Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-01
THE MARYLAND DEMOCRATIC
PARTY PLATFORM PLEDGES.
What the Party Convention Asserted
As Its Principles During the State
Convention Held in Baltimore
Last Week.


90 We pledge our party TO reduce
the expenses OF the legislature to such
amount as will conform 20 the actual
necessities of the Legisia ure, and to
exercise in this connectio the strict
est economy which is cons stent with
the proper conduct of the state af-
fairs. We pledge a material reduc-
n the number Of legislative au-
/ nloyes, the elimination Of extra pay OK
cept for additional services rendered.
and that the payment of every employe
shall begin only from the date of his
employment.
f4) We thoroughly recognize the
evils of the fee system. AT the same
time we cannot escape the fact that in
| some few instances economy and eff
cheney are best promoted by the pay
ment of certain officers through fees
I because to place such officers upon a
salary basis would result in a serious
1 financial loss 10 the State We pledge
our party to the abolishment of the fee
system in every case in which thisc an
be done without prejudice to efficiency
| and economy in the States service.
CD We pledge the passage of such
| legislation as may be necessary TO in
itroduce uniform system of accounting
| in all State offices, departments and in
I stitutions. All institutions receiving
1 State aid shall conform to the system
! uniform accounting prescribed and
shall not receive payment under any
appropriation until it adopts the said
system.
(6l We pledge the Introduction OF
| the Australian ballot system. as the
same now exists in Baltimore city. to
] primary elections, in all the counties OF
| the State. and that what is known as
the envelope system" of voting in pri-
maries in the counties shall be abolish
ed, to the end that the same secrecy
and independence may exist in voting
throughout the State at primary cleo
! tiOns as at general elections.
We further pledge our party to the
| passage of an act to provide for a reg
| istratiOn day for voters at some time
prior TO the primary election, so that in
/ the counties of the State and i'm the city
of Baltimore all persons entitled to
{ vote at the general election may be-
/ come registered and participate in the
primary election.
| CD We pledge the adoption Of such
amendments to the Corrupt Practices
| Act as will radically reduce the cam
paign expenditures which may be made
either by or on behalf of candidates.
and further limitations upon the pur-
! poses of such expenditures, to the end
J that the aspiration of every man, rich
or poor, to public Office may be equally
possible of qualification.
(S) We call attention to the plank
adopted by the Democratic Convention
of 1913, declaring that Baltimore city
and the several counties should enjoy
the largest means of self-government.
| The passage of the Home Rule Amend
ment to the Constitution by the Leg
I islature of 1914 was in redemption of
! this pledge, and we earnestly urge all
voters to vote for that amendment at
/ the election next November. In the
/ event of its success at the polls. then
we pledge our party TO the passage of
such legislation as may make the
amendment effective and secure the
elimination, as far as possible. of local
legislation at Annapolis, and greater
uniformity of administration under the
general laws.
We also recommend the favorable
action of the voters of the State on the
three Constitutional Amendments inst
tuting the referendum, providing for
the classification of property for the
purpose of taxation. and permitting the
| indeterminate sentence, as passed by
the Legislature of 1914
(9) Under the wise and benefcent
| administration of Austin l.. Crothers
our system of good roads was thought
fully planned inaugurated and par
TALLY constructed. In continuation of
| the work so begun, our Democratic
Legislatures of 1912 and 1914, through
adequate appropriations. made it pos
( sible to prosecute and extend the work
/ begun by the Crothers administration,
I so that we now have approaching
I completion a system of good roads
which is a credit to the State of Mary
land and which we pledge our party to
maintain in high state of efficiency.
We pledge our party to complete our
good roads system and extend and i'm
/ prove the same to the full extent that
I the conditions of the finances of our
I State viii admit, and we recommend
| the forethought of Governor Crothers
/ and those acting with him, and the Leg
/ islature through whose public spirit it
was made possible to inaugurate and
! prosecute such a wise and useful pub
lie improvement.
(10) We favor conservation of the
natural resources of the State. and in
Z the interest of efficiency and economy
we pledge our party to the enactment
of such legislation as may be necessary
to effect the consolidation of the two
Fish Commissioners, the Shellfish Com
mission, the State Fishery Force, the
State Game Warden and State Board
of Forestry into one commission. to be
( known as the Conservation Commits
sion. We urge the passage of such laws
as may be necessary to prevent the
Z ruthless destruction of the crab supply
of the State. The pledges in the DEM
j ocratic platform of 1913 for the res
toration of the natural oyster beds and
bars to public use having been re-
deemed by the passage of the Shepherd
( Oyster Law of 1914, we here pledge our