The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-24
Democratic Extravaganza.
June 21st, 1882.

/ smoke OF last fall'S local conAiCo h"'
cleared away, since the Legislative
session has ended, and the people
stand face to face with its results, they
ale now in a position to judge OF the
wisdom of their choice.
Ittheir representatives looked care
fully after the best interests OF the
county, with view to the enactment
of salutary laws, such as would add
to the convenience of the people, and,
if possible, result in reduction OF
county expenses. they will have earn
ed the gratitude and confidence OF the
public but if, on the other hand. they
went to Annapolis to play the pup
pet, and dance to these who stand
behind the scenes and pull the wires,
with view to securing mere party
advantage, they will most assuredly
be estimated at their true value. 1t
was not until the recC mt publication
of the local laws in the county papers
that the people knew what had been
done for US at the late session, and
my purpose is to discuss briefly and
fairly the more important of the late
enactments, with a view to showing
up their designed and intended effect.
l notice, first, the repeal OF that
section of the county license law, re-
curing liquor dealers to pay to the
county for the use of the public
schools, an amount equal to the State
license. This license yielded last
year $4O5, which, by the repeal of
this law is taken away from the
meager school fund, and applied as a
premium for the encouragement of
the liquor trade. There was clearly
no necessity for this. There is cry
ing need of more aid better schools,
but the liquor dealers we had were
certainly able to attend to all the
business.
Again, there is law increasing the
Sheriff's allowances in Garrett coun-
ty. / would simply say in this con-
nection that if a Republican sheriff
had been elected there would have
been no increase of pay. The place
was eagerly enough south after be-
fore, and the fact that Democrat
happened to slip into it. ought not to
have been a sufficient reason for in
creasing the allowances.
There is no good to the people,
either in taking money from the
school fund to benefit the liquor trade,
or in taking 1T out of the peoples
pockets &c add to the second best
paying Office in the county.
Mr.. Beachey's law to prevent the
spread of Canada thistle is not in any
sense bad law, as it does not effect
the peoples pockets. unless they fail
to comply with its provisions and
ifhe succeeds in preventing the spread
of the pest he will have rendered a
valuable service.
But the business of the session, the
crowping act, the great master-stroke
was the creation of certain new cleo
ton districts. On this great work
the mighty Democratic intellect was
brought to bear, and the result is the
most natural thing that could be i'm
agined.
1t was an open secret that Demo.
cratic victories in Garrett had be-
come a mighty ION sarUain crap,"
and though Paul might plant, and
Apollos water, the plant Democracy
did not seem to thrive we'll in this
rarified atmosphere. Something must
be done or the Democracy would lose
its grip on the county entirely and
last fall's election gave them the
coveted opportunity to cut up the
election districts, and gerrymander
the county so as to have the Repub-
llcans at disadvantage.
There was No. /, a large district,
and in it, along the line of the rail
road, was Swanton, solidly Demo-
cratic, and Deer Park, with scarcely
Republican vote. Now if they could
cut the district so as to make these
the voting places, the bulk of the
Democratic vote would, in each in
stance live near the polls, while the
Republicans, living mostly across the
Backbone Mountain, would have to
do the travelling. There was the law
however, authorizing the County
Commissioners to appoint the voting
places. butthat could be got over by
Legislative enactment.
In district No. 8 also, there is
a large Republican neighborhood
Southeast of the mountain, with a
corresponding Democratic neighbour
hood on the Northwest of it, and
if by usurping the functions of the
County Commissioners. they could
in each instance fix the voting place
in the centre of Democratic neigh
bOrhOOd, and as far aWav from tho