Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-12-25
Gov. Crothers Discusses State Matters.

expression to his views upon political mat
tiers and party policy He discussed {
number of vital topics and outlined the
course he thinks the Democratic party
should pursue and toward which he pro
poses to bend his energies. He hit ou
straight from the shoulder and indicated
plainly that he does not intend to stay
satisfied with giving his advice, but will
do what he can to have his advice adopted
Following is his discussion:
A BELIEVER In PARTIES.
In my judgment, the coming session
will have before it more vital and impor-
tant legislation than any in recent years
| want the best men possible from counties
and city sent there They should be men
capable of grasping and dealing with the
big questions that will come up. The vo-
tiers should realize the necessity of send
ing only strong, reliable men to Annapolis
next time. | am believer in party organ
ization and in parties. More can be ac-
complished through these agencies than
through any other or by individual effort
am party man and want my party to
place itself squarely back of the reform
measures which the people want, which
the State needs and which the public has
a right to expect. Reform never hurt the
Democratic party. 1t has always helped it.
Let us get away from this idea that
there is danger in giving to the people what
they want. There never was a bigger mis-
take. There could be no worse politics
played than to pull back as the people pull
forward. The thing to do is to make the
party stand for something real and vital.
| live a n
tween men and ask their votes. Give them
some other reason and a good reason.
Make the party appeal to the man who is
not in politics, who wants no Office and has
no political ambition. Make that man feel
that the Democratic party stands for pro-
gress and that it will provide the needed
reforms. that it will play straight with the
people and that it justifies the confidence
placed in it when it is in power. Let us
get away from the apprehension that we
can 60 too far along progressive lines, that
we can give the people too much of what
they want.
The CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT.
Look at the Corrupt Practices act. Be-
fore it was passed there was an element
that pulled back and demurred and only
came in at last when they had to. They
predicted that it would turn the State over
to the Republicans, that it would put the
party in a hole and that it would ruin the
| organization.
will anyone now deny that the Currupt
Practices act has strengthened the Demo-
cratic party2 Even the men who fought it
in our party are to-day its strongest adj
vocates. They are converted at last, and
next session there will be no more difficulty
about getting through the amendments
needed to the law than there would be to
get through resolution to adjourn over
| Sunday. The law is out of the woods now
and it has justified itself Moreover it
has strengthened the party.
| WILL ELIMINATE RACE ISSUE.
81 want to see the Democratic party
stand for some wholesome, clean, sensible
things that will increase the confidence OF
| the people in it and continue it in control
| for many years. So long as this sO-called
race issue exists-and it does exist-Mary-
land will be practically One-party State
and the Democrats will control. We never
had but one Republican Governor here
and, although he was fine, clean man
who frowned upon that sort of thing, his
| administration was so marked by disorder
and crime among the negro population that
the people have not, and will not, FORGE
it. So long as this condition exists the
people will not trust the Republicans a9alI
with the State government, knowing thu
baleful effect upon the colored population
and Maryland is to-day one-party State
But what want is to get the part
away from reliance on this issue. Let II
make the party stand for something
wholesome, clean and good that we ca
via :. i.I-...~ .I.i, IL, ~ as
and it is so clearly the obvious. decen
thing to do that do not believe there wi
be any trouble in getting it done: In
party can do this at the next Legislature
and if we do measure up to public expec
tation if we do give the public what W
ought to give it if we, of our own accord
indorse and stand for clean, fair, progress
sive methods. without waiting until W
are driven into it, there will be no DANCE
of the reins of government passing out o
our hands. We will have great chanc
at the next Legislature, and we must ava
ourselves of it. If we do. we viii piac
our party on rock where it will be practi
cally invulnerable.
~ sneak as a party man. These are m
ideas of what the partys policy should BIZ
They are easy to follow out. They are sim
pie and obvious The doctrine is merel
to give the people what they want an
what they have right to expect play tn
game straight and avoid even the appear
ance of trickery or unfairness.
THE executive and legislative branche
of the State government should cooperate
There should be no clash between then
There will be none if can help it, but
am anxious that the kind of men go I
Annapolis next year who will be willin
and able to join hands with me in an effoI
to benefit our State and our party as wei
PRAISE For PRIMARY Law.
las for the last Legislature, think
passed more fundamentally good and need
ed laws than any Legislature have known
There may have been some omissions an
some mistakes, but no one can deny tina
the body of men who passed the presen
Corrupt Practices act and the present PR
mary Election law are entitled to lot 9
credit. know the primary law was crit
cised at the time of its enactment. II di
not contain everything that would like
have seen. | said so then. say so nov
but | do say. and. every fair-minded ma
who reads it will say, that it is goot
square, honest law.
! ''un;.hi-, 'Ln Iar' two ~ th-"n ]"Vo hav
Va carefully. and a. no rea
it The m9Ee | 9m Impressed with t excel
leuc4s II absolutely insurea a. can
iidste thai every vote casl fot fil b
counted The votinf Is done fife
lists The Of8ejls are nam a Su
pefvisJu OF Elections h. ssibl
auucY thi5 Inv 90 yos. SeV in
Democratic primary ~ Demo Re
uunii.ao primary it " uT
registered voters 60 vote fnad i'm
80 iJia 7e 'H che general election, bacaus
tho saH pcnaiuez aud saiogu pro
vided. In fact, there are more penaltie