The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-09-07
A Picnic at Swanton and the Defeat
of Blair Lee.

10 Tue VI 1IlS hcBuDllCdH
In Swanton, Friday, September LIST,
1911, was lively rejoicing among the
Youthful generation and proportionate
happiness among the more matured
ones.
The Anderson Chapel Protestant Epis
copal Sunday school dedicated the day
to its fullest freedom in the open and
with that settled intent, in the first
hours of the afternoon the school, mus
tering about forty in number, gathered
on the grounds of its Superintendent
for holiday outing. Ice cream, cake,
fruits, and many plays with "sportive
tricks" interspersed to meet the taste
and enlived the spirits of the young
it was their day and time, and those
who were of quiet mien and sober
temper numbered their dignity in the
general relaxation of the occasion.
Later in the afternoon the school, with
many of it friends, followed Mr. Will
liam w. Shearer, who conducted a ser
vice for the children particularly, but
bright and delightful for all present.
The procession to the chapel was one
we'll calculated to attract attention and
excite admiration. A line of Sunday
school children bearing flowers entered
the church and as they passed in order
lett their fresh offerings about the
chancel rail. So many young voices IN
the singing and responses of the service
lent a charm unusual and beautiful.
The Chapel devotions were peculiarly
impressive as they were known to be
the last before severlng the existing
relations between this parish and Mr.
Shearer who has not only for several
years labored fruitfullY among US but
to an extraordinary degree beloved by
many and admired by all
Well, the first election in conformity
with the recently adopted primary law
has left its actually for good or bad on
Maryland's record In it we have, at
least, a wholesome release from the
farce of old conventions which, general
ly;speaking, sent its machine creatures
to Baltimore merely to hear a polite
little product of the larger State ma
chine declare, while rubbing his hands
with cordial pretensions, CAN has been
agreed upon, but you can walk out with
the Committee on Credentials, and you
with the Committee on Rules, but no
mental strain at all will be imposed
upon you as the papers have been writ
ten out by kind friends " The writer
has not only seem it but experienced
the rush of blood in so debasing a posi-
ton. Thanks to an aroused public SEN
timent the sun of that day has at last
dipped under popular condemnation,
But it smacks no little of the IRONY OF
that the author and Trainer of the Pri-
mary Enactment, patriotic legislator
and a blameless gentleman, should fall
the victim in the State under the initial
test of the operations of his own law
and method. Some of the many cogs
of the new machinery may yet catch or
jar in the working of the system, but a
little legislative tinkering prudently ap-
piled may bring harmony to the general
movement. In this District we greatly
prefer elimination of the spaces for
second or third choice from the ballot as
useless and confusing; and discontinue
ance of the envelope plan and the dis
tribution of all and any ballots except
such as are clearly marked as sample
ballots. From a possession of the gen
iune ballot is apt to grow disregard to
decent customs and rightful observances
until the voter with his agent sinks to
an actual notification of the highest
aims and wisest intentions of the law.
RELLIM.