Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-10-15

State took place Monday night in Balti-
timore at the Lyric. and not for many
campaigns has the Democracy presented
the solid and unbroken front there seen.
Probably there has never before in
Maryland been gathered together on one
stage as distinguished group of nation
al Democrats as faced those cheering
thousands Monday night
There were the two octogenarians-
Hon. Henry G. Davis, the candidate for
Vice-President of the United States, and
ex-Gov. William Pinkney Whyte, the
Grand Old Man" of Maryland.
The ovation accorded Hon. David Ben.
nett Hill, that great New York chieftain
whose famous phrase, Il am Demo-
crat," still lives in the memories of peo-
pie all over the United S tates, and who
has only recently announced his pro-
spective retirement from politics after
40 years of leadership. was directed by
Senator German, to whom was also given
a demonstration of an unusual kind
Hon. John w. Daniel. the veteran
Senator from Virginia. whose eloquence
has before enthused NJ ,ryland crowd,
was greeted with cheers that it seemed
would never subside.
Ringing and eloqeuent speeches were
made and the Democratic doctrines
were set forth with power and force
that again and again carried the audi
ence fairly off its feat, land brought ever
body off his seat with cheer.
The principal speech of the evening
was really made by Mr. Hill, and the
interest taken in the personality of the
New York leader, who has. as he said'
never spoken in this State. was intense.
He was introduced by Senator Gorman
as n man who "revels in political con-
tests. and who is always in the thick of
the fight" Without being eloquent.
there was an earnestness and II force
about the words of the New Yorker, and
an amount of meat in his sentences that
riveted attention upon him and drove
his arguments home with the power of
sledge hammer. One of the fea: ures
of his address was his stinging criticism
of the employment by Roosevelt of Cor
telyou. former member of his cabinet,
whose duties had given him access to
the secrets of great corporations. as his
collector of campaign contributions
from these same corporations.
In this connection. Mr.. Hill said
"An unusual feature characterizes
the present national campaign. The
acting President of the United States,
who is the candidate of the Republican
party for the Presidency. is conducting
the campaign in his own behalf through
his late private secretary and recent
Cabinet officer. Mr.. Cortelyou was
selected for that purpose by Mr..
Roosevelt himself and designated as a
mere matter of form by the National
Committee through the powerful in
fiuence and pressure of the National
Administration.
"He was not even a member of the
committee itself. and was not repre-
sentative of any State or Territory. But
he was the confidential man of the
President-one who knows his purposes
and schemes-who knows to what des-
perate straits he can resort in cam
paign with the certain approval of his
chief-one whom Mr.. Roosevelt can
always direct and trust as though he
himself was personally at the head of
the committee.
"When Congress created Depart
ment of Commerce, with Bureau of
Corporations, empowered to investigate
the organization and management of
corporations engaged in interstate
commerce., Mr.. Cortelyou was trans
ferred from the private secretaryship to
the head of that department., where by
reason of the vast powers of inquisition
conferred he could ascertain the work
ings and secrets of such corporations
aud report the same to the President
from time 10 time,' as he should re-
quire. II was a position of great power
and responsibiiity-for good or evil.
"Mr. Roosevelt understood that fact
and So did the corporations interested.
Laughter and cheers.
VALUABLE IMPORTATION "
"Mr Roosevelt was to be IA candid nr
for the Presid ncy and thi> fact die ut d
the selection of the private secretary for
that office, where much valuable in
formation might be acquired. which. i'll
obvious ways. could be- utiliz d in the
ensuing campaign to the political id-
vantage of the p,rty III power. Then
after his own nomination he insisted
that NJ COr;elyou-who in the mean
time had acquired all the necessary in
formation concerning tn" secrets of the
corporations that was desirable, ,ani had
established intimate relations with
their officers-sh should be made chairman
of the National Committee. to espa -iilly