The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-10-24
DEMOCRATIC DAY
LARGE MEETINGS
AT
Manchester and Westminster.
ABLE SPEECHES by WAKEFIELD,
ATKINSON, BRYAN, RAYNER
AND OTHERS.
Democrats Not Dismayed By Rain

Democrats Not Dismayed By Rain.
Last Saturday, October II, was Democratic
day IN Carroll. Meetings were announced for
Manchester in the afternoon and Westminster
at night, and the State candidates and others
were announced TO address the meetings.
Darkening clouds and driving rain were
the weather conditions, but the Democrats of
the Gibraltar of Democracy gathered to the
number of 500 or more at Manchester. The
meeting was held at Odd Fellows Hall, and
was called to order by John R. Strevig, of
the County Central Committee, and Jacob A.
Fredericks presided. The hall could not hold
all the people, but those who could gain adj
mlttance were attentive and enthusiastic
Mr.. Fredericks made some remarks, and
speeches were made by Guy w. Steele, the
next States Attorney for Carroll, Hon. Ed
WIN Warheld, the next Governor, and Dr.
Gordon L. Atkinson, the next Com ptroller of
the Treasurer.
AT WESTMINSTER.
Odd Fellows Hall. Westminster, was
crowded at night, notwithstanding the down
pour of rain, and gracing the assembly were a
number of ladies, including Mrs. Warfeld,
the wife of the next Governor, who came up
from Baltimore to join her husband and drive
home with him on Sunday.
Charles E. Fink, Chairman of the County
Central Committee, called the meeting TO
order, and named Comptroller j. w. Herring
for Chairman. On the stage were Rev. VIM.
A. Grouse, Hon. Frank I. Shaw, d. N. Hen
ming, DR.. L. j. Coonan, Senator Baesman,
DR.. Joseph L. Herring, John J. Reese, John
E. Eckenrode, c. Robert Miller and the
Speakers.
Mr.. Fink said that he was glad to see so
many of the sturdy yeomanry of Democracy
present, and their presence upon such an in
clement evening showed an interest presaging
victory Mr.. Warfeld, he said, was nominal
ed for Governor by the rank and file of the
party before the State convention was held
and that the convention merely registered of
fcially the party's will.
THE STATES FINANCES
In taking the chair Comptroller Herring
spoke of the financial record of the Demo
cratic party. He said
| wish, my fellow citizens, to invite your at
tention to the condition of the finances of the
State. This is a department of the State gov.
eminent in which every taxpayer is directly
show you, in brief and general way, what has
been accomplished by the Democratic party,
as touching the States finances. since it came
into power in 1867, covering a period of thir
ty-six years, during all of which time it was
in control of the State government, except
for the period of four years. | think you will
agree with me, as we proceed with this exam
nation, that the record it has made, is one of
which any State or any party may feel justly
proud.
The net debt of the State in 1867, as shown
by the COmptroller's report, was S7,Gl4,
Abb, and the State tax rate at that time was
H. al 1xlt
has been reduced more than S. 00O, 900, leav
ing the net debt of the State at the present
time about ST. GOO, 900, with the State tax rate
also reduced from 20 cents to II cents on the
$780, At the same time that this reduction
was steadily going on, large expenditures
were made for the erection and equipment of
the States reformatory and other institutions,
and "A liberal and fostering hand was given to
the charitable and educational interests of the
State; the result showing that for the thirty
two out of the thirty-six years i'll which The
State was under Democratic control, prudence
and efficiency marked the management of the
States financial affairs.
But | want, particularly, to call your atten
ton to the operations of the Treasury during
the present Democratic administration. We |
have erected large and commodious public
buildings at Annapolis, buildings which are
absolutely necessary for the proper conduct Of
the States business. These buildings embrace
a large addition to the present State House.
A new State building which will accommodate
the Court of Appeals and the State Library,
and will also contain offices for the Comptrol
Ter, the State Treasurer, the Tax Commits
sioner, the Land Commissioner, and the Oys
Ter Navy. A large heating plant is also one
of the buildings recently erected. This is To-
Gated at distance from the other buildings
and will furnish heat for all the buildings be-
longing to the State, including the Executive
Mansion, reducing by this method to the min
imum the fire risk and the fire rate upon all
this valuable property of the State. We have
also completed and equipped the Maryland
Penitentiary; have added to and equipped the
Springfield State Hospital for the Insane;
have completed the Fifth Regiment Armory;
have provided for a large and necessary
wing for the Maryland House of Correction,
besides improving aud erecting other build
ings. all of which belong to the State, and are
under its control, at an aggregate cost of
about 81, 10000.
When the present administration came into
power in January, 1900, debt of $50, 900 eX-
listed upon the oyster navy. This has been
paid off, and on the LIST of July, 1903, a sur
plus of more than $4,000 was to the credit of
that account
present oyster law, passed by the legislature
of that year. And whatever may be said in
regard to the possible amendments to the law,
it has, without working hardship to any one.
made the Oyster Navy float itself, instead of
calling upon the general treasury for help.
The State tax rate in 1900 was ia cents on
the 500. This has been reduced to II cents
on the 500. which means that about $170,-
600 formerly collected in State taxes has been
left in the pockets of the taxpayers of the
State. The bonds of the State which were
issued under the Acts of 1900 and 1902,
amounting to 81, 100000 were all taken into
the sinking funds of the State together with
S267, 900 of other securities purchased for the
same accounts. making an aggregate OF about
81, 1867 900 carried to the sinking funds during
the present administration.
And Notwithstanding the expenditure for
public buildings and which has added that
much to the substantial and valuable property
of the State, and the reduction in The tax rate
the net debt of the State has been reduced
since January l, 1900. to the extent Of about
$274. 900, leaving convertible assets in the
treasury at the present time sufficient to H.
quidate the entire debt of the State.
| desire, i'll connection with this latter
statement to call your attention to the fact,
that the State holds among its assets at par,
a claim of $1,500,OO0 against the Northern
Central Railroad Company, covered by mort
gage and carrying an annuity of 500, 600
During the present administration the rail,
road company stopped its quarterly payments
of interest on this debt and claimed the right
10 extinguish it by the payment of the princi-
pal. The State successfully resisted this con
tention and secured the distinct decision of
the court, that the payment of 500, 200 year
upon this claim is perpetual annuity, and it
is now carrying the interest upon 100000
of our State bonds.
1t also holds, at par, $500 shares $780,
000) of the stock of the Washington Branch
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
being one third of the entire issue of the stock
on that valuable piece of railroad property,
there being no bonded debt upon the road.
In concluding this brief resume of the
States financial condition, and the large part
which the Democratic party has had to do