Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-08-18
HE STANDSFOR FAIR ELECTIONS
Former Mayor Claude Says Let Anne
Arundel Take The Initiative For
Clean And Honest Election
In The State.
(Communicated.)

communicated
Mr.. Editor--I heartily endorse the
Democratic administration in the car
rying out of the party pledges, and
especially Chap. TAI, Acts of 1910,
'LegaliZing Primary Elections, and
Chap. 122, Acts of 1908, providing
punishment for Corrupt Practices at
Elections !"
The first gives to every elector the
privilege of submitting in conformity
to law, his name to the voters of his
party for nomination to such a posi-
tion as he feels qualified to fill, or
to which ambition impells him. The
second provides rules for the conduct
of fair primaries and fair elections,
making severe penalties for violations
of them.
Being impressed by the intent of
the law and the motives of its trainers
to put all electors on an equal footing
in their respective parties, and to
promote honorable conduct at cleo
tions, | determined to submit my can
didacy for the Legislature to the di
rect vote of my party, with the firm
belief that this is the dawn to a new
era, in which politics will gradually
rise to the rank of diplomacy and the
debauchery of the electorate will soon
be thing of the past.
/ would suggest that the candidates
for nomination of all parties to be
voted for at an election to be held on
the 29th of August met with the man
aging bodies in their respective coun-
ties. together with the judges and
clerks appointed to conduct the cleo
ton, and have read to them and ex-
planned the Primary Election Law
and the Corrupt Practices Act. and
| then and there take a binding and
solemn obligation, or oath, to con-
duct the election in accordance with
| the law, and to inform anyone ig
norant of the provisions of the law,
| if seen or known to be violating
any of its provisions. that a repeti-
| tion of the offense will cause him to
be prosecuted.
Let Anne Arundel county take the
| initiative in the State for the promo
| tion of fair and honest elections, and
no longer let the name Of the county
and its electorate be smirched by the
fostering and condoning of corrupt
practices at elections.
The remedy is in the hands of the
organization of the Democratic and
Republican parties, and it is their
duty, under the law. to forbid their
agents to be guilty of corrupt prac-
tees and to bring offenders before the
bar of justice. Each individual candi-
date has a right to ask and to have
fair play from the organization. The
organization should not be used as
an instrument for or against any
worthy candidate.
The duties of the organization as
an organization, under the law, are
| advisory, not partisan, and its mem
bers should exercise only their indivi-
dual preferences. have volunteered
my services to my party, not to graft
| fly any personal ambition, but because
| | believe | can be of service in advo-
| eating Legislation for the good of the
State and future generations. l do
| not care for the patronage that the
position may carry with it. | wish
to go to the Legislature to represent
| policies relating to taxation, fair cleo
lions, oyster culture by the State and
local self-government.
Should | be chosen as one of the
standard bearers of the Democratic
party at the primaries and then
elected by the people in November,
would be ever ready to protect and
defend every proper local interest.
GORDON H. CLAUDE,
Candidate for House of Delegates.
Aug. II, 1911.