Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-10-01
DEMOCRATS ADOPT
STRONG PLATFORM

which deprives millions of our citizens
Of their right to strive not only for
success but for a living :
We pledge our party to do every
thing possible to relieve this situation
by the vigorous pushing of needed pub
lie works, such as roads, bridges and
general construction, and in every
other way in which the State, either
alone or In cooperation with the Fed
eral Government, can properly initiate
or aid.
We call attention to the work Of the
commission, appointed pursuant to the
act of a Democratic Legislature, to in
vestigate mining conditions in this
State. and we pledge our party to suit
able legislation for the betterment Of
these conditions.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
We declare our confidence in the
political judgment and capacity of the
registered voters Of the Democratic
party and do again declare that the
power and privilege of nominating
party candidates by direct vote should
remain with the people. We pledge
our party to pass only such amend
ments to the Primary Election law as
shall be consistent with its theory and
principle, and to oppose any amend,
ments thereto restricting the voters
opportunity to make all party nomina-
lions by direct vote.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
We believe that the extension Of the
suffrage to women carries with it
joint responsibility upon women and
men for the administration of public
affairs. We think that women should
be appointed on State boards and com
missions, particularly in those fields Of
work where woman's training, interest
or experience especially Qualities her.
We pledge our party to legislation
removing all political disabilities OF
women and making it possible for them
to hold any elective or appointive office,
and to serve on juries.
CONSERVATION.
Twenty years ago Maryland ranked
first among the oyster producing States
of the country. We desire to restore
the State, as nearly as possible, to her
former position, and to this end we
favor the extensive planting of oyster
Shells and seed oysters on barren rocks
We renew our past pledges for the
continued protection of the oystermen
in the free use of the natural oyster
beds and bars.
We favor the establishment and
maintenance by the State of CONNER
cial and fresh-water fish hatcheries,
for the purpose of stocking the streams
and rivers Of the State with an abund-
ant supply Of fish.
We favor all needed legislation for
the protection of the crab, Maryland
already prohibits winter dredging and
the catching of the sponge or egg-bear
ing crab Virginia does not. and orr
crab supply has been greatly depleted
in consequence Recently, however. as
the result Of efforts Of the conservation
commission, Virginia has agreed to
enact legislation similar to ours. We
favor cooperative and uniform laws
between the two States on the subject.
PRISON REFORM
The present administration has gone
as far as it can in carrying out the
legislative direction to establish a sys-
tenn of prison labor which will super
sede the contract-lab0r system. The
existing contracts are now all termin-
able on short notice and plans for the
new system have been drawn. We favor
legislation for the establishment of ap-
propriate industries at the prison for
the making of articles for the State.
We believe that this, in connection with
work on the roads and elsewhere out
Of doors, will enable the prison autheri-
ties to give the prisoners work selected
primarily in accordance with their
own economic needs, will assure them
a livelihood when released, and enable
them to take their places then as law
abiding, producing members Of society
CONCLUSION.
We heartily indorse the Democratic
candidate for State Comptroller, Will
liam S. Gordy, Jr., of Salisbury. He is
the unanimous choice of the party for
this important position, for which, in
experience, ability and high character,
he is pre-eminently fitted
We appeal to the voters of the State
to elect a Democratic General Assem-
bly,, in order that the pledges for con-
ytructive legislation made in this plat.
torn may be faithfully carried out.
Upon this platform we submit our
,ause to the people.
Published by authority Of J. Hubert
Wade, Treasurer.
.sg2 ,'s;% ~ - sls e. o.