Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-11-16
THE DEMOCRATIC VICTORY

The election in Maryland on
last Tuesday resulted in a great
victory for the Democratic party
OF this State, Governor Richie
and his associates having been
elected by more than 10000 ma
jority, and both houses of the
legislature will be Democratic.
The result on its face, at least,
would seem to indicate again
that Maryland is a Democratic
state and can be relied upon to
elect Democrats to Office at all
times except when the people,
for reasons of their own, revolt
against its nominees or policies.
But while this is substantially
the fact in the case, there are, it
seems to us, some other reasons
which may very properly be as
signed for the overwhelming de-
feat of the Republican party
and we say this without any eff
fort or intention to disparage the
victory of Governor Richie,
which is, to a large extent, per-
sonal- among them being, as we
see it, the fact that the people OF
Maryland are opposed to prohi-
bition and the passage of a State
enforcement act which the
Democrats strenuously opposed
and pledged themselves against;
that the ku Klux Khan cuts lit
tie figure in the politics of the
State ana that the people are OPP
posed to their activities, and that
the Republican party suffered
woefully from the lack of organ
cation.
The first two reasons we shall
pass over with the statement OF
them, the latter reason = the lack
Of organization deserves, we
think, a little more consideration
at this time. The Leader, in the
course of the last campaign, and
Tor a number of years past, has
tried to stress the necessity for
strong, cohesive party organi-
zation, but our suggestions, both
as to the State and county organ
izations, fell upon deaf ears and
nothing of a practical nature was
done, so we have reaped the
whirlwind.
The State organization lacks
force, discernment, action and
acumen and the campaign con
Quoted by it in behalf of Mr..
Armstrong and the other State
wide candidates, was about as
supine as we can recall. The eff |
forts of the county organization
may well be characterized in the
same way. The above state
ments are not made simply toI
criticise, but in the hope that a
frank statement of what many |
regard as a fact will result in CO.
hesion and strong organization
in the Republican party of the
State and in the several counties.
A recognition Of the present
defects and an effort to correct
them holds, in our opinion, the
only hope of future success for
the Republicans of Maryland.
We reproduce the above from
the Laurel Leodvr and agree with
Brother Curley that the State
campaign was badly managed, |
and, as far as the counties OF |
Southern Maryland are con
cerned, we do not hesitate to say |
that in face of the results, that
poor management existed, Lot
only in Prince Georges, but in
st. Mary's, Calvert and Charles,
especially in this county, where
the Republican party has an af-
majority of around 1900.
The Republicans of this county
must get togetherif results are
to be accomplished in the future.
An organization must be effected
upon a solid basis, that will
mean return to full Republican
in the county. III
can and must be done, but it can
be done only by sacrificing per
sonal interests for party good.