Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-04-24
DEMOCRATIC REFORM CLUB.

OcTauc party, looking toward reformation
in State legislation and administration, as
foreshadowed in our columns last week,
took definite shape and form on Wednes-
day night of last week, in Baltimore, in the
organization of the Maryland Democratic
Reform Club of that city. The meeting was
an assemblage of gentlemen from various
parts of the State, of diverse professions
and callings, but all known as Democrats,
and in favor of reform in State and nation.
al politics upon Democratic lines and prin.
ciples. The meeting was organized by call
ing Mr.. Philip d. Laird, of this county, TO
the chair, who, after returning thanks for
the honor, delivered the following address {:
1t is proper at the outset of this move.
ment-if it may be called SOTO say a word
or two about the purposes for which it is
undertaken and the necessity for its organi-
Eation.
We have all felt the need of reliable In +
formation in regard TO our State and local
affairs whenever we have been called upon
to consider them with reference to proposed
legislation. The discussion of public uues.
tions has been mainly Of hap. hazard, dis
jointed kind, based upon desire or prejudice,
rather than upon accurate knowledge of the
subject in hand. Our Legislatures meet and
half OF the sessions are frittered away before
bills are formulated, and then measures of
the utmost importance are rushed through
amidst the confusion of conflicting local in.
terests before the people are well aware of
what is being done or public opinion has
had an opportunity TO judge of their merits
and communicate its conclusions to the Gen.
eral Assembly. This is precisely the con-
dltion of things which the lobby desires. Its
aims are always definite and matured be-
fore the Legislature meets, and its organiza-
tion is SO complete and its ways are so in.
sldious that its purposes are usually accom-
plished before suspicion is aroused The
average member, honest and well meaning,
but unframed, is easily deceived, while the
industrious and attentive member has more
than he can attend TO in the detail work of
the House and the exacting demands of the
committee. L am sure that voice the feel
ing OF every earnest man who has been in
the Legislature when say that, of all the
difficulties he has encountered at Annapo.
lis, none has been greater than the absence
of that intelligent interest and assistance
which those who had most at stake were
best able TO give, and which they could have
supplied without serious Inconvenience and
W thSli iiunlltob duNdutdBc. III tu6 COuH
ties this is Wore seriously felt than in the
city. The county press, with its limited
means, is inadequate to the full presentation
of the many interesting questions which
arise, and though it often does good work,
IL is employed, for the most part, with mat,
iers OF local concern. The rural population
more or less isolated, compelled to labor
from dawn till dark, is debarred the privi.
lege of frequent meeting and conference,
and its members come to regard themselves
as the uncared for portion Of the people,
and hence do not exert the influence To
which their shrewd common sense entities
them. Their environment is so different
from that OF the dwelers in cities that, un-
consciously in both, there arise conceptions
Of antagonisms which have no existence in
fact, and should have none in thought
1t is the object of this association to meet
these conditions. AS | understand it, it is
TO have nothing to do with the political for
tunes cd men. IL is proposed to embrace in
It's membership men from all sections of the
State, so that in its discussions OF public
questions all interests will be heard and
wise and enduring compromises established
Through its various committees it will
gather information upon matters of public
interest and disseminate it among the peo.
pie, and 10y the formulation OF bills concen-
irute attention upon specific measures OF re-
form. Such associations have been of in.
caiculable benefit in other States of the
Union, and there is no reason why, il il
Keeps within proper limits, the organization
you are about to form should not confer
lasting blessings upon Maryland.
The result will be a better understanding
l,etween town and country; men will be
brought into contact; interests supposed to
lie in conflict will be found TO be mutual ;
the public mind will be informed the dis.
,uss,Qn of public questions will be conduct
I'd upon higher level, uncontaminated by
personal and selfish considerations, and con
cusions will be reached without bitterness
and apart from the arts of chicanery and
deception.
1t would be impossible TO conceive more
fitting time, more imperative need for it
than now exists Try as we may to disguise
II, we have been brought face to face with
The bad consequences of loose administra.
ton Of the laws, and statutes are needed
which will make repetition of these scan
'ials impossible But what is of more inter
est than the errors and shortcomings of the
past is the fact that the adoption of certain
amendments OF the constitution of the State
will entail upon the Legislature an amount
and kind of work such as it has not under
taken in generation, and which is of vital
importance to the well being OF every class
Of the community, and may make or mar
the prosperity OF the Common wealth.
Take Tor, example, the subject of taxa
tion-oDe oi the utmost moment TO the peo.
pie of the State at this time Never, In the
history of Maryland, has this subject pre-
sented itself in form 50 interesting, SO preg.
nant with possibilities of relief and proper
adjustment, and at the same time so full of
danger. With regard to it we stand upon
the eve of u revolution. The provision
atnpted 1l5 years ago, which controlled
the power Of the Legislature and served as
rule to guide our courts in the interpre,
tation of tax laws, is to be swept away II
the proposed amendment TO the fifteenth
article of the bill of rights should be adopt
ed, We shall have, upon the subject of taxa
ton an era OF legislative omnipotence. Oh
viously, so vital question should not be
left entirely TO the three hurried months OF
a legislative session, or entirely to a body of
men whose minds are distracted by hun.
dreds of matters which cannot be disregard
ed 1t is subject of wearisome and vexa-
tious details, requiring great labor and con.
summate tact in the framing of the law, and
it is one which cannot be evaded. Ii this
amendment prevails the Legislature must
act, not under narrow rule which taxes
all property alike, but under a rule which
enjoins a classification of property and con.
templates the adjustment of the relations OF
the different classes of property upon prin-
ciples of equity and fair dealing.
II there were no other questions than this
for our consideration just now, it alone
would be sufficient reason for the organi.
zation OF this association. Without specifi.
cally alluding to Others, il shows in the
amplest way the work we have undertaken
TO do.
One other consideration impresses me al
tins moment, and, though it is trite, it can.
not be repeated too often, because it is the
corner stone of republican institutions, and
that is the value and the duty of public
spirit We have all learned long ago (per.
laps we were born with the propensity to
criticise the administration of public affairs
We are not SO eager as we ought to be tc
undertake the labor and selfsacrifice which
is necessary to create and mold a public
sentiment which will compel the public
fiicer TO fulfill to the letter the terms of the
trnst which the naOnle have confidad IN his