The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-11-13
Object Lesson in Politics.
Maryland as a Terrible Ex.
ample o.South Carolina.

pointments to make, more patronage
to bestow and greater power when he
becomes governor of Maryland two
months hence than falls 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 heretofore
been Democrat, to appoint large
number of county officials whose
positions are in other States usually
filled by popular election or by au-
sthor;ty of the county commissioners.
By reason Of the negro majority or
great negro strength IN some of the
counties of Maryland it has been the
policy of the State to concentrate
more and more the government in the
hands of the governor. Then, too,
whenever county would go Repub-
lican, the Democrats would rush
bill through the Legislature taking
most of the fruits of the victory from
their opponents by transferring the
appointments to the governor. In
this way, several of the treasurers in
the counties are named by the gov
ernor the local school boards, are all
named by him !; he also appointed the
liquor license commissioners, police
magistrates and justices of the peace
for Baltimore city But, more i'm
portant then all these, politically
speaking, is. the governors absolute
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 domi-
nant party of the Stale until now all
are named by the governor. With
the exception of few supervisors
of electton-minority representatives
Democrats now fill oil. these berths
Taken altogether, Mr.. Lowndes will
have a small Republican army install.
ed in Office within so days of The
opening of the session of the general
assembly next January, the law re
eniring thesappoiutments to be made
within that period
Since Tuesdays election results be
came known Democratic omcehold
.ers and their sympathizers have been
bittefIydenouncing the unparalleled
consolidation of power in. the hands of
Maryland's executive The Repub
licans smile and reply: "We have
complained increasingly tor 2S years;
now it is our turn to laugh
The Republican army of Of ce-
holders will be materially increased
through Mayor Hooper's. appoint
ments in Baltimore~eity, and, the
patronage attached 10 the control Of
the general assembly. There are
about a thousand positions that the
mayor :can fill, directly or through
his appointees.
The civil service reform plank OF
the Republican, State platform IS a
subject thai is interesting that class
of citizens who think they ought to
hold office under the newly-eiected
State and city government The re-
form promised in regard to the regis
tration and election laws is an engros-
sing topic among the people general
ly. Many leading Democrats openly
air their convictions that unless re-
foams are introduced, it will not be
possible for the Democrats to reclaim
the State in the immediate future.
On the contrary, Hon. George L.
Wellington, the Republican Stale
leader, says
The first mission of the Republi
can parry in Maryland must be to
enact 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
Democrats wio were with. US this
year will stay with us for years to.
come"
A prominent Democratic politician
smiled sardonically when told of
what Mr Wellington had said "The
Republicans are more likely to keep
Maryland in the G. 0 2. column
through continuation of the despo-
tic power given to them under cur
present laws then by weaving over
lot of Democrats through reform
legislation The Republicans have
suffered for many years because of
the unusual power given to our chief
executive. With the first oppor
tunity before them of using that
power for the perpetuation Of Re !
publicanism, is it reasonable to ex-