The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-01-03
Change in Party Management.

Some letters have appeared in the Baltimore
San recently, calling for change IN the
management of the Democratic party. The
writers express deep solcitude for the welfare
of the party and its success. None, however,
designate the errors of management, or who
should retire. All deal in generalihes, and
usually close by proposing some one for Gov
ernor or United States Senator.
The ADVOCATE has discovered no short
comings in the State Central Committee. We
have personal knowledge of the management
of the campaigns of 1897, 1899 and 1901. In
these Chairman Vandiver and his assistants
worked with zeal, energy and intelligence, and
left nothing undone to secure success that
was proper and right. Mr.. Vandiver had IN
those campaigns the advice of Democrats OF
good Judgment and prominence, and took
heed of all that was valuable.
The successful management Of a State cam
paien requires wide acquaintance among
Democratic workers throughout the State; a
knowledge of situations and conditions IN
every county; and an immense amount of cor
must be a man of good judgment, quick to
perceiYe and prompt to act, and ever ready
to listen to suggestions. He finds d1ihcult
problems facing him often, when the task OF
harmonizing factions is to be undertaken, and
his work extends most of the year and is ex-
acting and arduous for three or four months.
He must be man in whom campaign con-
tributors have confidence. Campaign funds
are largely contributed by business men, and
the Chairman must not only have large per-
sonal acquaintance among them, but must
possess their confidence.
We have no knowledge Of Mr.. Vaudiver's
desires as to the craftsmanship of the State
Central Observation-Disclosures he is tired of
the work or not Surely he would not like
to retire because of occasional criticisms from
people who, most probably, know nothing of
his work. Nor should he pay any attention
to them. He can rest assured that the party
generally appreciates his services, given as
they are freely and without compensation.
Those few people who write in favor of a
change of management have not probably
thought of the proper person or persons to
take charge. New and competent people can
be found, but we presume that it will be diff
cult to find a man for Chairman who will be
willing to give attention to politics the year
through, and do constant work for three or
four months. The place is one of honor and
influence, but the Chairman who does his duty
pays we'll for it in days and nights of vigil
and work
Chairman of county committees, Demo
cratic and Republican, who give time, labor
and money in the conduct of campaigns meet
with criticism. Their good and successful
work is often forgotten, when some individual
does not reach his ambition in securing NOM
ination or an appointment. These usually
censure the Chairman for their failure, and
then charged msmanagement. When criti-
cism of State or county chairmen is heard,
before their censure is taken as facts, people
should look about to see if some personal
grievance is not at the bottom of the criticism.
This has been the case in Carroll, and we
believe it is true everywhere.