The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-10-06
BALTIMORE LETTER

Baltimore, September 2Sth, 1922.
The really important event, so far
as the present campaign is concerned,
took place last week at Braddock
Heights. The State Convention was
a tame affair, owing to the fact that
under the present system that body
is nothing more than a means of reg
istering the will of the party voters,
as determined at the polls on the
date of the primary election. The
Braddock meeting however really
marked an era in the history of the
Democratic party in Maryland. Not
since the Civil War, which ended 50
far as party matters are concerned,
with the reconstruction period in the
late sixties, now more than century
ago, has there been such a meeting
and it was really a notwithstanding
opening of the campaign, and was
most auspiciCuS of victory at the
polls in November. Never at Coun-
ty meeting held in a section of the
State far from Baltimore City, have
50 MANY men OF prominence, high
character and real ability. been gath
cred together at one time, and in
such a harmonious way. From the
Governor down through all the list,
all the prominent officials of the State
government were there, and, with one
or two exceptions, all the nOn-oflicial
Democratic State leaders were on
hand. to give encouragement II the
candidates and patriotic Democrats
in their contest for party supremacy
in November.
The KEYNOTE speech of the gather
ing. was that made by Mr.. David C..
Winebrenner. 3rd In an unusually
vigorous and forcible way. he told
The leaders who were nresent that
the younger members of the party.
those who were the real workers for
Democratic success, were ready to
follow them, but that in order to re-
tain the LOYALTY and support of those
whose work would make marty sue
cess possible. they must prove by
their wisdom that they were worthy
to lead. In Il short but very able and
sensible Introduction. the young
chairman gave some most excellent
advice TO those who are in positions
of authority, and showed most con-
clusivelv that he and his colleagues
among the Younger men, We're ready
to exert themselves to the utmost for
the party. but that they expected the
older men to show their wisdom and
marty LOYALTY by fairness and impair
tial justice, in their direction of af-
fairs.
H----rnor Richie made Il most eX-
Cellent speech, in which he pointed
out the services the Democratic par
~ had already rendered to the peo-
pie OF the State and nation. and Mr.
Bruce in a most able and eloquent
address gave a detail account of the
vagaries and absodrities which had
marked The career of his Republican
opponent. Senator France. Altogeth-
er the whole meeting including the
excellent dinner served. was remark
able, and gave great encouragement
20 the Democrats present from every
section of the State. In staging this
remarkable success. as the formal
opening Of the campaign. Mr. Wine
brenncr and his Frederick county as
$ociates. have placed the Democrats
Throughout the State under unusual
obligations, and are receiving from
all quarters all sorts of commenda-
ton for what they have done
The Democrats throughout Mary
land should realize that in this cam
Daign they will probably be obliged
to depend On the county papers for
any real and encouraging publicity
which may be accorded to them.
N'hataYa,,
way of favors from the Baltimore
city newspapers, will be grudgingly
given, and up to the present time.
there has been very little of that
manifest in the columns of the met
roDolitan press. For many wears
past, the real bulwark of the Demo-
cratic party in Maryland, has been
the County Democratic press. and
whatever support and encouragement
has been received from the great
dailieS OF this town, has been given
to individual candidates, and not to
any ticket as whole. For years, at
periods in the past, the entire city
press has been really hostile to the
Democratic party, both city and
State. This was notably the case in
{ VIC loIV ulHCtlcS VI lHc last century,
and in the first decade of the present
century. All this time the County
papers were loyal. and the Demo-
cratic party survived the ordeal. Dem
ocratic officials may at times make
mistakes. and times go wrong. When
they do so. the city papers exhaust
their vocabulary in denunciation and
abuse. Republicans officials make all
sorts of mistakes. They may loot the
! City Hall. and mismanage the FEEDER
al offices. violate the Civil service
law, and commit all sorts of official
/ iniquities-and their ofenses are
rarely ever mentioned. When the
/ Democratic party was in control OF
+ the Federal offices, if a Democratic
Federal official took any part in par
/ ~ or partisan affairs, he was held up
/ in the CITY press. as a violator of the
letter and the spirit of the law. and
vigorously denounced as almost a
criminal. Now Republican Federal
officials of all classes and grades are
openly and glaringly doing the most
active sort of partisan work, holding
/ positions as heads and members OF