The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-15
SENATOR TALBOT TALKS.
He States the Democratic Position
and Exposes Republican Decep-
ton

/ ne 0IdIoS Iu0 OC1lOCIdtlC EOSlLlO1
and Exposes Republican Decep-
ton.
Senator Hattersley W. Talbot, Of Mont.
| gomery county, outlined the Democratic pol
icy at Annapolis, and exposed the hollowness
of Republican professions of civil service re-
/ form. The Sun of Wednesday reports him
as follows:
In the natural course of events under the
/ present law the republicans will get control of
the Baltimore police board in March, 1897,
one year hence and viii retain it four years.
/ There is apparently settled determination
to legislate the present officials out of office
and get the police at once. | can see 10 rea-
son, other than that of partisanship, why this
should be done, and / shall resist it. | be-
lieve the democratic majority in the Senate
will hold together and defeat any reorganiza-
ton bill, no matter what inducements in the
way of deals and dickers may be offered
The anxiety of the republicans for reor-
ganization bill is itself suspicious, and | can
only explain it in part by desire to disor-
ganize the force and get new men before any
civil-service law can be enacted to protect the
present rank and file.
ELECTION SUPERVISORS.
With regard to the present attitude of the
Senate in insisting upon the selection of
minority supervisors of election Mr.. Talbot
said:
The election law of the State guarantees to
the minority one member of the board of cleo
ton supervisors in the city and each county of
the State This is most important safe
guard tothe fairness and purity ofthe elections.
The democrats demand that the democratic
supervisors shall be democrats and not repub-
lcans, and in order to be sure that they are
democrats we demand that they shall be
selected by democrats and not by republicans.
The fact that in one county the Governor APP
pointed ms the democratic member of the
board the nephew and business partner of
the republican Senator, and in another,
county the leading republican recommend
ed his private secretary for the demo-
cratic supervisor, shows the necessity for the
stand we have taken. But for that stand 1t is
fair to assume the republicans would have
made selections like these all over the State
and then the minority representation would
lie delusion and a snare.
TREASURER AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
We have three holds upon his Excelleney.
First, we can reject all his nominations from
top to bottom. Ii is true that after the Leg
islature adjourns he can then make his APP
pointments without regard TO us, hut he can
not appoint the same men, and SO he will not
have his first choice.
Then we can refuse to join the House of
Delegates in the election of treasurer and
police commissioners. These latter would be
extreme measures, not 10 be lightly resolved
upon. Events may, however, force us to face
it and proceed to that extremity.
The recent utterances of the new comp
troller with regard to the use of the sinking
fund tax for another purpose have alarmed
the conservative people who are looking for
ward to the payment of the State debt. If
Mr.. Spencer c. Jones is retained in Office, he
will prevent any diversion of funds raised by
taxation. He says he would do so. The
democratic majority in the Senate is regard
ed by the people as a wholesome restraining
influence upon the new party aud we cannot
escape the responsibility that the situation
imposes upon US.
In my county of Montgomery we always
have accorded to the republicans the right to
select their supervisor, aud our elections have
been absolutely pure and fair. The recount
in Kent county shows that the election was
fair there, and think they have been fair all
over the State. 1t may be that the republ
cans were not permitted heretofore in every
county to select their own men, but they
should have been. They demand it as right,
and doubtless would have enforced II if they
had possessed the powor We think we have
the power and purpose to exercise 1t if neces-
sary, but | do not think the Governor will
push us to extrernities He has promised US
very fairly.
The same consideration may possibly force
us to put our veto upon the election of police
commissioners. Should the republicans nomi-
nate men VIGOROUSLY unfit the people would
doubtless look to the Senate to save the force
from those who are hunting for grapes. OF
cnurgp oitr action in thnca natfprs will he
determined by future events.
CyIL-sERvICE REFORM.
| understand, continued Mr.. Talbot, that
the republicans want to play politics with the
civil-servce reform bill. | am told they pur-
pose to have it defeated and compel the
democrats to do it, The way that has been
suggested is for the House of Delegates TO
pass the bill to apply to the whole State. If
it comes to us in that form ] have no doubt it
will be promptly enacted. White a number
of democratic Senators do not wish it for their
counties upon the ground that it is not need
ed, they will not reject the bill on that account
Ny objection to applying this bill to the
county is that it is practically in effect there
already. Efficient clerks are always retained
and school teachers are rigidly examined,
Just as they would be under the law. Istated
on the floor of the Senate that politics do not
enter into our schools. Since then have
aseertained by inquiry that a majority of the
male teachers of Montgomery county are re-
publicans or prohibitionists. | am informed
that the same is true of Washington county.
In that county Governor Brown appointed
three democratic and three republican school
commissioners.
THE GOVERNORS ATTITUDE.
Governor Lowndes has announced that he
favors the Bruce bill He was present at the
reform meeting last week, and yet his actions
and declarations do nOtaccord with his an
nouncement and action. The spirit OF the re-
form is, as | understand il, that faithful and
efficient public servants shall not be discharg-
ed because of political opinion.
In his speeches during the campaign the
Governor assured the people that he would
retain the faithful officials. Now he has an
nounced a clean sweep and has notified demo-
Gratis not to apply.
The general sweeping away of ever justice
of the peace, every notary public and every
subordinate acts public spolation that has
been heard of in many years in any State.
These Offices are absolutely non-political and
many of the present incumbents have occu-
pied the place for years. To replace them
with inexperienced and unframed men may
result in serious public inconvenience. The
act is against the understanding of the people
who elected Mr.. Lowndes and in violation of
his express pledges.
For the police force to go into the hands of
party animated by this spirit is cause for
just alarm and apprehension. The Governor
has complained of the unsupportable pressure
brought upon him by the politicians. In view
of this pressure do not think it would be
safe TO burden him further with the appoint
ment of police commissioners.