Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-09-27
THE CAMPAIGN OPENS.

The speeches OF Judge Crotners anu Dir'
Gather accepting their respective nomina'
tions for Governor Of Maryland mark the
formal opening Of the campaign Of 1907.
Elsewhere in our columns we give the full
text of Judge Crothers' speech, and 1t is
therefore unnecessary to make an extended
resume of 1t here. Those who received the
action of the Democratic convention with
,pproYs. wi not be disappointed In the
3s.siagd ass unadorned phrases in which
Tpage Cro. amplihes and emphasizes
his pss.v'a B torn, nor In the decisive
tones 10 he pledges himself to meet
the duties Vi .ue office Of Governor and to
promote the interests and welfare OF the
people of the State. The occasion required
a straightforward statement, which the be-
dizenments OF rhetoric would have weaken
en-, and the composition Of his speech fur
nishes striking evidence Of his strong COM
mon sense and Of his fine appreciation Of
the practical mind Of the masses, to which
he and his party are appealing. He showed
throughout ample knowledge OF the ques'
tions of the day, firm grasp OF the under
lying principles which must control in leg
islation and in the administration OF public
affairs, and clearly established his right to
claim the confidence Of the people In his
ability to meet the responsibilities OF the
Governorship and in his integrity and his
faithfulness in the performance OF his duties.
With Mr.. Gather the situation was some
what different. His is an attacking party,
of which he, himself, is the chief weapon,
and fanfare was necessary part Of the
performance. He performed his part as
well as 1t could have been done, and there
was no awkwardness about it; but 1t was
a fanfare ell the same. The weakness oil
the speech is to be found in Its covert claim
that the Republican administration OF State
affairs was in all respects commendable.
Unfortunately for this contention, the peo.
pie Of Maryland have passed judgment upon
that question. There has seldom been a
more pronounced revolution Of sentiment
than that which took place in Maryland
between 1895 and 1899, when the Lowndes
majority of 1927 was reversed and Smith
was elected by majority of 1913. 1t was
an unmistakable condemnation Of Republi-
can rule, and the expression of we'll
grounded apprehensions of the tendencies OF
the Republican party and Of the men who
were rapidly gaining control Of it. And
the significant fact In the case is that the
men who stayed at home in 1895 through
indifference and the quiet, thoughtful men
who, for the most part, are proof against the
Establishments of the politicians, saw the
trend of events, and returned to their old
allegiance and saved the day. Further
more, our people will not take kindly to
Mr.. Gathers proposition to return to en-
blem voting. Ten years have recorded
some advance along the lines OF intelligent
suffrage, and have demonstrated that the
negro has not advanced in political intel
ligence, at least, nor developed superior
industry or growing sense of social OF
civic responsibility. Even within the Re.
publican party he Is not regarded as a factor
except as voting automaton. he was not
called into the conference which controlled
the action of the late Republican convention
from which Mr.. Gather emerged as the
standard bearer Of his party. He will moi
be consulted in the matter of appointment
to Offices or in shaping the policies of the
administration If Mr. Gather is elected
Governor. Why, then, should he be re,
garded as qualified TO pass upon the large
and enduring interests Of the Common.
wealth. Mr.. Gather may find an answer
which meets his own approval and the ex.
igencies of his camgaign: it will be diff.
cult task for him to provide one which will
satisfy the people of Maryland.
We cannot follow Mr.. Gather through
all the headings Of his speech. In many Of
them he follows the lines marked out by his
opponent, and 30 removes some interesting
topics from the domain Of controversy.
Some of his suggestions are good, as was to
be expected from man Of studious habits