Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-07
RECORD OF DISGRACE
RECENT MARYLAND LEGISLATURES
MARKED BY CORRUPTION.
Denounced by own Party-Republi-
cans Greatly Encouraged by
Democratic DisnfectiOn.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
BALTIMORE, April THE adjournment
of the general assembly en- Monday, and
the meeting of the republican state commit
tee on Wednesday. have marked the open
ing of the campaign OF 1900, and the poll
ticians and others interested in politics are
preparing for the contests preliminary to
the election of delegates to the national
conventions cf the great parties. Already
the prevailing topic of conversation is poll
tics. and The indications that the cam
paign in Maryland this year will equal, if
not exceed, in interest the memorable fight
of 1896, when Maryland, for the first time
since 1s6i elected republican ticket in a
national contest giving a majority of over
10000 for Mr.. Mckinley the representa-
tive of sound money and conservative adj
minstration of national affairs; and signs
are not lacking that the result this year
Will be counterpart of that of four years
ago, and that the republicans will not only
give their presidential electors a majority,
but will also win in five out of the six con-
gressional districts of the state.
Democrats Never Learn Anything.
The democratic party went into power
again in January after four years of re-
publican administration, and everybody
supposed that the defeats they had sus-
tanned had taught them such severe les
SOL tHHt the DIu scandals which naQ us
graced the party for a quarter of a CEN
fury would never occur again. The recent
session of the democratic general assem-
bly,, however has dispelled any such an IL
fusion. for 1t is admitted on all sides and
especially by democrats themselves, that
it exceeded in incapacty and corruption
any legislature that had ever met in the
state house. All the newspapers of Bal
tmore, without a single exception, con-
denim it in the severest terms, and the
Sun, which was the main support of the
democratic ticket in the last state cleo
ton, is especially strong in its cOndemna
ton, and says that it would have been bet
ter for the state had it never met. The
Herald, the World, the American and the
News as well the German papers, the
Correspondent and the Journal all are filled
with indignant criticism of the general as
sembly. and arraign the democratic leaders
for their management of affairs at All
napols. saying that the session was a
"veritable satuvnala of corruption State
Senator Bryan of Baltimore city. one of the
oldest democrats in the body. says in print
that it was "a corporation-rdden body
from start to finish, and that the corpora
tons took up the whole session in Secur-
ing the passage of laws for their own
benefft-and in preventing the passage Of
laws for the benefit of the people"
Members freely accused of accept
ing brides and committees Were accused of
holding up bills for pay, and no one denied
the accusations. Chairman Murray Van
diver of the democratic state committee, who
~ treasurer Oh tile state OF NidTyldnu, was
openly the leader of the lobby, and his
assistant was eX-Controller Marion de Kalb
Smith, another noted democratic leader.
Republicans Are Encouraged.
The facts above stated have given the re-
publicans great encouragement, and they
are preparing to go into the campaign con-
fident of success. The meeting of the state
committee on Wednesday was the most
harmonious held for many years, and the
several factions show disposition to for
give and forget and work together with
united front for the common cause. They
believe that when the democrats and all
good citizens irrespective of party compare
the management Of affairs at Annapolis
the credit for the better administration will
be given to the republicans. and that their
cause will be greatly helped thereby.
Many democrats who are disguised with
the venality and corruption shown at An
napolis during the past three months are
openly asserting their intention of voting
the republican ticket rcbuke to their
party leaders and representatives, and the
gold standard democrat, large proportion
of whom voted their state ticket last fall.
are making preparations TO support Presi-
dent Mckinley, just as they did in 1896.
Dissatisfaction with the adminstratio of
Mayor Hayes in the city hall will also add
to the republican strength among a certain
class of voters, and, taking the whole si;ua-
ton together, the supporters of the ma
tional administration have abundant cause
to feel not only hopeful but almost certain
Der and place the state once more in the
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