National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-21
Rehabilitating n Ring.

Gov. McLnno has set TO work TO mako
Maryland solid democratic state. This can
only be done by keeping firm hold on the
election machinery in Baltimore city, and
expanding the democratic majority according
to the oxigencies Of each particular cam
paign.
From 1870 to 1880 election frauds were
practiced with unblushng enrontery, whom
ever there were opposition candidates in the
field whose success was regarded as possible,
and sometimes enormous majorities wero
returned out of mere wantonness, when
there was no real motive for ballot-box stuff
ing except to show that tho boys"
were on hand and were getting in their work.
At last the better elements Of tho party re-
volted against the fragrant rascality which
intruded itself into the primary elections
and nominating conventions as we'll as into
the regular party contests at the polls. The
men who were turned down at the primaries
by the dexterous manipulations of trained
tricksters became indignant and clamored for
fair play. Gov. Hamilton Joined in the cry
and pressed upon the legislature the neces-
sity of providing additional safeguards against
election frauds, but nothing was done until
the session of 1882, when bill was passed
providing for new registration of voters,
and primary elections were placed under the
protection of the law.
In Baltimore city the judges of election
are appointed by q board of supervisors
nominated by the governor and confirmed by
the senate. Although Gov. Hamilton's i'm
mediate predecessors selected none but par
tsan democrats for this duty, he changed the
rule and gave the republicans one rep.
resentative on the board. The first
fruit of the now registration and
fair administration of the election laws was
the defeat of the judiciary ticket set up by
the regular democratic convention in 1882.
An independent ticket was brought out by
the anti-ring democrats and elected by
decisive majority. All the courts in the city
are presided over by judges in whose integ-
rity and impartiality the people have entire
confidence. At the election last November
the fusion ticket was again successful and a
republican sheriff was chosen.
The independent democrats generally ia.
vored the election OF Gov. McLsne, because
they supposed that he would continue the re-
form policy inaugurated by Gov. Hamilton,
and compel an honest administration of the
election laws. In this they were mistaken.
Gov. McLane never identified himself with
the reformers but they innocently imagined
that his eminent gentility would keep him
out of bad company. The nominations
other day show that he is in full accord with
the men whom the reformers have been fight
ing for the last two years. The deposed
bosses are again on their legs and during
Gov. McLane's administration, at least will
have things their own way.
The new board Of election supervisors is
composed of three partisan democrats, the
republicans being deprived of all representa-
tion. One Of the new supervisors was coun-
sci to the old board of registers, when the
lists of voters were manipulated SO as to pro-
duce whatever result the managers desired.
The election judges and clerks will be So
lected from the ranks of the active political
workers whose performances in the past have
given the city en- unenviable notoriety. 1t
may BIO assumed that the regular demo-
cratic ticket will be elected in Baltimore for
some years to come.