The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-01
Lowndes and Civil Service Reform.

Gov. Lowndes during his campaign and in
all public utterances ever since, has laid great
stress on civil service reform and the appli-
cation of the merit system. He has even
gone further, and declared that removals
should only be made for cause. Only on
Wednesday he sent message 10 the Legis-
lature, in which he advised the passage of a
civil service law.
All these professions seem to have been
only grand-stand performances-pe perform
ances to deceive unsuspecting Democrats.
His practice is TO take every Office in sight
and fill it with Republican.
Every office in Carroll has been promptly
seized, the only three Democrats left being
those in places no Republican cared to occupy.
Westminster district is entitled TO six JUS
tees of the Peace. The Democrats had only
FIVE, one doing no business at all and the other
holding a place mostly as an accommodation
for people having business with his office.
There are but three Justices, in reality, doing
any business But the Governor, in order TO
strengthen his party so far as patronage can
do it, has appointed six Justices of the Peace.
If all set up Offices, some will not have enough
of legitimate business to pay Office rent.
One of the present Justices was told by
local influential Republicans that at least one
Democrat would be retained, and that he
would be the one. Relying upon this and
the Governors professions of reform, the
Justice got up endorsements and petition
and sent them with his application for APP
pointment to the Governor. A friend called
upon the Governor in regard to appointing
this Democrat, and the Governor said that
the Westminster Republicans demanded his
removal, as the other applicants said that if
he were re-appointed he would get all the
business. The Governor also said the endorse
ments were No. /, but that he would have to
listen to the Republicans and make the ap-
pointments as they desired.
Everybody knows that the Republican
party of Carroll had nothing to do with nam
ing appointees in this county, but that they
were agreed upon by the bosses, and these
are the people that the Governor felt bound
to listen TO. And this is the Governor, too,
who was elected to rid the state aud counties
of boss rule, TO place public Office upon a
higher plane, and to institute the merit system
in filling public positions.
The ADVOCATE is not at all deceived in the
results following Republican success. ltwarn-
ed Democrats as to what might be expected,
and that Republican promises were intended
to deceive and entrap the unwary. Itwarned
them that the Allegany ring ifplaced in power
in the state would be far worse than any that
ever managed the Democratic party, and the
fact was noted that if conventions were con-
trolled and nominations dictated, faithful and
competent officials were selected and state
affairs were as well managed as in the best
governed states in the Union. The Republi-
can ring has just begun its work. Its first
act was to override law that had been ON the
statute books for nearly century and been
observed, and elected clustering bull -doz.
ing politician to the United States Senate.
The next was to elect State Treasurer
against whom charges of unfitness were made,
and now it is engaged in grabbing for every
office in sight in violation of all their profess
| sions