The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-03-01
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM HARTFORD CorJNTy
Political Outlook In Pennsylvania-wor
for the National Republican Con-
vention-Legislative
Criticism

BELAIR, Nd, February 25th, 1884
1sfors Union Since my last letter was writ.
S.n me nrst gun OF the campaign of 'S4 has been
discharged, and the report of that gun has re-
ecnYd from Maine to Texas and from ocean 10
goe'N. Phlladelphia's municipal election of last
iuelday mas not only put quietus on the Ran
oan Doom Tor the Presidency, but it has also done
mop IL mas silenced at this early period of the
CAMPAIGN all argument as to how Pennsylvania
wllIvote in November next I base nv concIu-
sinz upon the remarks of Mr.. Randall in n sneecb
| ne delivered few weeks ago in PHILADELPHIA urp
| ing MS Democratic adherents on to the combat,
ana TO stimulate them to more active work, he
said: my friends, this municipal fight is only the
nrst step TO greater contest. Let US but carry
the city election on Tuesday week and we shall
have placed Pennsylvania in the list of debatable
states" Now, as they failed to carry this "city
election, according 10 Mr.. Randalls logic, the
state will not be placed where he wanted it. viz:
IN the list of debatable States," but we are free
to head the list of the States that will certainly
votefor Republican President with that of Penn
sylvania. Good for the Keystone.
We have made good start in the approaching
campaign. The next move to be made should be
very careful and judicious one. allude to the
work of the nominating convention. am look
ing forward to the work of that convention with
considerable interest, and may 1 anticipate with
all good Republicans that the choice of that body
may be an unexceptionabe one? Let them select
the very best men the party can furnish men of
lrreproachable public character of sound, states
manike views, who have no sins to answer for
either of public or private character, and who are
identified with and devoted to the cardinal prin-
ciples of the great Republican party, and our
colors will once more wave in triumph over the
Executive department of our Government. A
consideration OF paramount Importance in the
selection of candidates for the Presidency and
Vice-Presidency is this: The best ticket we can
offer the electors will be great hsIp tQwsgag res
which was swept from house by the great
political tidal wave that swept the North and
West in 'S2. This is point that should claim
the attention of the Republican press of the coun
try, and should be thoroughly digested from now
until the meeting of the convention. There is
much lost ground that we must recover and there
are Congressional districts that have been in the
possession OF the opposite party long enough, and
which are, as Mr.. Randall phrases it, "debatable."
Give us strong ticket for President and Vice.
President and we would have good grounds to
hope for success, in this the Second Congress
sonal district of Maryland. I we'll remember the
Gubcrnatorial election of 1874. Mr.. Thomas G.. |
Pratt was the Wing candidate, while the Demo- |
Gratis had named Mr.. James Carroll, at that time |
supposed by his party to be the strongest man |
they could name. The Democrats were in power |
in the State and were largely in the majority yet
Mr. Pratt had the great assistance of the Presi- |
dental ticket of his party with the talismanic |
name of Henry Clay at its head, and the result
was Waterloo defeat for the Democracy.
see our Legislature has about blocked the city |
annexation scheme. I have not one word to say |
about it pro or And the eight hour bill has |
been laid at rest. May it have sweet slumbers, |
but don't you forget it, somebody will arouse it at
some future time and that not in the far distant,
when it will revive with renewed vigor and with |
greater strength than it has yet known. There is !
one measure that see mooted in legislative cir |
cles that L look upon as savoring of the right |
Kind That is for the Legislature to empower |
County Commissioners to legislate for local mat !
tiers that concern their own county, and that do !
not interfere with the vested rights of others. |
look upon this as sound policy. Who is, or at |
least should be- as familiar with the wants and |
necessities of their own county as the Board of |
Commissioners elected for that very purpose
Then when our counties might need new court |
house, or Jail, or aims house, any other local |
necessary improvement, our people would not be
compelled to petition our Legislatures and send |
committees down to Annapolis to beg their honors
to grant us the privilege of making these improve
ments. We could ask our Board of Commission
ers to legalize such measure and the thing would
be done, if in their judgment the exigencies of the
ease demanded it. Not otherwise. believe such
a system would insure us better men for the re-
sponsible position of Commissioners and would
inure to the best interest of the taxpayer. Again.
it would considerably diminish the labor of our
over-tared Legislatures, and would enable them
to accomplish in thirty days what it now takes
ninety to perform, and great deal of that very
imperfecty, and L think it would be step to-
wards shortening the days of their labor of each
session at least one-half and the sessions to be
every four years instead of every two. The time
that intervenes between one session and another
as at present is scarcely long enough to try the
quality of law. and the result sree5test
batch of stuff if possible than that which they
peal. Give our Commissioners legislative power,
curtai the time for legislative sessions to say forty
days, and but one session every four years, and |
think would approximate about the right sys-
tenn in these respects. RAMBLER.