The citizen., 1914-02-06
ANNAPOLIS LETTER.
Annapolis, Md. February 2nd, 1914.


States Senatorial Primary Law, and un-
fortunately the Democrats are now di-
vided on the main principles of the meas
ure. So far the Republican minority
has not taken any definite stand, but It
is hoped that this question will be settled
fairly and Justly by the Democrats with
out the help or assistance of any Of the
Republicans. When the Seventeenth
Amendment, to the Constitution of the
United States in which pr revision is made
for the direct election of United States
Senators, was ratified by the different
States, it was heralded as great Demo
cratic measure, because the people were
given the direct power to elect their rep
resentatives to the Upper House of Con-
gress. Under this amendment every
voter IN each State is placed upon the
same footing. Despite this fact, how
ever, a large element in the Democratic
party is aiming to pass a United States
Senatorial Primary Law by which all OF
the voters are not placed upon the same
footing in making. the nomination OF the
United States Senatorial candidates. AS
might be expected the unfair plans are
aimed at the voters in Baltimore City.
but the voters in the largely populated
NOuHltCS ouliCi dioOs IL oPPS&io ~ ~ %
Joke to have one system of nominating
candidates and another system OF elect
ing them. lust as the United States Sen
atorial candidates are to be elected by
the popular vote of the entire State. so
should they be nominated at the coming
primary election. Not only is such a
system fair and just, but it would also
aid and strengthen the Democratic party
NJ. lob HItr
populated counties.
The unfair plan provides for the nomi.
nation of the United States Senatorial
candidates by the Unit System, which is
the same system by which the Guberna-
torial and other State candidates are now
nominated, which system is also unfair
to the voters of Baltimore City. A bill
carrying out the provisions of the Unit
| System has been introduced in the House
of Delegates by Mr.. Veasey, of Wor-
| cester county. close friend of United
States Senator John Walter Smith, and
thus unquestionably has the endorse
ment and support of Senator Smith. Un-
der it it would be possible for a man to
be nominated by any one of the big par
ties for United States Senator. despite
| the fact that some other candidate re-
ceived big plurality of the votes in the
primaries. All that is necessary to win
the nomination is for candidate to
carry enough counties or legislative dis
tricts to give him control of the State
Convention. The popular vote does not
| count In other words. the Eastern
Shore and the Southern Maryland coun-
iies and few counties Of the other Sec
tions of the State could combine behind
one candidate and defeat man who
| might receive twice as many votes. Balti.
more Citys representatives in the Legis-
lature are unalterably opposed to the
| Veasey Bill or any measure which con-
tains the Unit System of voting and they
will fight it desperately.
The bill which should be passed by the
Democratic majority and which provides
| for the popular nomination of the United
States Senatorial candidates, has been
drafted by former Attorney General Isaac
Lobe Straus. 1t has the endorsement Of
| the commirtee Of seven, of which former
State Senator Arthur P German, Jr., is
| chairman Under its provisions the vote
of man in Baltimore City would be the
same as vote of man in any other
section of the State. Such a bill would
assure fair and square deal to every
| candidate. A man who is defeated for
| the nomination by popular vote could
| not make any just complaint, but should
a man, although he carried the State on
a popular vote. fail to be nominated be-
cause of the Unit System, both he and
| his friends would have a right to pro
test, and they would unquestonebly do
| so. Further more the Unit System
would divide the party into factions and
! thus cause strife and discord. No man
should desire, or in fact, accept nomi-
| nation unless he knew that he was the
choice of majority of the voters Of his
party, irrespective of where they may
live. There is no donbt that a number
of county Delegates and Senators, espec-
tally those from the larger populated
counties, will support the popular United
States Senatorial Primary Bill but it ap-
pears as though the Unit System will get
the votes of those Senators and Dele
gates, who come from the smaller couu-
ties. They appear anxious to hold their
power over the city voters despite the
fact that they realize that from political
view point it may be dangerous.
The question is one that should be
settled by the Democrots IN caucus.
There is no doubt that should the fight
be made on the floor of the Legislature
that the Democratic majority would so
divide that it would be possible for the
handful of Republicans in the Senate
and House of Delegates to so cast their
votes as to really settle an issue which
should be solved by the Democrats. AT
ter both bills are presented it it is being
suggested that the Democratic Senators
and Delegates together with the Demo
cratic leaders should hold big confer
ence and discuss the question in every
particular and detail and then settle on
the course to pursue. Advocates OF
Democratic principles believe that IN the
end the Democratic Senators and Dele
gates will see the wisdom and fairness of
passing real. genuine popular United
States Senatorial Primary Law Efforts
will also be made to amend the general
State Election Law, so as to provide for
the popular nomination OF the Governor.