Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-09-16
vANDIVER CERTAIN
TO Be REELECTED
Fight Against Him Fails to Muster
Sufficient Support.
CONVENTION MET TODAY.
Platform Practically Completed Last
Night. and Plain Sailing Was
Anticipated.

Anticipated.
With the platform practically
completed last night, the proceedings
of the Democratic State Convention
got uuder way at aoon in Baltimore
today. The convention was called to
order at noon in the Auditorium
Theatre.
The convention delegates repre-
senting Anne Arundel county, and
Jther prominent politicians left on
the morning cars, while others spent
the night in Baltimore, participating
in the discussions among the various
county leaders as to the plsnks of
the platform on which the fall cam
paign will be waged.
DR.. George Wells, the local leader,
left for Baltimore this morning, and
it was reported that he would be esk-
ed to preside over the convention.
As the hour for the convention drew
nigh the Progressives and antiVan-
diver people, who have been waging
a fight to depose State Treasurer Muir
ray Vandiver from the chairmanship
of the State Central Committee, re a.
li7ed the hopelessness OF the task
vandiver, it was figured, would be
easily returned victor though the
fight was carried to the convention
floor. THAT the Anne Arundel dele
cation would stsnd by Mr.. Vandiver
was generally understood here
Democratic leaders and workers
from all over the State gathered at
the Rennert Hotel last night in an
ticipation of the convention. 1t was
one of the largest Democratic gath
erings in many months and represen-
tatives of every wing Of the party,
both in the counties and the city,
were on hand.
The chief concern of all seemed to
be the platform. From early in the
evening until far in the night con-
ference after conference was held.
At a late hour, however, no definite
agreement upon platform had b zen
made, and it seemed probable that
none would be reached until shortly
before the convention met today.
Something's, however, were made
clear. One of these was that the
platform will contain certain things
and that it will not contain certain
things. An effort had been made
within the last few days to force on
the Democratic leaders a platform
that emanated from Republican and
Bull Moose sources. At no time was
this platform seriously considered.
1t seemed reasonably certain that
the platform would contain the fol-
lowing -planks:
An unequivocal Endorsement OF
Woodrow Wilson and his sdministra-
tion.
An unequivocal Endorsement of
Blair Lee as the party's candidate
for the United States Senate.
An unequivocal Endorsement of
Comptroller Emerson c. Harrington
and Clerk of the Court of Appeals
C. G. Magruder.
A declaration in favor cf abolish
ing the fee system.
A declaration in favor of the de-
velopment of the agricultural re-
sources of the State along scientific
lines.
A pledge to revise the oyster cul-
ture law along the lines shown to be
needle by experience.
A pledge to pass an adequate work
ingmen's compensation law that will
meet the demand of the public.
A pledge to amend the primary
election law so as to have it conform
- a.
the Constitution of the United States.
A declaration that the party will
support the anti-bribery amendment
to the Constitution that will be SUBJ
mitted to the people this fall.
A declaration in favor of granting
to Baltimore city and to the counties
a greater degree of self-governent,
taking out of the hands of the Legis-
latura many of the local matters with
which it has formerly dealt.
A declarstio in favor of the pro.
posed constitutional amendment for
printing bills introduced in the Leg.
islature. These are the things which
ere certain TO be in the platform.
Here follow the planks certain not
to be in the platform:
Woman suffrage.
Taking out Of the hands of the
Board of Public Works the power Of
appointment and placing that powt r
in the hands of the Governor.
Any declaration in favor of an in
creased representation in the Gen-
eral Assembly for Baltimore city.
Any amendment to the primary
election laws providing for nomina-
tion Of candidates by a Statewide
popular vote.
]. Frank Smith, the "old guard
leader of St. Mary's proved anew
that political canniness which has
become traditional If him. Every
now and then some one would congrat-
ulate him on the organization victory
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