Catoctin clarion., 1919-08-21
CobIentz Enters Race.
Democratic Nomination
For House OfDelegates.

IN r FTeueTlck County, bcu'oSio'o "'SS -
the State Armory last Saturday and in
dorsed Central State Committee, dele
gates to the State convention and candi-
dates for all county Offices except States
ATTORNEY and Sheriff. Because of con-
test for States Attorney and Sheriff
these nominations were left over for the
candidates to fight out at the primary
election.
1t was the first time that county
convention has been held since the pri-
mary law went into effect and it was
nearest the old convention system pos
sible without ignoring the primary law.
A strong ticket headed by James II.
Gamhrill, Jr., for State Senator and In
cluding Emory l.. Coblentz, president of
the Hagerstown and Frederick Railway
Company, for House of Delegates was
nominated and platform calling for
many reforms in the administration of
the county's affairs was adopted. The
State ticket, headed by Attorney Cen
eral Albert C. Ritche, and the efforts of
President Wilson to bring about worlds
peace through the league of nations were
unanimously indorsed.
A motion was also passed indorsing the
stand of United States Senator John
Walter Smith ''as compared with and
contrasted with the socialistic stand of
Joseph l. France" whose votes, the
Democrats charge, do not meet with the
approval of the people of Maryland.
The convention was called to order by
D. Columbus Kemp, chairman of the
State and County Central Committee.
Former State Senator Jacob Rohrback
was chosen chairman and William M.
Storm and Spencer E. Stup secretaries.
The following candidates were unani-
mously indorsed:
For State eSenator-James H. Gambrill,
Jr., Frederick.
For House of Delegates Emory l..
Coblentz, Middetown; Guy X. Motter,
Frederick; J.. Lewis Rhodes, Emmits-
burg; C. w. Birch, Brunswick, and l..
Victor Kreh, Frederick.
For County Treasurer Bruce Muir
doch, Frederick.
For County Commissioner Rhodes
R. Kemp. Frederick, and Harry Wood,
New Market.
For Judges of the Orphans Court
Geo. Ed. Smith, Frederick; Louis c.
Etchison. Jefferson; and John H. Bow
ers, Brunswick.
For County Surveyor VIM. C. Humm.
For State Central Commlttee-D. Co
lumbus Kemp, DR.. Charles H, Conley.
William j. Grove, Leonard C. Barrick
and August T. Brust.
For Delegates to the State Convention
DIR. Conley, Mr. Kemp, Alfred W. Ga
yer, Mr.. Grove, J. W. Williams, Frank
M. Stevens, John r. Martin, D. Prince
ton Buckley and R. Frank Sappington.
The plank of platform dealing with
reforms in the administration of county
affairs were as follows:
1--WE believe that our County Commits
sioners should have acted upon the advice
and recommendation of all boards of
county auditors in the past who have in
variably recommended the forms in the
administration of county affairs in the
interest of taxpayers, which recommen-.
dations, made at an expense to the tax
payers, have been absolutely and pur-
posely ignored by the Republican party.
We believe that the Republican County
Commissioners of Frederick county have
flagrantly broken faith with the people
of Frederick county. In 1913, when the
tax rate was fixed at SLIPS, the explana
tion was made by the commissioners that
this was for the purpose of paying off
obligations already incurred, so that the
tax rate for 1919 would be substantially
reduced. AS yet the people of Frederick
county have not been Informed as to
whether or not these obligations have
been paid off, but have been informed
that their tax rate has been increased,
in utter disregard of their avowed prom
ises to the good people of Frederick
county and additional obligations con-
tracted amounting to thousands of dol
lars.
I'VE uhhesitateingly and severely con-
denim the practice of issuing certificates
for the payment of county obligations
entailng as this practice does large pay
ments in interest money and practice
which is contrary to every known rule of
modern business and we challenge the
Republican party to give one reason JUS
tifying a continuance of the same. We
are unable to understand why the county
roads are permitted to remain in the
washed, unworked and unsightly condi'
tion now existing, when such large sums
of money have been levied and collected
for their proper maintenance.
THAT we advocate, hereby pledgine
our candidate for Senator and members
of the House of Delegates when elected
to enact laws for the reduction of tn.
Board of County Commissioners from
five to three members; the elimination o
the fee system; the payment of the Coun
ty Commissioners a fixed salary; th'
adoption of the budget system in tn
leqying of county taxes and the expendi
lures thereof and limiting of the expen
ditures of the County Commissioners t.
the specific amount levied and the abso
lutte prohb ition of the issuing of certifi
Gates for the payment of county obliga
tions and a provision that no more none,