Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-07-18
THE apNYEKENeg or pgMoa i &c

THE CONFERENCE or DEMOg RATS
Some beneficial results we're achiev-
ed By The conference Of Democrats
which took place Today Ill the call 81
the state Central COMMITTEES Though
the attendance Ms only moderate, il
vas quite representative of All sections
og the county and All clements 10 the
parry
The important thing accomplished
was that tile meeting unanimously ac-
ceptea The suggestion made BY the
Committee mat party nominations
should be ieft 10 the free expression
Of the voters. and That neither man.
nor clique should attempt q control
Ii.
Some disposition manifested itself
10 qacstion the sincerity OF the nein-
oers 81 the State Central Committee.
Thls Is beside the point The Com
niiltee may have had various reasons
for taking lie stand II did. and the
conclusion might have heen forced
up0h Il that there was no other pos-
sihie course left. still. the committee.
did take action which pledged Ii to
the course which Ii approved by every
Democrat without selfish purpose
and every good citizen III the county.
and Il should be given the credit for Il.
III ii trne that the nndeInncratic and
nnamerican procedure BY which those
who refused to bow the knee To the or.
ganization' were II ntcd froln hav..
inga fair opportunity before the vot..
ers 81 the party ii to be laid chiefly al
The doors oG those Who have composed
this committee, but, for whatever
cause. the members are seeing things
In q new light. and must be credited
with bowing 10 the new order Of
things
A. William If Moss said SO we'll. the.
party Il going To act for itself This
fall whether conferences are held or
not, and whether Committees yield ID
the voters what has always heen their
right To determine their own affairs.
rho charge vas also made thai faie8
state Central Committee had already.
laid its plans to force The nomination
0f men ot It's own choice This WAS
denied specifically, and III most sol.
emn terms BY Chairman Rrady, while
Meaaesa iseuell ana Hammond, the
other members 81 the committee. we're
present. md did moi question hts state
ment MT. brady avnwed that inc
Committed had not. and would not
take action along this line,
Il resolution was passed which APP
proved the stand taken BY the Commits
tee, and announced il as the sense OF
the gathering. representative Of the
Democratic party Oh the county. that
the selection 81 candidates should be
left Id The free and uncoerced choice
of the party Iii other words. the
State Central Committee has asked tile
Democrats of the county to meet and
say what shall be done this TALL. The
Democrats Of the county have met. and
the Committee Is Ia honor bound to
do the things ii demands. Any hack
or sincerity on the part of the men
composing the Committee would stig-
lnatine them. not only as recreant
Democrats. but as men unworthy OF
the slightest personal trust.
The TACT that party success this
fail depends lpon fairness and JUST
mss in the conduct Of the primaries.
was pointed out and cannot he ,lonht-
csi with the loss III section which
has furnished nearly the whole 81
Democratic ma3orities for many
years. the party must net I'M such
way and name such candidates that
the full party strength may he gath
cred 10 the support Of the ticket.
Democratic success means much III
this county
However. there is still d greater
reason bigger than mere party sue
cess behind the movement. Al great
Democratic and American principle IS
involved This nation was founded on
the right Of the people o control their /
own affairs, and the men who So form
cd h helieyed that the deliberately ex-
pressed verdict Of the whole people
was more likely to be right than me
rrsuiun Of one man or sci of men
The organization system denied the
right Of free expression to the people, /
and prevented the realization oil The
democratic and American idea Ii
was iraitorous graft upon the body
of Amsrtcan institutions America
could mol Be free could rot be Amer
ican while Il remained
Too many have failed ID see This
as principle. but hare been willing
70 he the benenciaries oF tho system
when they could and only denounced
Il when they nailed 10 get what they
.NyNn4xaA ss. ss,stssxs, -, tkr4 t4ss.&