The Democratic advocate., 1907-08-23
The Men Behind the Republican Plat
form and Candidates.
From the Baltimore Sun August

The Republican State Convention gave an
excellent illustration yesterday of the ease and
celebrity with which State ticket may be
nominated when party leaders select the
nominees and delegates unhesitatingly ratify
the choice of the managers. Representatives
Mudd and Jackson, who dominated the con.
vention, have cause to congratulate themselves
upon the Difference which the delegates &C.
corded to their judgment. 1t was fattering in
the extreme and in striking contrast to the
spirit of individualism and independence
which pervaded the Democratic convention
last week. The delegates to the Democratic
convention smashed more than one slate be.
fore they made nomination. They insisted
upon searching examination into the quail
fcations and availability of the several excel
lent gentlemen whose claims to the nomina.
ton were presented to them. They exercised
their own judgment and reached their own
conclusions independently of dictation or ad.
vance selections by their leaders. Our Re-
publican friends have had the guidance Of
Representatives Mudd and jackson, who
thoughtfully mapped out the work of the con-
ventioH and saved the delegates the labor and
worry of making their own choice. Thus their
convention did its work without friction and
delay, just as a well oiled and properly ad
justed mechanism turns with smoothness and
precision.
The convention nominated Mr.. George r.
Gather, of Baltimore, for Governor. MIR.
Gather is a man of many fine qualities. In
Baltimore he is held in high esteem and
throughout the State he is recognized as an
earnest, able man, one of the type OF men
whose Identification with the Republican
party in Maryland gives it standing which
it would not possess ifit were judged by the
self. appointed leaders in control of that party.
But unless all signs fail, the people of Mary
land are no longer content to support party
because one man on the ticket may be IN.
Objectionable. Capabiiity and integrity should
be- essential qualities, of course, in every as.
pirant for public Office But there is another
and equally important consideration; namely,
what are the influences behind the candidates.
of aspirants? What are the influences which
will surround them if they should be elected
to Office?
and Republican parties presenting for the suf-
frages of the voters of Maryland men of the
type of Judge Crothers and Mr.. Gather, the
issue will turn largely upon the question OF
IL ~, oh nf 40
candidates for Governor and the environment
of the man who will be elected Governor.
Men of all parties and of no party, independ
ents as we'll as partisans, will analyze the stu.
alton not only as it is today, but as it will be
when a new State administration is installed.
1t is time honored maxim that stream can
rise no higher than its source. The Republ.
can convention nominated Mr.. Gather and
the candidates for the other State offices. But
who shaped the course of the convention
Who determined its action? This is vital
issue. If Representative Mudd and Repre-.
sentative Jackson controlled the convention,
as appearances and developments clearly in,
dicate, then the people will assume, rightly or
these leaders will be the dominant influence
with the Republican administration if the
Republican party should triumph at the polls
next November. One of the most important
questions, therefore, for the consideration of
voters is whether the interests of Maryland
will be served best by ticket which, if elect.
ed, Representatives Mudd and ia ckson were
chiefly instrumental in putting into power.
Mr.. Gather enjoys the respect of the people
ofBaltimore, irrespective ofparty, He is good;
citizen. He has served the people acceptably
in public Office Mr.. Mudd and Mr.. Jackson
have manifested no little sagacity IN securing
his nomination for Governor. But this is an
old device in Maryland politics. In other
days the late Colonel Marshall characterized
such tactics, when employed by politicians Of
another party-practical politicians of the
school of Representatives. Mudd and Jackson
as putting ''the clean collar ON the soiled
shirt" With all respect for Mr.. Gather, it
may be said that the Republican leaders who
are responsible for his nomination are not
above using his name for the purpose of di.
lverting public attention from the soiled politi.
cal garments of their party. Messrs. Mudd
and jackson are not known to the people of
Maryland. as political purists. No public man,
although of spotless integrity personally and
politically, can be assoriated, intimately in
party way with them or be under political
obligations to them without raising doubt as
to the character of the influence which they
will exert.
The Republican platform sounds we'll, with
its declaration against debauching the elector.
ate. But as with the nominees, so also with
the platform; the chief consideration is
the source from which these declarations
emanate. Who are the men under the plat.
form and behind it? One of the political
partners who nominated Mr.. Gather and sub.
scribes, of course, to the partys formal decla.
ration of principles, and indorses opposition
to the purchase of votes, boasted openly not
long ago of the success with which he won the
Eastern shore from the Democrats. Naturally
the methods by which he overcame Demo.
cratic opposition will be an issue in the cam.
paign and he will be pressed to explain how
he achieved his victory. That his explanation
will add strength to the platform declaration
in favor of a corrupt practices act is open to
question. And as the stream can rise no
higher than its source, the people of Maryland
may even feel skeptical whether declaration
from this quarter can be genuine. Whether
or not this is case of real reform-whether
the two most 'practical" Republican poll
ticians in Maryland are sincere or only posing
in their declaration for pure elections-the
people of Maryland should see to it that they
live up to that declaration. 1t may be as
sumed, in the light of very impressive state.
ments made by Governor Warfeld, that he
will use the whole power of the State to guard
the ballot box from corrupt influence from any
and every quarter.
The plank on primary election law for
the whole State is worse than disappoint-
ment 1t is weak and insincere piece of