Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-01-20
Maryland Politicians Getting
Ready for Contest.

Many Democrats and Republicans are
urging the passage of an amendment TO
the Primary Election law which will
permit the voters of each party TO ex-
press their preferences for Presidential
and Vice Presidential nominations.
When amendments to the Primary
Election law were being considered at
Annapolis last week it was suggested
by several Democrats that the direct
election of delegates to the National
Convention be incorporated, but this was
not accepted as it was not in the party
platform. The amendments prepared
by Senator Blair Lee and former Attor-
ney- General Straus merely aimed at
carrying out the pledges made by the
party regarding the Primary Election
law and it was deemed inadvisable to
add any amendments which were not
specified in the platform.
The new Primary law. however. does
provide for the direct election Of dele
gates to the State Convention. which.
in turn. viii name the delegates to the
National Convention and the Presiden-
tial electors.
The election will be held on the first
Monday in May and it will be the first
time in the history OF the State that
delegates to State convention which
will consider only national questions will
be elected under legalized primary.
Even under this law it is possible for
any candidate or the friends Of cand-
date for President or Vice-Presdent to
make fight TO get control of the State
Convention and thereby secure the cleo
ton of Is delegates to the National Con-
vention who will support their favorite
This can be done by naming candidates
for delegates to the State Convention
in every county and legislative district
in Baltimore city and assuring the peo-
pie that, If elected. they will elect and
pledge the delegates TO the National
Convention to support a certain eandi-
date.
This procedure. however. would be ex-
pensive and is subject to much wire pull
ing and dickering. The easiest. cheap
est and most satisfactory way now that
legalized primary. the expenses Of
which are to be paid by the taxpayers.
has been provided is TO allow the atfili-
ated voters of each party to vote direct
for the delegates TO the National Con-
vention. In fact. il is also suggested
that the names Of the different candi-
dates for the Presidential and Vice
Presidential nominations could be print
ed on the ballots and the voters allowed
to vote direct for them. Then the l6
delegates from Maryland would be
pledged to support the candidates who
receive the highest number Of votes.
Already Democrats are looking ahead
to the selection of delegates TO the Ma
tional Convention. In the past it has
been the custom 10 select the two Uni
ted States Senators as delegates at large
and this probably will be done this year.
Congressman Talbot. who is Maryland's
member on the National Committee.
probably viii be delegate at large and
Mr.. Frank A. Furst can have the other
place If he will accept. Two delegates
also will be elected from each Congress
si0nal district.
The Congressional nominations under
the new law will be made also on the
first Monday in May. II will be the first
time that all the nominations have been
made SO early and many of the politi-
clans are opposed TO it. Still it would be
too expensive to hold another primary
election in August or September merely
for the purpose Of making Congressional
nominations.
Maryland's six Congressman win be
candidates for reelection. In the First
district Congressman J. Harry coving-
Ton win b rcnominated without = fight
qecause 81 he split That hes occurred
80 rza<4 IS % equalization il Bal