Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-09-30


must be devised and vigorously put
into execution to keep up our roads
after they are built. Personally the
justice appeals to me of a more eQuit-
able tax imposed on automobiles. ap.
proximately SUFFICIENT to repair the
damage done by them. At all events
our plan of road making must pro-
vide a plan that will maintain and not
merely purport to maintain the roads
We are building under our Law.
One OF the matters Of the greatest
interest to the whole State Is the de-
velopment Of Baltimore. and the State
must do all In its power to enable the
City TO develop free from selfish po-
litical interference. | believe that
Baltimore is entering upon a new era
OF prosperity and | propose to do all
can to help II along. II In the judg-
ment of experts more competent TO
decide than ! am, our tax laws can be
changed to advantage | Will fight for
such changes
The next administration will have
an extraordinary opportunity to make
a lasting record in bringing Baltimore
and the State to the front industrially
and as a manufacturing and CONNER
cial centre Iepromise, II elected. to
make the furtherance Of this by spe-
cial effort. and to that end | shall ask
the Legislature to give the City the
charter amendments which It's experts
have approved and I shall do all !
can to change any laws which now re-
tard the commercial progress Of our
people.
The next administration will be con.
fronted with a number OF important
legislative and reform problems which
are now before the people Of this
country and which are demanding
careful attention.
The Democratic awakening. which /
believe will result In great changes In
our National Government and econ
omy. is bringing new issues TO the
front. On some of the proposed re.
forms. which are still in experimental
shape. believe Maryland can well
afford TO watch and wait her younger
and less conservative sisters try them
out. As to others think the time 10
ripe for action For example. | have
for some years. both az a lawyer and
a layman. felt that the time was rap
Idly approaching when some change
must be made In our laws OF Employ
1
islatures dealt with this problem In
some manner at their last sessions,
and some way must be found here to
deal Justly with all the elements in
volved The old doctrines OF the law
on this subject work great hardship
and to my mind are no longer sound
either ethically or economically. am
frank to say that out OF the multitude
/ n al. latN
passed In other States. have not been
able. nor have | seriously tried. TO
formulate a plan OF my own. but. II
am elected Governor. shall ask the
Legislature to enact law on this sub
ject to be prepared by a commission OF
experts selected to represent both the
employers and the employees.
The Democratic platform promises
to provide by law for holding the
Statewide direct primary in Presiden-
tial years on the last Tuesday in May
| In fixing this time OF the year the
State Convention must have had In
National Convention.
mind the selection OF delegates TO the
Therefore in order to carry out the
evident purpose OF this pledge and to
make It fully effective ! favor adding a
provision for the selection OF delegates
to the National Convention by d.
RECT VOTE OF THE PEOPLE at said
Statewide primary in May, 1912. and
similarly In every fourth year there.
after
| Maryland thanks to her successive
| Democratic administrations. now leads
| In much of the advanced and progress
sive legislation which changed condi-
| tions and greater civic enlightenment
have demanded. like the Pure Food
Law, the Corrupt Practices Act. the
| Public Utilities Law. the Direct Pri-
mary. etc. She must hold this posi-
tion. should like to see her take an
advanced position In the movement
for national uniformity OF laws on sub
| jects like divorce. inheritance tax, and
believe that we should unite with the
| Governors OF other States in making
all proper efforts for safeguarding and
| exercising those reserved rights OF the
States which are now neglected and in
| danger of Federal usurpation
| There are a number OF other ques-
tions which | shall discuss during the
campaign. II Is sufficient today that
I indicate, as | have tried to do. just
where stand on what | believe to be
| the local issues OF most importance 10
the welfare OF the State and OF the
Democratic party great opportu-
nifty and a great duty confronts us A
Republican victory this fall will be the
| first setback TO the wave OF triumphant
Democracy that Is sweeping the coun-
try. may be regarded by some as
non progressive and reactionary. and
too great believer in organized party
efficiency, hut this ! know that the
hope OF this country and of this State
lies In the Democratic party. II alone
is the party OF progress today and il
alone is free from the baneful infu-
ences OF the big interests" THE
Trusts" that control the Republican
party. To the best Of my lights and
the limit OF my ability propose TO
fight under this banner and fight to
finish.