Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-09-17
STATE CONVENTION
WAS HARMONIOUS
Vandiver Reelected Chairman
Without a Dissenting Voice.
VOTE FOR WOMEN BARRED.
Platform Ignores This Question Entire
Iy-COmmsnd Wilson and Pledge
Lees Election.

man cf the Democratic State Central
Committee fizzled out in the State
Convention yesterday.
Senator Blair Lee, the delegates
from Hartford General Vandiver's $
home county,, scattering delegates
from Montgomery, Caroline, Garrett,
Charles, Talbot, Somerset, one dele
gate from Wicomico and from other
counties refrained from rising when
former Senator German asked for a
standing vote on the election of Gen
erql Vandiver.
The activities of the Democratic
committee which is also called the
party organization, of which activities
Senator Lee complained two years
ago when he was defeated for nomi-
nation for Governor, were hedged in
by the following re resolution, which
was adopted with round of applause /.
1--WE declare that the sole purpose
for which party organization exists
is to win the party's battles at the
general election and we, there fore,
pledge the choice of this convention
for state chairman to plan all the
psrty's machinery, poll books and
paraphernalia at the disposal, on
equal terms, of all the Democratic
credentials in the primaries, with
out prejudice or partiality, and to re-
frain from designating or poclaiming
any candidate or set of candidates
in the primaries as representing or
being supported by the party organi-
zation. IL is the sense of this con-
vention that there are no organization
candidates of the party until the
Democratic voters themselves have
selected the nominee at the prima-
ries."
General Vandiver declared that
he has no intention to resign, but if
he should resi- gn, the way is paved for
the election of his successor.
The convention was called to me ct
at noon, but it was nearly 2 o'clock
when it got down to business. All
other seats We're occupied by Demo-
Gratis interested in the proceedings
of the convention. In the boxes sat
women who are interested ia the
proposition to have an amendment
to the Constitution submitted to the
pc ople granting them the right TO
vote. Their activities were confined
to distribution of literature at the
door of the Auditorium, to the button
holing OF delegates, to the applauding
of all references in spe eches to tn ,ir
case, and to thrusting frowns at "Cy"
Cummings. the Montgomery Demo
crat, who made a speech to entertain
the audience.
He has been most persistent foe
of the women in their fight for votes.
The request of the women that one
of their number should appear before
the platform committee and argue
for their cause was not granted
Woman's voice was hushed all the
while the convention was in session.
The most prominent leaders of the
party were on the main floor of the
theatel as delegates or sp sctators
A large party of Anne Arundel
Democrats was in the throng. In
addition to the five delegates, there
was DIR. George Wells, former Sheriff
Frank S. Revell, Isaac S. Nutwell,
Mayor James F. Strange, Alderman
John r. Sullivan, Col. Luther H.
Gadd and many others.
In calling the convention to order,
Chairman Vandiver said:
Fellow Democrats, / want to
makea spe ecial plea this time for har-
mouy in our party. I'm not going
to make any speech. This isn't the
time to make speeches. All / ask
you is that you don't do anything
here in this convention hall today
that is going to split us. Let's keeE
together.
General Vandiver selected President
Jesse d. Price. of the Senate, as tn,
temporary chairman of the conven
tion.
In selecting the committees, rep
resentatives were picked from eacl
county. one district of Bsltimor'
city. Of the Anne Arundel delegates
former Senator Bells was named oil
the resolution committee, while Mr.
| Alton r. Arnold was chosen for th'
/ committee on credentials.
The resolution committee was tn,
scene of the real fighting of the con
vention. There a stubborn battl'
was waged by Jackson II. Ralston, o
Prince Georges county, and Arthu
P. German for the adoption of
plank submitting the initiative ant
referendum to vote of the people
This plank first was carried by a vot
of Ia 10 Is and later, after prac
practically all the work of the com
mittee was completed, was reeonsid
cred and lost by vote of to 0, tn
votes of Washington, Anne Arundel
| Cecil and Caroline counties bein
switched.
The woman's suffrage plank offer
ed by Mr.. German was lost amid
round of laughter, and a resolutio
from Mr.. Ralston to abolish the er
velope feature of the primary law wa
voted down heavily.
Che outline of the platform, as pub
lished in last nights Capital, wa
adopted. The resolutions. embodied