The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-09-05
To The Voters.
TO Me Democratic Noteys Of cecil

i sCOWWky: ~: 's,
You are called upon. by law. at the
Primary election to be held in Cecil coun-
ty on Sept. 9th. to choose and nominate
the candidates upon the Democratic tick
let for the various Offices to be filed by
the election in November. and being a
candidate for nomination. to the Office of
portunity to state to the voters of Cecil
county my principles and views in regard
to such public questions as have been the
subject of public and private discussion
during the Primary campaign, recog-
nizing, however, that all questions of
vital importance to the people of the
county and State should receive careful
consideration, and be the subject Of delib-
Ierate council, and that such discussion as
| can be given them in this letter will nec-
essarily be of cursory and superficial
nature.
| The delegetes to the State Convention,
which by the Primary election law you
are required to elect. will be charged with
the duty of formulating Democratic
party platform. in which will be set forth
by the combined wisdom and intelligence
of the whole membership of the conven-
ton. those principles of government for
which the Democratic party stands. as
well as the practical measures for legisla-
ton establishing and effecting the welfare
of the State. in view Of which deem it
/ perfunctory and improper for candidate
/ to undertake individually to formulate
platform Of to make sensational promises
or irrevelant statements to tickle the ears
of the thoughtless persons andseatch the
votes of the unwary.
The. present law, popularity known as
the Road Engineer Law, should be re-
pealed and leenacted SO that the roads
and bridges will be under the control Of
the County Commissioners, they being
the corporate body of the county and re-
sponsible financially, should have the
power to limit the expenditures. 1t may
not be improper under the present circum-
stances for me to say that as member OF
the Legislature at its session of nineteen
hundred and eight. myself prepared and
introduced, and together with my col
leagues. secured the passage of law
making the County Commissioners re-
sponsible for and inspectors of the county
roads and bridges, and that this law was
Irepealed through the efforts of the Dele
gates from this county at the legislative
session of 1910 and the present law enact
ed. The building of good roads should
be conducted in more economical man
ner. and the roads SO improved be located
convenient to the needs of residents of
Cecil county.
The fishing interests of the county, en-
gaging great number of persons. and
having large amount of capital invested,
should be protected, and if elected shall
vigorously oppose any Legislation tending.
to destroy or impair this important indus
try. and will welcome any suggestion
from the fishermen themselves.
Being one of those who helped to pro-
hibit gambling on horse races, shall OPP
pose any attempt to establish it, and
would support bill prohibiting the same
in any adjoining county. and also to pre-
vent the establishment %of that or any
other form OF gambling in any part of the
State.
4 believe that the people of any county
or the city of Baltimore. should have the
right to say whether Intoxicating liquor
should'be sold within its limits or not,
and will support any such law for any
county or city when the people thereof
shall express their desire for the same,
provided such law shall be free from vice.
And believe that the present Local OPP
ton Law of Cecil comfy should remain
as it now is. In this regard may claim
to have some knowledge by experience.
it having devolved upon me as the States
Attorney (the county having voted for
prohibition after period of license) to
prosecute. the illicit liquor sellers and es-
tablish prohibition effectively, and many
of you will remember that efforts were
not without success. And when you con-
slider that after the long struggle Of twen-
ty five years a loca. option law is estab-
lished. the prohibitive feature of which is
reasonably well observed you should
think well before changing it.
The Hon. Blair Lee having no opposi-
ton. will be the Democratic nominee for
the United States Senate. and having sup
ported Mr.. Lee in his former campaign 1t
would be very gratifying to me to vote for
him for United States Senator.
have been lifelong Democrat and work
ed with the party in its various struggles to
elect Mr.. William j. Bryan. as well as in the
election of President Woodrow Wilson, and
am in full sympathy with the great progress
sive measures and reforms which the Demo-
cratic party has for many years striven to
accomplish.
Having stated my position ON the above
questions and the remedial measures which
were discussed with me personally by large
number of people in the last few weeks, will