The Democratic advocate., 1907-08-16
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST is, 1907
Democratic Platform.

fellow citizens plain statement of the rea
sons upon which we confidently ask from
them continuance of our political control
of the State.
tSince the adoption Of our existing con-
stitution in 1887 our party, representing
the great majority of our white people,
has been successful in every general State
election except that of 1895.
"In 1899 we recovered our temporarily
lost supremacy, and in 1903 we retained
it by an increased and gratifying popular
majority.
"Upon review of the management OF
our State affairs during the last eight
wears under the successive administrations
of Gov. John Walter Smith and Governor
Edwin Warfeld we perceive no reason for
withdrawal by the people of their gener-
GUS and triumphant support, but, on the
contrary, every reason for such support in
more abundant measure.
"Peace and tranquility prevail every
where.
''The alarming turbulence and disorder
among our colored population, so painfully
and suggestively exhibited under the Re-
publican administration from 1896 to 1900,
have been checked.
"The tax rate has been largely reduced
without impairing the vigor and efficiency
of our State administration.
"Our public schools, under liberal pro-
vision, are more and more meeting public
expectation.
"Our public institutions Of every sort
are honestly and admirably managed.
"Our finances are in healthy and pros
porous condition and receive from our
treasury officers skillful, intelligent and
faithful administration.
"Our public debt is practically extin
guished.
"The laws are justly and impartially
enforced and the blessings Of good State
governments are fully and freely enjoyed
by our people.
''Under these gratifying conditions we
have right to feel that the State ticke;
which this convention will put into the
field will be elected WITHOUT serious diff
Guilty, and that we shall have a good DEM
ocratic majority in the Senate and House
of Delegates, thus insuring Democrats as
United States Senators for both the short
and long terms and Democratic State
Treasurer.
"Our Democratic record during these
eight years ought to be enough of itself TO
entitle our candidates to the vote Of every
Maryland Democrat, and with such vote
duly cast for them our party $ renewed
lease of political power is undoubtedly as
snred.
"But our appeal to the people to sup
port our ticket rests also on additional
grounds.
"Fully realizing the necessity of putting
stop to the intolerable evils of bribery
and corruption in our elections, we favor
the passage Of a corrupt practices act that
shall apply to primary and general cleo
tions, and which will 60 to the very root
of this frightful menace to our free insti-
tutions and by adequate provisions and
penalties which elsewhere have proved to
be effective will make the buying of votes
too odious and dangerous to be hereafter
attempted.
"Recognizing that the system of nomi-
nations by direct vote has proved satisfac-
tory in the Democratic States of the South,
andrealizing that there is an increased senti-
ment and demand among the Democrats of
Maryland for primary election law which
will insure honest and fair elections and
afford the fullest and freest opportunity to
the people to express their choice in the
selection of candidates, we favor the pas
sage Of a primary election law for the whole
State which shall provide that aspirants
for State Offices shall have the right to SUBJ
init their bandidacy to direct vote of the
people, and that candidates for the United
States Senate may submit their candidates.
to the people of the State at primary
election.
CATER a discussion extending over
many years and resulting in reasonably
thorough understanding of the subject by
the people, the Legislature of 1906, re-
spending to popular demand that could
not longer be resisted, passed carefully
considered oyster culture law. We favor
the fullest opportunity for the putting of
this law into complete practical operation,
and we are opposed to all attempts to an
nul it by repeal or to modify it by amend
ments that will destroy or weaken its eff
cheney.
Bearing in mind, however, that the
object of the law is not only to open barren
bottoms to cultivation with view to their
profitable use by private owners under just
and equitable contract with the State, but
also to ascertain and permanently locate
the natural beds and bars of the State and
to secure to the people their use in the
same manner as heretofore enjoyed by
them, we favor such additional legislation
as may be needed to preserve from private
ownership such natural oyster bars and to
replenish them wherever this can be ac-
complished.
'We believe that it is inexpedient at this
time to call convention to frame new
Constitution for the State.
''Such changes in our present Constitu-
tion as experience has shown to be desira-
BILE can, in our judgment, be better made
by constitutional amendments submitted
by the General Assembly to the people
than by convention called to frame an
entirely new Constitution, and we there
fore appeal to the people to vote against
the proposed call.
"Maryland offers many and great at
fractions to worthy and industrious for
eigners who desire to become American
citizens, and we favor energetic measures
to encourage and promote the introduction
into our State of bodies of immigrants Of |
good character who will actively contribute |
BY their diligence and industry to the i'm
provement and development of our agri-
cultural resources.
"The work of construction and improve
ment of our nublic roads already so well |