The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-03-27
FREDERICK w. BAKER, Editor.
The Higgins Controversy.

The appointment of Eugene Higgins, OF
Baltimore, as appointment clerk in the
Treasury department, has raised storm in
Maryland that resembles tempest in 9
teapot. The Republican journals OF
course, are loud in their denuncalion
of Higgins, and make the most absurd
and extravaganza charges against him.
These charges, if true, should be sus.
tanned by better proof than mere asser-
ton. Ifnot true, the motive in making them
must be to discredit the sincerity of President
Cleyeland's efforts to cleanse and purify the
Augean stables at Washington.
Ex-Governor John Lee Carroll also added
fuel to the flames, last week, by letter to
the New York Times, in which he calls Sen
ator German to account for having used his
influence TO secure the place for Higgins
On the other hand Mayor Latrobe has
written a letter to Mr.. Higgins, congratulate
ing him on his appointment, and expressing
his confidence in him.
Mr. Robert T. Baldwin, President of the
Mechanics Bank, of Baltimore, has also
written a letter to President Cleveland, say.
ing that he has known Mr.. Higgins for many
years as business man, as a member of the
City Council, of the State Legislature, and as
an active and earnest Democrat, and having
had many opportunities of observing him,
Mr.. Baldwin states that Mr.. Higgins deport.
ment has been uniformly correct and truth
full and that he is entitled to his confidence.
Mr.. Baldwin has been identified with several
movements for municipal reform in Balti
more city and it is to these he probably re-
fers when he says:
"1n some political contests in which have
been an active participant for reasons well
known to the community to be of q public
and not in any sense of personal character,
have been favored by Mr.. Higgins's efficient
assistance and cooperation, for which | feel
grateful to him."
This is very strong endorsement from one
of the most prominent, conservative and dis
Greet citizens of Baltimore, and of itself is suf-
ticient to outweigh all the allegations brought
against Mr.. Higgins by the Republican press.
A number of other prominent citizens of
Baltimore have also united in letter to Sec
rotary Manning endorsing Mr.. Higgins and
urging him not 10 be deceived by any parti-
san or factional clamor against him.
The New York Sun speaks of the Higgins
case as follows:
"There are rival Democratic factions in Mary
land, as elsewhere. Their jeaousies at this
time, when Federal patronage is in question, are
even keener than heretofore when they were
sharply defined in the contest for local Offices
They are aggravated by the fact that the Legsla-
ture to be chosen this fall will elect senator to
succeed Mr.. German
"Ex-Governor Hamilton and ex- Senator Pink
ney Whyte are the chief competitors against Mr..
German for the seat in the Senate Ofcourse,
their first object is to weaken their rival, who
beat them both for the control of the Democra-
tic organization in the State.
"This is the true inspiration of all the attacks
on Mr.. Higgins, who was recently designated
to fill the Office of appointment Clerk in the
Treasury temporarily, as the resignation of the
actual incumbent does not take effect until the
LIST of April
"The clamor against Higgins was device of
Mr.. Whyte to impair the influence of Mr.. Cor
man. He adroitly enlisted the aid of the pro-
fessional civil service reformers, and they have
obediently followed the wishes of politician
renowned for his devotion to machine me.
thods.'