Democratic messenger., 1911-11-04
To The Democratic
Voters


tion is Uhich party ,ciH afford the peo-
pie better administration Of the
State Gopernmentf
Which party will give superior ad.
ministration. preserving the public
peace and order. fostering the inter
ssts Of the people. directing the pow.
ers Of the State Government to their
highest welfare. and securing for the
present and future. the greatest coed
to the greatest number?
What can the Republican party say?
II can point to the administration Of
Governor Lowndes. an excellent gen.
tleman and citizen. but whose admin
istration was officially failure from
every public standpoint. marked by q
series Of grave evils which admittedly
continued during the four years Of his
term Of ONCE. and a serious and con-
tinuing menace to the people Of the
State. This was true Of both the Elk.
ecutive and Legislative Departments
Of the State Government, which at
that time. were under Republican
control. The Executive Department,
through the inferior class of officials
upon whom It necessarily had to rely,
failed to perform its very first fune-
tion. namely to keep the peace OF the
State. Turbulence and disorder. espe-
cially upon the part Of the unruly ele.
ments OF the negro population OF
Maryland. existed from one end OF
the State to the other. II 10
unnecessary to describe the de-
tails OF this unfortunate con-
dition because It is too well remem-
GERS Of the State. particularly Justices
Of the Peace. School Commissioners
and Supervisors Of Elections were men
In great measure. illiterate and incom-
petent. not only unfit. but largely dis.
qualified for the duties they were ap.
pointed to perform.
The Legislative branch OF the Gov.
ernment. as conducted by the Repub
licans. during the period mentioned,
was II anything. worse. The sessions
Of the General Assembly Of 1896 and
1898. controlled by the Republican
party, were notoriously weak and un.
satisfactory, unproductive OF measures
for the benefit of the people, regard.
less Of the advancement OF the State
and controlled as with rod OF iron
by the bosses of the Republican party
The people hailed the overthrow Of
the Republicans In 1900 as a great de.
liverance OF both State and City.
What have the Republicans done
more recently in Maryland? Have
they given any aid or encouragement
to the progressive measures which the
Democratic party has inaugurated In
this State? The influence Of the Re
publican party was exerted against the
adoption Of law providing for the
nomination Of candidates for ONCE BY
the direct vote OF the people. And the
votes which were ultimately cast
against the Public Utilities Act we're
Republican votes. No piece Of con-
structive legislation has been intro
duced by the Republicans in the Gen
eral Assembly of Maryland for the last
ten years. Every step of the progress
that has been made has been taken by
the Democratic party. always without
help and often over the opposition Of
Republican members Of the General
Assembly.
The Primary Election Law Of 1910.
requiring nominations by the people.
has been defiantly trampled under the
heel by the Republican party; and the
only Republican candidates upon the
State and City tickets nominated
under its provisions were candidates
for the House OF Delegates in the
Fourth Legislative District Of Balti-
more City.
The nat OF one man named the
whole roll OF Republican candidates;
and the great and crying evil which
the Primary Election Law was passed
TO overthrow. has been more firmly es-
tablished and more slavishly followed
by the Republican party OF Maryland.
as II In willful defiance OF the progress
sive spirit Of the present day than
ever before in the annals of the State.
The man must be blind who does not
see the glaring difference between the
Democratic and Republican arties Of
Maryland upon this issue. Plainly the
Republican party stands for boss rule;
the Democratic party for the rule OF
the people.