The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-09
A JOKE ON THE DEMOCRATS.
LAWS PEIMED FOR REPUBLICANS
ACT As \ BOOMERANG.

Under Them MRryIand'S New Gov
ernOr Has Patronage Almost With
out Limit to Bestow-He Has the
appointment Of large Number OF
County Officers Whose Positions in
Other States Are Usually Filled by
Popular Election.
Baltimore, Nov. S.-Hon. Lloyd Lowndes
will have a larger list OF appointments to
make, more patronage to bestow ana
greater power when he becomes governor
of Maryland, two months hence, than
could fall TO the lot of the executive OF
almost any other state in the union. In
addition to the appointment of purely
state officials. it is under the constitution
and laws of Maryland incumbent upon
the governor, who has always hereto
fore been democrat, to appoint a large
number of county officials, whose posi-
tions are in other states usually filled by
popular election. or by authority of the
county commissioners.
BY reason of the negro majority or
great negro strength in some counties IN
Maryland, it has been the policy of the
state to concentrate more and more the
government in the hands of the governor.
In this way several of the treasurers In
the counties are named by the governor;
the local school boards are all. named by
him; he also appoints the liquor license
committees, police magistrates and JUS
tees Of the peace for Baltimore city.
But more important than all these po-
Iitically speaking, is the governors abso-
lutte control, through his appointments.
of the entire election machinery of the
state. Not many years ago the election
officials were appointed by the county
commissioners but as soon as a county
went republican the law was changed
by the dominant party Of the state, untl
now all are named by the governor With
the exception of a few supervisors of
election-minority republicans, the demo-
Gratis now fill all these berths.
Taken altogether Mr.. Lowndes will have
small republican army installed in Of
flee within fifty days of the opening of
the session Of the general assembly next
January the law requiring that appoint
ments be made within that period Since
Tuesdays election results became known
the democratic Office holders ana their
sympathizers have been bitterly denounc-
ing the unparalleled consolidation of pow
er in the hands of Maryland's executive
Inc republicans smile and reply: I'VE
nave complained increasingly for twenty
eight years; now it is our turn to laugh"
The republican army of Office holders
Will be materially increased through May
or Hoopers appointments in Baltimore
city and the patronage attached to the
control of the general assembly There
are about 1909 positions that the mayor
can fill directly or through his appointees
The civil service reform plank of the
republican state platform is a subject
that is interesting that class of citizens
who think they ought to hold Office IN
der the newly elected state and city gov
ernmentS. The reforms promised in re-
istration and election laws are an en-
crossing topic among the people general
ly. Many leading democrats openly cir
their convictions that unless reforms are
introduced, it will not be possible for the
mediate future.
On the contrary Hon. George L. Well
ington, the republican state leader, SAYS:
The first mission of the republican party
in Maryland, must be to enact a law to
guarantee that every voter of this state
shall have vote which shall be honestly
counted and properly returned. We must
keep our promises, and If we do the dem
ocrats, who are with us this year, VIII
stay with us for years to come"
A prominent democratic politician
smiled Sardonically when told of wnat
Mr.. Wellington had said. THE repuoH-
cans are more likely to keep Maryland in
continuation of the despotic power given
to them under our present laws, than by
weaving over a lot of democrats. through
reform legislation. The republicans nave
suffered for many years because of the
unusual power given to our chief execa-
tive With the first opportunity before
them of using that power for the ner-
able to expect that they will throw it
away? No; they are much more likely
despite what Mr.. Wellington SAYS to give
US a taste of our own medicine"