Democratic messenger., 1903-10-31
GOVERNOR SMITHS
GREAT SPEECH !
Ably eves the Good Work of The Democratic administration
Appeals to oaQ White Men to Support the Democratic
Ticket. State and County.

political wind and sought to foretell po-
htical results, because too often political
considerations Influenced appointments
and promotions. The Commissioners
made the teachers and theteachers tried
to make the Commissioners.
During the present administration
some provision has been made for the
maintenance and relief of superaunua-
ted teachers. those who have given the
best years of their lives to teaching.
Manual training has been fostered
and encouraged and extended.
Changes in line with progressive ideas
have been inaugurated in the curricu-
lum of the State Normal School.
It became my duty to appoint the
members of the State Board of Educa.
tion. I selected the best men I could
find, regardless of politics, who could be
induced to accept the positions, and as
it happens two of these gentlemen are
adherents of the republican party.
The Legislature of 1900, realizing the
troubles with the public school system
as it had been administered and seeking
to eliminate them in future, especially
the dangers which beset the county
school boards, and free them from
officers from the fear of losing position
or reward for political reasons, passed
an ct,re.organizing the county school
boards, and provided that all of the
members of the said boards shall not be
of the same political party, but that the
minority political party shall have a
representation equivalent to one third
part of the whole number.
Oh l>& 4. =
and has resulted in feeling of security
on the part of the teachers that politics
can play no part in sitting merit, and
that they will retain their positions un.
less removed for cause.
But Mr.. Williams, you have no part
nor lot nor credit in bringing about thi 8
salutary reform, which has been fruit
full of so much good, because when the
bill came up in the Senate of Maryland
you were member of that body and
you voted against it.
There is no reason why any democrat
should not vote for every nominee on
our State and County Ticket.
Right here in our own county we
have nominated good, honorable men,
gentlemen of capacity, sterling demo-
Gratis everv one, and men of acknowl-
edged ability and fitness for the offices
for which they ask the support of the
people of this county.
DIR. Atkinson, although he is a
Somerset County man by adoption, is by
birth a son of Worcester County. We
still claim him, and for one am proud
to do so. He is our candidate for
Comptroller, and nowhere in the State
could man of higher character, greater
personal integrity, or man who will
devote himself more diligently to the
discharge of the difficult duties of that
office be found. He is wise, conserva-
tive and just.
I have know Mr.. Bryan, our candi-
date for Attorney General, number of
years. He is universally recognized as
among the foremost in the profession
amongst lawyers, and his learning and
ability have never been questioned.
And now I want to speak to you of
Mr.. Warfield. the next Governor of
Maryland.
Four years ago he and I were friendly
rivals for the nomination for the Cover
norship; and whilst we were friends we
were nevertheless rivals, and I am
frank to confess put up the best fight
in the primary elections for the nomina-
tion that I was capable of. 1t was an
earnest fight. an active fight, but it left
no trace of bitterness behind.
learned then that no man can dis
count Mr.. Warfield's ability as fighter
any more than anyone can doubt his
ability as a business man or his devotion
to his party. When the result of the
primaries was known there was no
doubt, no hesitation about Mr.. War
field and his position toward myself
and toward the ticket. A small man
would have sulked, prejudiced man
would have said he was not defeated
fairly, weak man would have whim-
pered. Not so Mr. War6eld. He is
made of sterner stuff and his democracy
is of the best quality. He was true to
himself, true to his party and proved
himself great man, magnanimous
rival. and true friend, by putting
aside any feeling of Disappointment and
placed ME in nomination in a hearty,
cordial speech.
No more graceful thing could have
been done. Nothing that could have
been done would have so discouraged
the enemy and showed so conclusively
to all the people of the State that we
were every one animated by single
purpose, paramount in its Importance
to all other aims. and that we were
united i'll our efforts to wrest the State
from the horrors of republicanism.
From that day democratic success
was assured in Maryland.-I am proud