Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-10-28

| by promises OF good committee places,
could easily dominate the caucus-a
meeting In which no other aspirant
was even accorded serious considera-
ton, and which. with winning subser-
ylency, elected the rising Charles
Countian to the Speakership.
What his career was as Speaker of
the House will never be forgotten by
those who had occasion to visit An
napolls during the session. He was
complete and absolute master of the
situation. He had bills passed to suit
his own convenience, and MS desk was
d receptacle for dozens of neasures
Ii : never got beyond 1t, because their
gpo-sorf declined to acquiesce with
II wishes Of the Speaker. or were uD-
willing to Consult with him. No
matter how necessary or important
or even how trivial the enactment
into laws of certain bills might be,
they never got beyond their second
reading II they did not meet with the
approval of the presiding autocrat.
The vast appointing power of the
Speaker was gold mine In his hands,
and never did a politician gather
strength more quickly than dM Mudd,
who SCARED up In three short months
from the level of a disgruntled wire
puller out Of employment to the dis
trict leader who was able to deprive
| Congressman Coffin of a deserved re-
nomination.
Perhaps the most dramatic incident
In Mudd's Annapolis career was when
he attempted to stampede the Assem-
bly,, during the Senatorial deadlock,
| for Wellington. He had divided his
vote during the first few days between
James G. Mulliken, of Talbot, and
Charles L. Westcott, of Kent, who
Jagged behind In the race, and his sud
den desertlon of these gentlemen for
the present junior Senator created a
tremendous sensation, and an amount
of inquiry that has never been an
swereU as to just why he did take
Wellington up. In fact, speculation
as to this received fresh impetus
few months ago, when Mr.. Brsainkxri
ii. Warner, the well-inown Washing
ton capitalist, during Wellingtua's
quarrel with the President over young
Warmers appointment to a German
Consulship, declared that he (Warner)
had been the means of WelhngtOn'S
election as Senator, as Sydney Mudd
could testify" 1t was remembered
that Mr.. Warner paid a mysterious
visit to Annapolis in the evening be-
fore Mudd made his memorable stand
for Wellington, and this assertion
caused some uncharitable persons to
suspect that Mr.. Mudds support might
hnVn hnan natnn1
siderations than his sudden conclusion
that Wellington's electi0nT was the
best solution of the difficulty. In fact,
Mudd's frequent private assertions
that Wellington would be compelled
to support him for the Senate at the
next election, in accordance with an
agreement" strengthens the sus-
picion that the Speakers instrument
tally in Wellington's election 10 none
too fragrant.
The adjournment of the General AS
sembly found Mudd amply prepared
to meet the trying, not to say expen.
sive, exigencies of a campaign for the
Republican Congressional nomination
In the lifth district. So healthful had
he found the climate at Annapolis
hhat hI tONtIth nGHu anu SDOuluefA
above all other members of his party
both white and black-in his section
OF the state, and his nomination be-
came II foregone conclusion. Once
proclaimed as his party's nominee, he
Dusled himself In the collection of n
campaign fund, and his henchmen
were afforded an opportunity to attest
their loyalty by frequent contribu-
lions. 1t was about this time that the
81 dalOus Misrepresentation of the
public money by Mudds employees at
the tobacco warehouses began, and
at the recent investigation II, check
niit"e out to Mudd's own order on the
treasury of the State was discovered.
Muuus demands upon the funds at the
disposal Of the Republican State Com.
mlttec were positively enormous, aud
his frequent visits at the Headquarters
developed into veritable "hold-ups."
las election TO Congress was, of
course, an immense stride In the direc-
ton OF the Senatorship, toward which
he has been steadily moving ever since
lie asSuncu The Speakers gavel Mt An
napolis, anu the man Is leaving no
stone unturned to attain this end. His
manipulation OF the county Republi-
can conventions in Southern MARYLAND
will give him support at the outset
should the Republicans carry the
State-and he can be depended on to
present all the allurements employed
by INSCRIPTIONS politicians In build
ing up vote. In the meantime, he Ia
wise enough to keep his mouth closed
as to the Senatorship, and is simply
working In the interests of his party"
One of the most ludicrous features of
recent Republican political history Is
the Destowal OF honors upon Mudd for
the part he Is alleged to have played
In checking the bosslsm of yelling
ton. According to recent REPORTS
Mudd fairly reeked with political in.
tegrity while at Ocean CITY, and val
iantly, came to the laid of the people"
because OF his inherent love of right
and justice and his native detestat,on
OF political tyranny. As matter of
fact, Mudd was not only not the fore.
most figure among the anti-Wellington
forces, but, on the contrary, he pri-
| vately offered to back Wellington and
| Stone In their efforts to suppress Mal-
ster IL the Senator would place GER
tain offices at his disposal. Upon Wei
lington's refusal, Mudd jumped TO the
other side, and is now brazenly accept
Ing fulsome praises for his great IRE
FORM victory.
In a word, should the Republicans
control the next General Assembly CD
| the joint ballot. the most aggressive
Senatorial candidate will be Mudd,
and the good government devoIees
disposed to vote the Republican ticket
Shtnl do well to hesitate, for the sue.
ccS. OF that party is not unlikely to re
sat IA The selection of Sydney Il.
VI 4 as |cnator-and that, unques.
| tlNl...y. would constitute the. most