The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-12-26
Fitness and Calibre.



BALTIMORE. Nd, Dec. %, 1908.
1t stands to reason when man has shown
especial fitness and skill for any particular
line of work, vocation or avocation) on
small scale, that other things being equal, he
will rise to the occasion when the scale in.
creases. 1t also stands to reason that man
who has not done so we'll in his smaller sphere,
cannot be expected to develop any symptoms
of greatness when he gets to the larger field Of
action, if indeed, by any injustice on fortunes
part, he ever gets to such larger field.
This is merely to suggest, in spi e of the
':eterna fitness of things" which was made
the theme of recent editorial in Baltimore
paper, in which Governor Smith was belittled
at the expense of the Honorable lsidor Ray.
ner that perhaps the Governor, having proven
himself about half dozen times better
statesman here in Maryland than Mr.. Rayner.
it will not be safe in spite of this Baltimore
paper to imagine that Mr.. Rayner will develop
any alarming symptoms of fitness in Wash
ington.
Diplomacy has been referred to as one of
the Hon. Mr.. Rayner's superlative quaiica-
tons! Has any Marylander seen signs of any
sort of this being one of his traits ? Has this
campaign on which he is now engaged shown
him to be a past grand master at the art of
diplomacy? Has he not rather antagonized
with prodigal recklessness every man in this
State who could have been of the slightest
service to him? Is it not fact that Poe, and
Smith, and jackson, and Miles, and as many
more candidates as there are, want first to
defeat Rayner, then to elect some one else?
Has Mr.. Rayner one single solitary chance of
gaining strength through the withdrawal or
the friendship of any of these men2
jackson wants to be elected. and is making
"A fight for it. Particularly he wants to beat
Rayner, however, and will do everything in
his power to elect Smith if he finds that he
cannot be the senator himself. Smith feels
the same way, favoring Jackson in preference
to Rayner. Miles is in precisely the same
condition. Talbot cannot say enough uncom
pimentary things about Rayner Poe withered
him with as beautiful a specimen of sarcasm
as one often sees, and it he develops any
strength it will go TO Smith in preference to
Rayuer. his fellow Baltimorean. Rasin favors
Jackson, but he infinitely prefers Gov. Smith
to Rayner. If Senator German has any pref.
erence or feeling for Mr.. Rayner, it has not
been made manifest. The city delegates, even
the ones who are going to stick to Rayner
until after the first ballot, are not friendly to
him, and sheer at him openly on all occasions.
1t is doubtful if there has ever been more
open hostility to any Democratic candidate.
He hasn't single sincere friend who can be
of any service to him, And yet this Fitness
editorial lauds Rayner on his skill as diplo-
mat
Itspeaks of other qualifications: If Mr.. Ray
ner's intellect is well trained-this Baltimore
paper infers that it is-it has nevertheless shown
signs of being unbalanced during the past two
months. If he has thorough knowledge of
political history, he has shown lamentable
ignorance of the rules for applying it. If his
knowledge of international law and his ability
to comprehend and discuss abstruse problems
are great, they have never helped him to any
great extent either as statesman or as law
yer, since his great cases have gone against
him more often than in his favor. But--snd
here Justice must be done---his knowledge OF
economics ought to be great. He has parted
with $1,000 here of late, and expects to be,
paid senatorship for it, while the other can
ddates have been so ignorant of these eco
much each, in their efforts for the same thing.
Yes, Mr.. Rayner's economics are frst-class,
and on this ground at least, he is fit candi'
date, if this is test of fitness.
The editorial goes further and wakes elo-
quent on ''Mr. Rayner of Maryland on com.
mittees of national importance, and speaks OF
how all eyes will rivet themselves on ''this
illustrious Maryander" when he rises to
speak. Even this paper in its three column
puff on Rayner (se1t from washington,
praising his congressional career) remained
as silent as a tomb with regard to his commit
tee work while in Congress How does this
paper know that he will be such light on
senatorial committees? IF he succeeded IN
all his congressional service in getting on any
committees, why was his organ so quiet about
it? Was his work there not worthy of notice,
even in this, his own paper? How does this
great Baltimore journal know that he will
even be put on senatorial committees? Does
this paper know of a certainty that it will hear
of ''Mr. Rayner of Maryland" in conference
with foreign "big- wigs on International
questions?
All this keenness of perception which in
duces such an editorial is marvellous, just as
is the perception which points out with unwa'
vering hand that: Gall the people favor
Rayner." The country papers, thirty in mum, !.
Der, favor Governor Smith and only ten OF
them favor Rayner. These papers in that
they represent with almost unerring accuracy
the sentiment of the people in whose interests
they are published are like feathers In the
wind. And the state press chronicles any
thing but an overwhelming sentiment for Ray
ner. In Baltimore. even his pledged dele;
gates do not favor him. Now where does all
this sentiment come in?
In Anne Arundel county, almost every pa.