Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-11-12
As Senator Lee Sees 1t.

In an interview recently at his home at
Silver Spring State Senator Blair Lee COM
mented on the late election in this State
as follows:
montgomery county gave majority of
SO4 votes for the amendment, probably
the largest given for that measure by any
county in the State. The majority for the
amendment was decidedly ahead of the av-
erage majority for the Democratic ticket,
and the average majority for the ticket was
larger than usual
For more than 20 years the nomination
of Democratic county candidates has been
by direct voting under the Crawford sys-
tenn. This experience of the people in Sc
lecting their own public servants led in
1906 to the adoption of a local primary
law, which assured fair voting and count
ing for these popular primaries. Through
this experience the white people of the
county feel sure of their power over their
public servants, and the argument so
strongly advanced against the amendment
in other portions of the State. to the effect
that it might create boss rule or political
tyranny apparently had no effect in Mont
gomery. Hf
ut should also be observed that before
the passage of the local primary election
law, which guaranteed a continuance of
the system of direct nomination of candi-
dates. the Poe amendment was defeated in
Montgomery county by nearly 800 votes.
After the Crawford system had been guar
anteed by law the change in favor of the
new amendment was about LOO votes in
this one county.
IF a similar assurance had been given
to the whole State with like result, the
amendment would have been adopted by a
clear majority.
THE vote in Montgomery county was
caused, to certain extent. by the salts
factory administration OF local affairs, along
progressive lines, by competent officials
This is obvious from the fact that nearly
all the candidates renominated by this
popular primary system received larger
majorities than the candidates nominated
for the first time
THE plain demonstration by continuous
use of popular power over nominations
through direct primaries is. in my judg-
ment. leading cause of the majority fol-
the amendment in Montgomery county.
This is one of the two Maryland coun-
ties adjoining the District of Columbia, and
is the home of many Federal officeholders
the number of whom has been rapidly in.
creasing for some years past, giving q
marked increase of intelligent white Re.
publicans in this as well as in Prince
Georges county.
I'm Montgomery county the Republican
party is manipulated through the conven.
ton system, in contrast with the popular
rule in force in the Democratic party The
unwillingness of the Republicans to trus
their negro cohorts to vote directly for tn,
nomination of candidates has had marked
influence In favor Of the Democrats. Man!
white Republicans supported both tn,
amendment and the Democratic candidate
this fall
} THE experience of this county with tn
Crawford system and legalized primaries
Notwithstanding the adverse political con
dition due to its location near the Distric
! of Columbia, is significant and warrants tn
: conclusion that the people of Marylan
; would hereafter. by strong majority. de
clare in favor Of a suffrage amendment
such amendment also contained provi,
ion guaranteeing direct nominations by tn
people.
THE proposal of franchise amendmer
for third time. after two defeats. wi
revive the suggestion. already made by tn
opponents, that the amendment. as a pro
position. is being used to pull the Demo
cratic ticket through. The constitutions
guaranty of popular primaries containe
in franchise amendment will be complet
answer to this and every other false argu
ment. and will place the opponents NOR
clearly than ever among those who oppos
the rule Of the white people, both in tn
party organizations and in the government
of the State"
. 81