The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-19
MACHINE POLITICS.


The reply of the Baltimore Sun to
Senator Gormaa's proposition to surren-
der all personal claims of political prefer
ment and ali CONT oil of the Democratic
party in the State of Maryland to Mr..
Edwin F. Abel, publisher of that paper,
shows that the purposes of this astute
politician are completely understood by
the manager of the Sun. To read the
letter of Mr.. German without any knowl-
edge OF his ability or CT aracter, one might
at first suppose that his proposition was
most disinterested one, but to those
who have watched the career OF the Mary
land Senator in national and State polit-
tics, it resolves itself Mt once into a high
game of bluff absolutely ridiculous in it's
perfect transparency.
AS political bt SIS Mr.. German has
ruled the Democratic party.of Maryland
with an iron hand, and while the rebel
lion brought about by his despotic sway
and the corruption incident to ring rule
has turned the control of the State over
to the Republicans and Given that parry
one member of the United States Senate,
Mr.. German Is still paramount and has
already organized for the pending cam
paign with view, if possible, of succeed
ing himself as Senator. In his lette, to
Mr.. Abel he asserts quite positively that
the political situation in Maryland does
not require any such surrender of Demu-
cratic management as he proposes. as
that party lis certain to triumph in the
coming elections; but those acquainted
with Senator Germans character and his
methods as politician know very we'll
that he is not man who would compro-
mise with his enemies when he is sure of
defeating them.
The infeIences then to be.drawn from
his proposal are, that he either sees defeat
staring him in the face and Is anxious to
evade responsibility for the fiual catas-
trophe, or that, having woven his polit-
ical web for the control of the Democratic
party of the State, he hopes, like the
spider does the fly, to draw the Sun into
its meshes and render it powerless here
after as an opponent of his plans and
practices. This last Is the view that the
editor of the Sun, without discussing the
chances of Democratic success, takes of
the Senator's proposition, and he plainly
shows not only it's craftiness but it's abb
surdity.
AS to the Sun g business and success,
the editor denies that the PAPER was built
up by the Democratic party, or that it
owes its prosperity to any political organ
ization. Its success, he says, has come
from the people OF Baltimore and the
Etate of Maryland, for whose interests
and welfare it has labored zealously and
earnestly mere than sixty years without
respect to party lines The Sun, in con
Guiding its scathing exposure of Senator
Germans insincerity, tells the latter
plainly that the harmony he appears to
be so anxious to restore to the Demo
cratic party in Maryland would not be
secured by his retirement from its man
agement, because his machine would re-
main.
While The Times differs with the Sun
in its financial views, IL is In thorough
sympathy with it in it's fight against ma
chine politics and political bossism; for
whatever the party and wherever, such
control exists it is sure to result in ring
rule and corruption. Roanoke city has
already had some experience in this line
in the attempt of political clques to CON
troll it's offices; but The Times, under its
present management, can always he re-
lied upon to oppose such organizatit ms
Whenever and wherever formed, and it is
gratifying to note that there is large
element of independent and self-respect-
ing voters in this city and district to hold
the same opinion as to political rings and
all other combinations, in which schemes
of elf-aggraudizement are the chief or
only features They have shown their
independence in previous elections, and all
the ,igns point to triumph OF such