The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-11-05
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, NOV. 5, 1915
SOME OF THE CAUSES THAT con-
TRIBUTED no THE DEFEAT OF
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY lN
CARROLL COUNTY.

The result of the election in Car
roll county on Tuesday last, both as
to the State and local Democratic
tickets. with three or four exceptions,
III such as should shame every DEM
ocrat who helped To bring n ADOPT
They have sown dragons teeth ana
the usual crop is to be feared. Nhlle
repining over the defeat Of so many
loyal and worthy Democrats, we are
filled with dire forebodings as to the
future oil thu party whose betrayal
Ma brought decentralization in its
wake. III IL to be hoped, however,
that a better spirit may yet prevail
SO that the party may again be har-
moniously reunited.
The most potent Of the many
causes that contributed to the loss
of the county to tn state ticket, and
the defeat of % many Of our local
candidates, was the heated and eX-
cited primary almost Immediately
preceding the general election. I'm
til our people with angelic spirit
treat quarreling a. "A pastlme, and
forgive i'll more than PickWicklan
sense, the same pernicious vindictive-
ness will obtain after each recurring
primary election to threaten party
success. The Republican party is al
most immune to the disorganizing
effects Of a direct primary, for the
reason that their following j. plant
and submissive, % much 20, that
their leaders here are many times
permitted to name their candidates
without the friction of a primary,
which is quite an advantage in any
contest.
It wa thought by The promoters
Of the direct primary that If The ma
jority Of the party was permitted 70
name the candidates, the minority
would uncomplainingly support them,
but experience has proved this idea
to be utterly fallacious. There j. no
denying that the primary election
law has eliminated many evils that
attached to the old primary system,
but at the same time it must be ad-
mitted that most of the theoretical
advantages claimed for it have prov
"a practical failures, and taken As a
whole II IL undoubtedly, more harm
full than helpful.
1t multiplies candidates and jeopar-
dies their success, it increases the
number of bosses by districts, instead
Of by counties, it makes more per-
sonal the selection Of candidates,
which intensifies strife within the
party, it il productive OK animosities,
and limits the time, much too short,
for their assuagement, it makes the
polling place a clearing house for
the many grievances it has engender-
ed, it compels an open and tagrant
announcement of ones candidacy,
from which the most worthy and
meritorious shrink, thereby depriying
the people of the service of those
best qualified and most efficient, 1t
adds much to the expense of the
county and the candidates, and i'm
poses extra and unnecessary labor
upon the latter
III has been tried long enough to
make its mischievous effects appar-
ent to all, and we trust the incoming
legislature will repeal and SO amend
it as to convert it into a measure of
public utility There can be 10 ques-
ton but that a better and less -
pensive system can, and should be
devised.
While it is true many other
causes contributed to our election
day discontinue, it would be impo-
little to recite them all. Some We're
ID discreditable to those who were
moved by them. that pity mellows our
indignation, and mercy prompts US to
withhold them.