The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-02-14
The LEGISLATURE.

WHILE APPOINTMENTS TAKE
UP THE TIME.
STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb 10.
The Legislature seems to wabble along
in do-nothing rut. Nearly half of the
session has passed away and microscopic
examination reveals the startling fact
that little or nothing has been done in
either house In the Senate the Demo
Gratis have gained the reputation of OBJ
structionists. Some say the Legislature
deserves credit for the caution with which
it is progressing in the consideration of
bills that have been introduced under the
guise of reform measures.
Many reform measures bob up serenely
at intervals. but they either meet an un-
timely death in the committees, or are so
twisted and distorted as to be scarcely
recognizable when they meet the light of
day again, if they ever do.
Our reform legislature is very active
body-active in the search for Office.
Lowndes has shown a disposition all
along to freeze out all but Wellington
men in dispensing patronage, and those
who voted for Lowndes ct al. and good
government seem to be letting the ct al.
run the machine.
Mudd, the Speaker, has since earned
the reputation of being shrewd poll
tician. He is an up-to-date wire-puller.
Without Mudd, Wellington could never
have achieved success. Mudd is far
sighted, and has his eyes glued on the
candidacy i'll Southern Maryland next fall
for Congress.
politics and reform leagues are incom-
patible," said leading politician to a
World man to-day. ut is to our interest
to look after our party and reward our
workers first and see to reform measures
afterward. If there is to be any reform it
will be Republican reform, you can bet
your life ON that "
This is a goody-goody Legislature.
Little drinking, little gambling, little pro-
family is in evidence. The morality is
painful. Once upon time Doc" Slater
and the rest of the gang had gambling
dens and the like here dnring the Legis
lature, but this year such places are con-
spicuous by their absence. A goodly
number of the members belong to church,
and are advocates of local option. having
been elected by temperance constituents.
Few members have lodgings here this
session. They leave on the afternoon
train, as the Legislature adjourns gen
orally in time for that and return next
morning. Baltimore is the objective point
and after dark Annapolis is veritable
deserted village.
1t has settled down to the sweet repose
of which when the members who do the
most talking get up to crate the king S
English sinks into insignifcance. and the
oratorical flights are themselves the
strongest argument for free school books,
and a blessing that should have been
showered upon the people when the pres
ent legislators were boys at school.
We do not doubt that the above is a
fairly truthful sketch of Maryland's law
makers. This is as near the chart we
made out the day after the election as it
was possible to construct. 1t is what was
determined upon by the men who had it
in charge. What can honest, we'll mean
ing representatives of the people do when
they are harnessed to the party coach and
selected driver placed on the box. A leg
islature is no better than its Speaker
allows it to be. Mudd is one of the worst
class of political bosses. When he was
placed on the box to drive, the men who
did the manipulating which placed him
there, knew what they wanted and how
to get it. Wellington is one of the most
plant tools ever monopoly had i'll hand.
The Governor is man after the corpora
TONS own heart.
The voters of this county sent three
good, straight men of fair average intel
ligence to the legislature but they were
sent there as the republican party's rep
resentatives, not the peoples delegates.
Lowndes, Wellington and Mudd are the
authorized commanding officers of the
party in the State. Whatever the orders
are from headquarters they will execute.
The policy of the party for thirty years is
the policy to be continued, and the master
spirits who control the legislature and
shape legislation will see that the orders
from headquarters are carried out, and
though the members individually were
saints, if Satan were strong enough or
shrewd enough to place driver on the
box the members must legislate as he
| SlAOOoCo vi uOt at hlS 10 81 pldlll
that wayfarer may see it.
Are you voters satisfied with the policy
which in thirty years has seut large
number down the hill toward the poor
house; which has cut the price of every
farm in the country i'll two, which has
shut up the most of your manufacturing
establishments, which, in word has
raised your taxes and cut in half your
incomes? Are you content with that
policy to be continued? If you are you
voted right. AS to the democrat party it
has been run by political bosses in the
State for twenty years. 1t stands in op-
position to the republican party, not on
principle, or in the interest of the people,
but for a chance to get the offices. That
is all which has sustained that party in
thirty years, all it has scrambled for-the
chance of getting the offices.
The republican party is the corporation
party, the monopoly party, the rich mans
party the high roller party of the aristoc-
racy of wealth. The democrat party has
never opposed it as an opponent of these
principles, bnt to put the republican out
and the democrat party in the place made
vacant. No man on earth can point out
any other difference between the two
parties. The people may elect the best
men they can find till doomsday, and try
the parties time about. and they will get
no reform, no let up from low prices and
high taxes, but with Responding hearts
Like muffied drums beating
| Funeral marches to the grave"