Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-10-06
GOVERNOR LOWNDES.
A Comparison of his Utterances and
Practices.
A Picture by Rayner and Character
ization by Wellington.

published by authority of the Maryland
Democratic Editors Association.)
In the indictment of the Republican
Party" it was said-"We charge, and we
will prove, that Gov. Lowndes has usually
acted contrary to his public utterances."
1t has already been proven that Governor
Lowndes, after deliberately and knowingly
Republcanizing every Board of County
School Commissioners in the State, as was
shown by giving the political status of every
board by counties on January /, 1896, and
January l, 1899, said In an interview pub.
ished in the Baltimore Sun of May %,
1899
81 believe that it is of the highest i'm.
portance that politics should be eliminated
from the practical management of the pub
lie school system"
The only non. partisan act the Governor
has ever done in the matter Of public edu =
cation was to vote TO retain the present able
and competent principal Of the State Normal
School. For this act he claims great credit,
but he never knew, perhaps, that the Demo-
Gratis kept Prof. Newell, Republican, In
the same position for about twenty years.
The fact was not heralded abroad, for the
Democrats did not use the public school
system for political ends, like Gov. Lowndes
and the Republican party is doing
Gov. Lowndes has lately said much in
the public press about believing In lifting
the judiciary above partisan politics. Since
he became Governor three vacancies have
occurred on the bench by reason OF the
deaths of three Democrats. In two instances
he appointed straight and pronounced Re
publcans Judges Russum and Schumacher.
Judge Russum had been one Of the most
active Republicans on the Eastern Shore,
and Immediately resumed his partisan activ-
ity when he retired from the bench. In the
third instance Gov. Lowndes gave a Repub-
licsn the refusal of an appointment. 1t was
not his fault that Republican did not sue
coed Judge Roberts. And when he did ill
the vacancy he selected gentleman who
had materially aided the Republican party
lately.
Governor Lowndes, when a candidate for
Governor in 1896, talked nicely Of civil ser-
vice reform. lie has given evidence of how
much he believed in 1t by Republicanizing
the County School Boards, who 10 turn re-.
placed experienced and efficient school Elk
aminers with inexperienced ones.
He said that public Office was q public
trust, To be administered for the good of the
public interests, not made the rewards for
partisan activity. He was scarcely warm In
the Executive Mansion before he began
dealing out offices TO make Wellington Sena-
tor and enable Mudd 10 get nomination
for Congress.
In no instance can II be shown that the
Governors practice has harmonized with
his public utterance. 1t is inconceivable
how he can have the effrontery, with his
record altogether to the contrary, TO go into
print and say that public Office should be
used solely for the public good and not as
rewards for craftsmanship; that the judiciary
should be taken out OF politics, and that
politics should be eliminated from the prac.
tical management OF the public school sys'
TEN.
Gov. Lowndes is an extreme partisan,
and he has shown II In every act since he
was naugurated. His published views 10
the contrary are only intended 10 deceive
and draw attention away from his record.
Hon IsidOr Rayner, In his speech at Fred
erick, on September 81, drew a very good
picture OF the Governor as a purist in pol
itics. He said
ale Gov. Lowndes) is as shrewd and as
scheming politician as was ever graduated
from the political seminaries OF Allegany.
When he Is framing his political contracts at
the Maryland Club, be is an ardent reformer,
but when he is dining and winning at Repub-
lican leagues and banQuets he is as bitter an
enemy OF the Democratic party as the ex'
tremist fanatic from the shores OF New Eng
land. When he leaves his home amid the
celestial regions Of Allegany county and
lands 10 Baltimore city, he envelops himself
in his dazzling domino OF reform, 30 that he
can firt gracefully with the independent
vote of the CITY,"
The plain meaning Of what Mr.. Rayner
said ia that the Governors word cannot be
depended upon In politics, and 1t Is fact
that most Of the Republican leaders place
no confidence in him. Neither Master,
Wellington nor Mudd trust him. yelling
ington, who knows him better than the rest,
says he is untruthful. In letter 10 the
Governor, on September %, in answer 70
one asking him 10 resign as chairman Of the
State Central Committee, Senator Yelling
ton used this language
III write more In sorrow than in anger, but,
above all, there is present with me for you,
mingled with some pity for your weakness
| Unreasonable and unutterabe contempt for
your want Of frdnkness and truth"
Such ID the character Of the man whom
the people elected 10 the high Office Of Gov
ernor OF Maryland. His talk on the stump
and through the press IN 1895 and ever
since about political reform, non-partisan
schools, non. partisan judiciary, civil ser
vice reform, &c, was cant and rank hypoc'
risy. II remains 10 be seen whether the peo
pie have fully realized his true character
and will bury him with their ballots on No
vember 7. q