The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-02-19
WESTMINSTER, MD.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, FEB. 10, 1915
SENATOR LEE AND THE COVER
WORSHIP.


The contest for the Democratic
nomination for the Governorship, thi'
year, has been greatly confiicted b!
the announcement OF Senator Blail
Lee that he will be a candidate fol
the honor at the primaries next Sep
TENDER.
As the readers of the Advocate re-
member Mr. Lee was a candidate fol
the same honor in 1911, and was de-
feated, the popular majority against
him being over twelve thousand. In
1918, he was elected United States
Senator to succeed the late Isado1
Rayner, and his term in the Senate
will expire March A, 1907, two years
hence.
OF course, as a citizen OF Maryland
Mr.. Lee has a perfect right to be-
come " candidate for any Office with
in the gift of the people, but it Is
QUESTION: bic III the voters or the
State will approve of his course.
They elected him to the Senate Tor
definite term, with the full under
standing that H. would remain AT
his post for that term. In other
words, MIR. Lee made contract with
the people Of the state, which was
ratified by an unusually large ma-
jority, that he would perform GER
tain specified duties, for a certain
specified time. He has no moral
right. therefore, to give up those
duties and repudiate his contract
with the people, for the purpose OF
taking another position which may
seem more desirable to him. Rotat-
ing from one office to another AZ
never popular before the term Of one
has expired and the contract WITH
the people, which every man makes
when he accepts an office, is fully
carried out The only possible ex-
cuse for such an action is great
public demand On the part OF the
people.
liz there il any great public demand
for Mr.. Lee to give up his seat in the
Senate and to take up the duties OF
Governor of the State, there has peen
NO evidence of it in the newspapers,
or among the people, SO far as the
Advocate has been able to learn after
close and careful inquiring. On the
contrary, there are many evidences
that the people and the press OF
Maryland are not in favor of any
such action on hi part There are
many other Democrats equally as
competent as MIR Lee to fill the exc
the only man fitted to take up the
party standard at the present time,
il to reflect seriously on very many
prominent and able, patriotic, Demo
Gratis in Maryland-men whose rec
ords OF faithful and conscientious
public service are fully equal to that
OF Senator Lee.
Mr.. Lees record as a public SER
want during the eight years he was
State Senator from Montgomery
county, and since hi elevation to his
present position at the National Capt.
tol has not been startling a. an exhi-
bition OF high class ability in the pub
lie service, either in the State or Ma
ton. His chief monument at Anna
polls is the present primary election
law, which ID OF doubtful advantage
to the State. At Washington, if he
has done anything beside securing
few offices for his loyal factional
friends, and henchmen, there has
been no evidence of it presented to
the people 20 far from having done
anything to strengthen the Demo-
cratic party ia Maryland, his actions
have tended rather to increase the
spirit Of factionalism and widen
breaches which might easily have
been healed, had he been less of
nationalist and more Or q liberal.
broadminded party man. His nomi-
nation for the Governorship would
only widen still further the existing
breaches in the party, and render the
election Of party candidates more
difficult IT, has shown that he has
no liberation whatever for those
within his own party who differ with
him, and his actions and words III
the past year only tended to confirm
this view OF his character al a public
man.
Carroll county IL presenting To the
Democratic party, candidate for
Governor, I'm the person or Senator
Beasman, whose record of twelve
years in the State Senate and il
years In the House OF Delegates, will
stand the most rigid comparison with
that OF Senator Lee in every respect.
And. as plain and intelligent farmer
and business man and citizen, MI.
Beasman, for public spirit, for knowl-
edge OF public affairs H. they affect
the taxpayers of Maryland, for hon
esty and high personal character
also, will stand any test in compar-
ison with tn Washington lawyer
who happens to reside in the suburbs
of the National Capital, across the
line within the borders or our state