The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-09-11
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
How the State Tobacco Ware
houses are Conducted.
90 Useless Employees and 20
Fictitious Names on the
Pay Rolls.
STORY OF MISSING TOBACCO
AND HOW THE OWNER
WAS REPAID.
Published by Authority of the Maryland
Democratic Editors Association.

During the long period of Democratic
control in Maryland, the tobacco ware
houses, one of the peculiar institutions of
the State. were conducted in so practical
and business like manner that eonsid
cradle revenue accrued from the fees every
wear and was turned over to the State
Comptroller.
Scrnpulous care was observed in the
inspection Of tobacco sent up to the ware
house from the tobacco growing counties,
and exact justice invariably characterized
the management of the financial end Of
the institution as long as it remained
under the control of the Democratic party
Never were there any scandals under the
old regime.
Its annual contributions TO the State
needs were significant testimonials to the
honestly and worth of the Democratic APP
pointees, and, in view of the present con-
ditions and corrupt practices precipitated
by the passing of the management of af-
fairs into Republican hands, they appear
to be remarkable tributes of Democratic
worth. These officials were subjected to
precisely the same temptations and de-
sires as their Republican successors, and,
if their abstinence from misappropriation
of the public money does not indicate the
moral superiority of the Democratic official
to the Republican, it at least strengthens
the belief that the money of the State is
more likely to reach its proper destination
by passing through Democratic hands than
by its present medium, the puppets of
Southern Maryland Statesman OF Re
publican persuasion.
On the assumption Of control by the
Republicans, Governor Lowndes turned
over the tobacco warehouses, prizes which
Southern Maryland Republicans had long
been eyeing greedily, to Congressman
Sydney 4. Mudd, then Speaker of the
House of Delegates. Mr.. Mudd had been
of material assistance in bringing about
the election of George l.. Wellington as
United States Senator, and, although it
was generally suspected that he had been
as materially rewarded for his services
as the most exacting politician could de
mand. the Governor felt compelled to
throw further fayors in his way by APP
pointing men to the warehouses at Mudd' s
suggestion, or practically at his dictation.
The Governor had no knowledge whatever
as to the character or fitness of the ap
pointees. Mudd knew them, however
he knew them thoroughly. He was to be
his party's candidate for Congress from
that district, and, although eminently
better able to enter the fight for the nomi-
nation on retiring from the Speakership
than when he appeared at Annapolis in
rather INDECENT circumstances, he did not
propose to leave any stone unturned, and
the tobacco warehouses became practically
a club to hammer out the advancement of
the Sydney E. Mudd congressional BOOM
The conspiracy worked like a charm
the hope of obtaining place on the ware
house pay roll was more than sufficient to
keep the floating Southern Maryland vote
in line. and, on the day the Fifth District
Republican Convention met, the Hon.
Mr. Mudd was nominated, and an addi
tional reason for the existence of the ware
houses was recorded.
After his nomination, the candidate felt
the need of mOney.-an emotion pecull-
arly strong in Republican statesmen from
his section of the state, where the pros
perity of the Republican voters usually in
creases as election day approaches and cul-
inmates on that day. Mr.. Mudd has
never been noted for heavy personal con
tributions to campaign funds. He is
rarely. however, unnerved at he nse of
money in politics cs-unless it be his own
and consequently, the employees at the
warehouses from the chiefs down, were
invited to contribute portion of their
salaries to further the Mudd campaign for
Congress
These contributions. it should be ex
planned were to be voluntary, and IN
view of the complete and perfect under
standing on this point, it is difficult to con
ceive why the impression got abroad that
those who should neglect to avail them
selves of the privilege should be relieved
Of their places. 1t is satisfaction to
state that the employees, with remarkable
responded to the invitation at
once and put up their cash.
After the election, last year, the report got
abroad that affairs were not going on among |
the followers of Congressman Mudd-Or to
be more explicit the officials at the ware
houses-as might be desired.
There was no surplus as had been the
case G'under Democratic misrule and |
some carping critics were so unkind as to
suggest that the high price Of votes in the
past election might have something to do
with its absence.
The dissatisfaction among those whose
business relations brought them into con
tact with Mudd's officials grew, and so
great became the suspicion the Governor
removed Inspector Naylor, of
Charles county, and later on Inspector /
DuVal, of Prince Georges 5, conspicuous
Mudd lieutenants and determined to have
the condition of affairs subjected to a
thorough investigation.
Col. John A. Tompkins, the well known
expert accountant, spent two months in
going through the books. The accounts
were found to be ''in disgraceful con
lition. Absolutely no effort at order or
system had been observed Col Tomp-
iins was compelled to wade through a
yeritable labyrith of crooked ink, and the
result was sufficient not only to show the
complete unftness of the horde of Mudd
Lowndes appointees. but to prove that the
and corruption alleged against
hem had failed completely to measure up
% the real situation.
The pay rolls were found to be padded,
not only with names Of those who never
performed stroke of work at the ware
houses. but even with names of fictitious
Il. ha