The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-02
Elect all Officers.

While the above is the last it is by
no means the least important reso.
luton adopted by the late Republi.
can County Convention. nor is It a
mere declaration without meaning,
but is a true expression of the sense
of the Republicans of Garrett county
on this most important matter. and
means that they are In favor of the
election of the School Commission.
ers and County treasurer.
For years we have demanded the
election of the School Commissioners,
but have always been refused and
denied this right by the Democrats.
While Getty and Browning were in
the Senate the demand was made and
urged. and both always opposed il.
Until two years ago the School Com.
missioners were appointed by the
Court, the law contemplating that
school matters should as much as
possible be kept out of politics, but
the Republicans having minority
representation. and with few excep.
tions the Democratic members being
men who were not subservient but
obedient to the "big four" .SSlNz
Democratic oligarchy controlling that
party, the latter determined thata
change should be made, and in 1888
the appointing power was trans.
tered from the Court to the Goer-
nor, making 1t solely and wholly u
partisan matter subject to their will
and control. In the past indicted
ness has been incurred by Democratic
School Boards to the amOlnt of
$4,000. OF this the sum ofS18,000
was by Mr.. Getty thrown ulon the
tax payers of the county. afer hay.
ing been voted down, and b pay 1t
will require thirteen years. The re.
naming $4,000 was paid by closing
the schools. Because of this and be.
cause no change could be otherwise
obtained. the election of the School
Commissioner was and is now de.
sired, and in no other wsy can the
evil be remedied. They should be
made elective and thus be made re-
sponsible directly to the people and
the taxpayers. and then, if not com.
petent and what they should be,
they can be turned out and others
put in by the votes of the people.
If, however. they are to be appointed
by the Governor, then the four rul-
ing leaders of the Democratic party
can at all times name and select the
Commissioners and will as matter
of course only have appointed such
men as will do their bidding. If Mr..
Getty. Hoye and Merrill are elected
no change will be made in the mode
of selecting the Commissioners. and
by them will the appointments be
dictated. IF Laughlin. Friond s1c
Kemp are elected the local law for
Garrett county will be so amended as
to provide for their election.
The Country Treasury should be
elected. 1t is one of the most i'm.
portant offices in the county-so i'm.
portant that the County Commits
sioners should not be hampered in
the discharge of their duties by reason
of the numerous applicants for it. the
influence and great pressure brought
to bear for this or that man desiring
the appointment. The Democrats
endeavored to obtain control OF this
Office also, by providing in the law
as originally offered by them that
the Treasurer should be appointed by
the Governor, but this was so strong.
ly opposed that they had to agree to
an amendment that he should be ap.
pointed by the County Commission
ers but they still cling TO the origi.
nal plan. The Republicans, how.
ever. being nearly always in the
majority in the board of County
Commissioners, they have little
hopes of gaining control of the Office
unless the law Is amended so as to be
the same as first introduced and you
may rest assured if Getty. Hoye and
Merrill are elected this change will
be made and the Governor will ap.
point. This and other legislation
shows that the Democracy are op.
posed to the election of these officers
in Garrett county and opposed 10
local self.government. The Republi.
cans are in favor of local self.govern.
went and so declare, and Laughlin,
Friend and Kemp, if elected, will
fulfill the pledges made, and so
amend the laws as to provide for the
election of School Commissioners and
County Treasurer.
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