for a time completely shat
tered, and for several months
after the election his friends
feared for his life.
We know that he appreciates