The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-01-11
EX-GOVERNOR BROWN.
General Review of his Administra-
ton.


and a private citizen. His administration
has been the most interesting and exciting
of any Governor since the war. 1t has been
remarkable for several reasons, chiefly, how
ever, for the number Of Judicial appointments.
He has appointed more judges than any II
Governors before him. A large proportion
of the members of the Court of Appeals owe
their elevation to him. He made Judge Rob-
inson chief judge of the highest tribunal in
the State. Other judges who owe their ap-
pointment to him are Roberts, Page, Boyd.
Lloyd, Henderson and Revell. Two judges
of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City
Richie and Wickes-were also appointed by
Governor Brown. A singular feature of the
Governors Judicial appointments is that
every man he placed upon the Bench was
afterward elected by the people, and one man
who declined appointment afterward ran for
the office and was defeated by the voters.
This exception was Mr.. Ferdinand Williams
of Allegany county, who was one of those
Governor Brown offered to appoint as Judge
Hoffman's successor.
THE MIDNIGHT TRIP TO cHEsTERTowN.
There have been a number of stirring incl
dents during the past four years, and in many
of them Governor Brown has been the cen
trail figure. In a number of them he has
taken desperate chances and assumed great
responsibilities He planned and directed
the midnight trip to Chestertown, when he
reprieved four of the eight negro boys imph-
Gated in the murder of DR.. Hill. 1t will be
remembered that intense excitement pre-
vailed in Kent county at that time, and if
word had gotten out that Governor Brown
intended to show executive clemency they
would certainly have been lynched. The
Governor, however, believed that life i'm
prisonment would be sufficient punishment
fol the younger boys, and accordingly boat
in charge of several prominent police officials
made the trip, and after great difficulties,
brought the boys to Baltimore without the
people of Chestertown knowing anything
about it until the rescue was over.
Governor Brown signed the warrants that
consigned Is men to the gallows. He par
doned-a large number of prisoners, the most
notable being Samuel Spencer, whose case
attracted wide attention. Spencer lived in
Allegany county and killed the man who
wronged his wife. The story of the crime was
pathetic. and thousands of people throughout
the State believed that the killing was justfi-
able. They joined in petition asking for
Spencer pardon. Governor Brown set him
free upon condition that he left the State.
Spencer went to Chicago, where he got
position, hut the fact that he was an ex-con-
Wet caused his discharge, and, in fit of des-
pondency, the unfortunate fellow committed
suicide.
HIS ILLUSTRATED MESSAGE.
Governor Browns activity in connection
with Maryland representation at the Worlds
Fair, and his ordering out of the troops TO
prevent violence at the Frostburg mining
strike, are well remembered incidents of his
Gubernatorial career He has also the repu-
tation of being the first Executive of this or
any other State to illustrate his message to
the General Assembly. 1t will be recalled
that his message to the Legislature two years
ago contained well-executed pictures of the
public buildings of the State. The Governor
was particularly interested in State institutions
and their improvements. He has made not
able changes in many of them, including the
magnificent extension to the Penitentiary,
Normal School improvements and rehabili
tation of the State House.
The most notable Legislative measures
which Governor Brown vetoed were the
HAYES reassessment bill the Smith free book
bill and the two bills making provision for the
payment of certain obligations against the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal He was both
criticised and commended for his stand on
these public questions, but his veto of the
Hayes bill excited the most general comment.
1t was this demand for reassessment that swept
over the State at the close of the Legislature
of 1892 that caused Governor Brown to call
his famous tax conference. This was COM
posed of some of the ablest men in the State,
representing all shades of opinion upon this
important question 1t will be remembered
that the conference abruptly ended without
doing anything.
THE TAX CONFERENCE.
''My object in calling that conference, sand
the Governor in commenting upon it, was to
get the best thinkers of the State united upon
a common ground so the Legislature could
enact reassessment bill at the next SESSION.
THE MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT.
Governor Brown was asked what he thought
was the most notable achievement of his ad-
and the one he looked upon with
the most pride. After thinking for moment,
he said
81 am particularly pleased with the rehabil-
itation of the Maryland Agricultural College.
Four years ago this institution was blot upon
the State. It was disgracefully managed, and
now it is second to none, except the Johns
Hopkins University. Formerly it had but 40
people realize the great good this institution
is doing, and provision should be made for its
This brought the Governor to another
subject.
ssThe best money spent by the State" said
the Governor, sis that given to the various
charitable and religious institutions. The
money spent in helping to make boys useful
citizens is good investment. Their manual
training and intellectual development are
looked after by people whose services are of
value. The public-spirited la
dies and gentlemen who are actively inter-
ested in many of the institutions of the city
and State lend services that cannot be pur-
chased"
THE STATES GREATEST NEED.
When asked what he thought the greatest
need of the State was, he unhesitatingly re-
piled 'Capitalr' He said that the matehless
resources of the State required money to de-
velop them and every legitimate means
should be taken to bring money into the
State. In enumerating the Legislative needs
the Governor said there should be a reassess.
ment of property and the State finances ought
to be adjusted so as to meet the expense of
furnishing free books. These and other sug-
gestions he has made to the Legislature, but
he said he did not care to discuss legislation
at length, in view of his departure from Office.
THE NEXT GOVERNOR DEMOCRAT.
Governor Brown was asked when he thought
there would be another Democratic Governor,
he replied
Il think the Democrats will sweep the
State at the next Legislative election, and the
next Governor will be Democrat"