Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-05-28
CITY DEMOCRATS
STILL AT "OUTS"
Success of the Party JeOpardized
BY the Quarreling Factions
In Baltimore City.
Baltimore, May Goth, 1921.

ed, to the Democracy of the whole
State, is attracting much attention at
the present time. In view of the fact
that the General Assembly to be elect
ed this year, the whole membership of
the House of Delegates and half of
the Senate. Democrats generally
throughout the State are greatly in
terested, and no little concern is felt
over the possibility that the unfortu-
nate divisions in the City Democracy,
may not only jeopardize the election
of Comptroller to succeed Major Lee,
but may render it uncertain as to
which party shall control the Legisla-
ture next winter. How to change the
present condition, and bring about a
state of harmony and union, is prob
lem which the rank and file of the
party as we'll as the leaders, would
like to see solved, and it will tax the
skill and tact of the wiseSt of them to
find Il solution of the difficulties which
are of several years standing. and
which are apparently no nearer Solu
ton now than they have been ever
since the beginning of Governor Har
ringtons Administration.
As usual party troubles of the sort
now vexing the City Democracy, are
based almost entirely on the division
of the official Spoils. If there is any
question of real principle involved,
no one has ever been able to discover
it, 1t involves not only the distribu-
tion of the offices within the gift of
the Governor. but also the large num-
ber of lucrative offices dependent on
the Mayor of the City,and in the latter
particular the troubles go back to the
Preston Administration, when the for
mer Mayor bestowed his favorS large
ly on one element of the party, to the
almost total exclusion of the other,
and when Governor Harrington, pos
sibly in order to offset the effect of
the policy of the City Hall officials,
gave out his favors to the faction
which had been ignored by the Mayor
Other matters of less Importance have
from time to time entered into and
accentuated the differences between
the factions, but, as usual, the real
basis of the political difficulties which
call for solution here, is the past and
the prospective future division cf the
spoils of office.
No question of real principle enters
into the case in the slightest degree,
and the remedy can easily be found
if there is any sincere desire to find a
remedy, and, either end the troubles
or reduce them to an ineffective and
valueless minimum. The Democratic
party in the counties, taking the State
as whole, is united and in excellent
shape at the present time. 1t is true
some of the counties have trifllng
local troubles to settle, but there is no
difficulty in any of these counties
which can be of any serious danger
to the general result. The Democratic
Citizens of Maryland are as Demo-
cratic now as they have been any time
since the Civil War. and are as de-
voted to their party and its principles
as their Fathers were. The only trou-
blesome spot is Baltimore City, with
its large alien and really undemocratic
and mercenary foreign vote. How to
get that in proper and effective shape
is the problem before the leaders for a
solution.
Governor Ritchie, and the other real
party leaders, who are vitality inter
ested in the welfare of the State are
already at work to bring about state
of harmony in the City. To that end
His Excellency is holding conferences
with the leaders, and, he intends to do
all in his power to get them together.
Efforts will be made to present list
of candidates for nomination which
will be acceptable TO both sides. and in
some instances where it is impossible
to arrive at an agreement as to the
nominees, and primary contest appear
inevitable. a committee may be chosen
to represent both sides, whose decision
it is expected will be concurred by all.
The Governor, with the great power
which his control over the official
forces of the State gives him. may be
able to bring about order if not real
harmony. and there is no doubt that
but if he takes hold of matters with a
strong hand he can bring the opposing
forces to terms-for in the end the
real crux of the troubles is based on
the men who are in Office by grace of
the Executive appointment, and nearly
oil those who are showing a dispc
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