The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-09-18
BY THEIR FRUITS
THE PEOPLE SHALL KNOW THEM.
HOW MUCH HAS BEEN STOLEN
Is NOT KNOWN.
Published by Authority. of the Maryland
Democratic Editors Association.

upiiSIeo py hutnontya OF the Maryland
Democratic Editors Association.
Two weeks ago the article by the Demo-
cratic Editors Association was entitled
"By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them .
That article dealt with the character of
the white element in control of the Repub
lican party, or striving for the mastery
1t showed the means employed by the
warning leaders-fraud, deceit, treachery,
bribery and corrupt bargaining against
each other, and these pertinent inquiries
were made
Returning 10 the fraud, deceit,
treachery, bargaining and bribery
used by rivals for the mastery. is it
not to be believed that if the Repub-
lieans will use such means against
each other, they will use the same to
maintain their hold upon this state?
Ii entrusted to power again will
they not so legislate as to make them
selves safe against the power of the
people to dislodge them?
Can they not so change the regis
tration and election law as to permit
the grossest frauds? And in view of
the disgraceful conduct, the fraud
anu INC DIIDSIy budt mas cldfdcLef-
lied Republican primaries in nearly
every county and in Baltimore city
can honest, iberty-loving, tax-pay-
ing citizens trust the state in the
hands of such menu
If they will cheat each other and
debauch the people, is the treasury
safe in their hands?
Can needed legislation be procured
without paying the cash for it?
Can honest government be ex-
pected from men who have no com,
Functions about buying the votes of
men?
The most important inquiry Of these was
this one-''If they will cheat each other
and debauch the people is the treasury
safe in their hands p
In the Association article last week it
was clearly shown, from the official inves-
tigatiOn of Col. Tompkins, that the funds
of the Tobacco Warehouses were actually
stolen and used for the furtherance of the
political ambition of Republican politi-
ci;ln
1t was shown that the names of sixty
useless employees were carried on the pay
rolls, and of these at least twenty were
alleged to be entirely fictitious. The sal
ariee of forty were simply given to politi
cal henchmen, and who drew the salaries
on the twenty fictitious names has not yet
been ascertained.
IF Secretary of State Dallam is correct
in his estimate of fictitious names on the
pay rolls of the Tobacco Warehouses, some
person or persons have actually stolen the
amount of the salaries of these fictitious
twenty personages.
Already, then, has the inquiry been
answered-'If they will cheat each other
and debauch the people, is the treasury
safe in their hands ?
1t has been abundantly shown that in
the matter of the funds of the State Tobac.
co Warehouses, they have been squandered
in useless employees. and in the matter Of
the fictitious names on the pay rolls, been
ACTUALLY STOLEN.
What has been the Republican record
in this state in the last eighteen months
that entitle it to further confidence?
That party, proclaiming purity, has
been guilty of the worst crimes against it.
Ii has taken away from the Australian
system its very essence, the secrecy of the
ballot 1t has foisted on this state an
assessment law that taxes the poor and
exempts the rich, and in doing it it has
subjected the people to an expense of at
least 60 per cent. greater than was the
cost Of the assessment Of 1876 The cost
in few counties will illustrate this The
cost of assessment in Dorchester county in
1876 was IS, 500. The cost in 1896 was
SO, 700 In Washington county in 1876
the cost was 81, 835 25 and in 1896 $40,
622.51 In Prince Georges county in
1876 So. 59l SO and in 1896 $12, 610.
&c In Wicomico 81, 900 in 1876 and
81 943. So in 1896 In Carroll in 1876
S8,Oll; in 1896 nearly s13, 600 In
Allegany in 1876 Sc, 929; in 1896 So,
1881.
Under Democratic rule interest was re-
ceived upon the deposits of the states
funds in banks sufficient to pay the salaries
of the Comptroller and Treasurer.
UNDER REPUBLICAN RULE NO
INTEREST IS RECEIVED UPON
SOME OF THE DEPOSITS, and Comp
troller Graham, Governor Lowndes, Attor
ney- General Clabaugh and Treasurer Shry
ock have looked after the interests of the
banks they are connected with
Comptroller Graham and Treasurer
Shryock have largely reduced the assess
ments of the stocks of Baltimore banks
and financial institutions, and no explana
ton has been vouchsafed for the reduc-
tons
Were they made to reimburse these
institutions for campaign contributions in
1896? This is a matter Of public inter
est, and the people would like to be enlight
ened on the subject.