The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-09-11

pay rolls--not the mere creatures of political
fancy, but real flesh and blood Republi-
cans, capable Of turning so many votes
apiece-had never seen the warehouses,
and did not even come up for their salaries
Instead of this they had their checks
mailed to them with agreeable regularity
about as fair an illustration of calm and
sublime impudence as might be cited
As an example of the self-indulgent
mode of work under the Mudd- Lowndes
machine, the experience of a tobacco
grower from one of the counties may be
mentioned. This gentleman sent some to-
bacco on for inspection, and after waiting
a reasonable time for some reply OR action
from the authorities, he came on himself
to investigate He found that the officials
knew absolutely nothing about his tobacco,
beyond the fact of its reception. 1t had
disappeared, and was not to be accounted
for The officials were called on to make
good the loss, which they preceded to do in
a manner peculiar to themselves. The
owner of the missing tobacco was put on
the pay roll and continued toreceive checks
on the State Treasury until his loss was
made good.
Another discovery of Col Tompkins
was that several checks had been made out
to Southern Marylanders who had not the
slightest Identification with the institution
Conspicuous among these was check
made out to Sydney E. Mudd just why
I'd sho 81
the funds of the warehouse, and what ser
vices he could have rendered to warrent
such payment, was a question which has
puzzled those who learned Of this disclosure
This lack of positive information on such
an interesting subject led to numberless
conjectures, many of which did not reflect
favorably on the distinguished subject, but
Mr. Mudd himself has set all doubt at rest
by stating that the none. was one of the
voluntary campaign contributions he re-
ceived, and that Inadvertently the public
money had been used, but that the loss
had been Immediately made good. This
explanation is reassuring and should set all
anxiety(?) at rest.
The contrast between this institution
under Democratic control and Republican
mismanagement will at once appeal to the
intelligent voter, and all Marylanders who
have the interests Of the state at heart and
who wish her institutions to be worthy of
pride and respect will hang their heads in
shame at the disclosure of Republican
license and thievery shown by Col. Tomp-
kins examination.
Another result of Col Tompkins' inves-
LEGATION showed that 60 men were on the
pay rolls who had no right to be there, and
Secretary Of State Dallam says that of
these at least 20 were fictitious and that
no such men existed except in the imagi-
nation of the scheming politicians who had
them placed there Who got the money
on these fictitious names Col Tompkins
is now trying to find out but up to the
present time with poor success, The men
who were caught red handed in perpetrat
ing these frauds and outrages ON the peo-
pie of the state are attempting to brazen
the whole thing out, and, while they do
not deny the accusations against them,
they refuse to explain them.
Readers should remember that all the
above statements have been made as
result of an investigation ordered by an
executive who appointed the guilty men to
office and placed them in charge of valua-
BILE state interests without knowing any
thing about their fitness or honesty. The
men were admittedly appointed in fulfil
ment of deal to get votes for George L.
Wellington as L s. Senator and no other
reason was ever given for their appoint
ment. The man who made the investiga-
ton, Col John A. Tompkins, is Repub-
lican and is one of the ablest and best
known expert accountants in Baltimore.
The facts above set forth are only part
of the report he expects to make, for he
has not yet completed the investigation.
Governor Lowndes himself has given the
whole disgraceful business to the public
without any concealment, and is being
roundly abused for allowing the dirty linen
of his party to be exposed to the popular
gaze