Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-10-07
w. Mason Shehan

MT Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
! am personally gratifed at my
selection for that part OF this cere-
mony which the Chairman of the State
Central Committee has delegated me
to perform. II is a great pleasure to
notify my friend and neighbor who
resides just across the Choptank
River from me. of his nomination by
the Democratic party as candidate
for the high and important Office of
Comptroller OF the Treasury OF Mary.
land
shall not enter into a lengthy
oulogy of him and OF the things that
he has accomplished in his private
life and political career II is sufIi.
cient to say that those who live near,
est to him and know him best love
him most He is one OF the leaders
OF the bar OF this State, and his ac.
complishments as n lawyer and ex.
perience in political affairs eminently
fit him for any Office within the gift
or the people. This much | have to
say for him. and | could say no more
for any man.
PASSED through the most notable and
fAhhtiuduit DfiIilbTN contest InHt
has ever been made in the State. II
VII do no harm: In fact. II has done
GOOD. Whether one has cast his
political fortunes with him who bears
he distinguished name OF Lee. or fol.
owed the leadership OF our splendid
,andidates. which have been chosen
~ a majority vote OF the people. IL
matters not. That contest is over.
md we are now one united and ag.
sressive party ready and anxious for
the fray.
This meeting has a broader and
deeper significance than merely a
formal ceremony. II marks the time
and place from which we shall 20
forth to great fight. the aim and pur.
pose OF which Is to protect our fair
State from threatened calamity.
The ascendency to. power OF tho Re.
publicans In this State would be a
great misfortune. and I say this ad.
visedly. because there has never been
Republican State wherein Rcpubl
can rule has not been equivalent to
misrule. Republican control in every
Southern State where II has been in
power has proved naught but shame
ful disgrace and an oppression 10 the
people OF that State Its rise to power
in 1895 in Maryland clearly shows
that this State is an exception. but
rather a fine example OF their impot.
ency in governmental affairs and ex.
cesses and extravagances In public
office. Nevertheless, our friends. the
enemy. are making a last desperate
EFFORT to again wrest this State from
the control of the Democratic party,
and In doing so they are sacrificing
every political principle founded upon
the inherent right OF the people to
select their candidates for public OF.
fice. and through those candidates to
control the political destinies of the
Commonwealth. This Is clearly shown
to be true by the arbitrary dictation
OF their State ticket and most OF the
tickets In the counties. without even
so much as the pretence of primary
election. and in many counties by the
denial OF the right OF persons TO run
for county Offices. resulting in the
placing OF what we call "bobtail"
tickets before the people for their con.
sideration. This very thing has hap
poned In Mr. Goldsborough's own
county There never has been such
an exposition OF political autocracy in
this country as has been played out
in this State by them during the past
several months. The Republican
party has really degenerated into a
party OF postinasters in the counties
and Federal officeholde:s in the city,
having as their candidate the Collec.
tor OF Internal Revenues. and as an
over-lord the Collector OF Customs OF
Baltimore. and yet, In snite of all this