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


poses with regard TO appointments
The Primary.
The kind OF organization in which
believe Is one strong enough to
defeat the Republican Party. An
organization within the organization.
or what IN called the ring or ma
chine. is no longer possible under the
new primary law. II men will only
do their duty That Is one reason
why believe In this primary. | adj
NIT that | am good bit OF an old
fashioned Democrat. | was brought
up with the idea that in a Southern
State like Maryland the Democratic
party performed function of high
order and that II II was not perfect
Il was entitled to an unusual degree
of tolerance for its imperfections. II
is very hard for Democrat of my
school to understand how any man,
even though he see faults in his own
party, can entertain the idea of Re-
publican government in State in
which the solid negro vote constitutes
over So per cent. of the Republican
vote.
However. as | have better under
stood the point OF view of those upon
whom party ties rest lightly. ! have
come to recognize the necessity OF
some kind OF competition, either COM
petition from without or competition
within, in order to keep party in a
sound and healthy condition and pro-
tect II from the chemes to which un-
interrupted supremacy renders II
liable While at the outset ! share
in measure the doubt of many in
our party as to the workings of the
primary system. | have become con-
WINGED, especially through my obser-
walton OF the recent primary that this
system will give US wholesome com
petition within the party. will eifectu-
ally break up any possibility OF
RING" rule. and will obviate all
necessity OF turning the state over
TO the Republican party in Maryland
in order to get relief from any ex-
cesses and abuses in the Democratic
party. This law was tried out for
he first time in tho recent Guberna-
torial contest II was passed In the
hurry and confusion of the closing
hours OF the session and represents
AuIlOEi VI NR'' aNN@f'
ciled conflicting views. In the nature
IF things IL was imperfect and Its
imperfections could not be cured
until the law had gone through a
practical test Under the circum-
stances II seems TO me that the recent
primary opens up TO the Democrats
4 prospect that Is In every way
gratifying. | am aware that many
still regard the primary with dis
favor, but am fully convinced that
II affords a means whereby the will
OF the people can be expressed ana
government kept constantly under
wholesome popular influence and the
party itself protected against CEN
radiation of management and abuse
~ power II the primary IL safe
guarded absolutely against unfair
aess and fraud and II the electorate
IS made TO understand and comes 10
believe that all votes will be counted
as east. II seems to me that the fear
that nominations will be dictated By
4 corrupt element in the party VIII
no longer have any basis in fact. |
feel sure from the large vote polled
1T the recen; primary that a law so
amended az TO invite the participa-
ion OF every voter will arouse more
and more interest and bring out a
larger vote At the recent primary
The Democratic vote was about 80
per cent. OF the total vote cast for
Governor Crothers in 1907. II Is
only fair TO assume that when the
Democrats shall have redeemed their
platform promises to surround the
go 20 ~ IL
of fairness and TO postpone the date
until summer absentees shall have re-
turned 10 the State. that in contest
such as we have just gone through a
still larger percentage OF the vote
will be polled.
The Twenty-Third Ward
believe in the primary as the new
ieaven of Democracy. What better
violence of live and virile Demo-
cracy could you have than such
party contest AS Senator Lee and just
passed through But. Gentlemen. II
must be an honest primary
crooked election is no election at all.
a has taken years in this State. as
we'll as In every other state. fully 10
safeguard the ballot. and now that
We nave accom- pliSntu ~. th'i' mus
r. 10 backward step. When my at
tention was called TO the alleged
frauds in the Twenty-third Ward OF
Baltimore. | stated in the Baltimore
sun the next morning that II there
was any fraud | would do all could
10 unearth IL and TO punish the
guilty. and that II there was any owl
ience that my own nomination was
tinted with fraud | did not want IL.
and moreover would not have IL.
meant what there said, and ! here
epeat H. | may add that ! sent last
week the following letter 10 the
States Attorney of Baltimore City:
Sept 10th, 1911.
Hon. Albert s. ] Owens.
States Attorney OF Baltimore
city.
Dear MIR Owens:
Il enclose YOU herewith a copy OF
an interview which appeared in the
Sun OF Wednesday. Sept 9Th. from
which you can see how | feel In re-
gard to the charges OF fraud made
by Mr.. McNulty in the Twenty-Third