The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-08-09

es. A free people must be developed
and educated by free schools.
eve have good reason to be proud
of our admirable school system, but
as the State advances and education
becomes more general the methods of
administering our public schools
must be improved to keep pace with
the public demand, and to remove
well-founded complaint and dissatis-
faction.
"Above all things they should be
conducted without reference to poll
tics, and should be absolutely free
from partisan interference or dicta-
ton.
Teachers should be appointed and
retained for their fitness only, and
should be safe from removal except
for cause, after reasonable opportun-
ity to be heard in their own defense.
"We accordingly recommend the
passage by the next Legislature ofan
act providing for the appointment by
the Governor of a commission of
prominent citizens, selected prospect
i've of their political. views, from
among those who are personally in
terested in the improvement and
efficiency of our public schools, whose
duty it shall be to examine into their
condition and management, and to
report what amendments of our ex-
listing law are necessary to reform
whatever shall be found defective in
their administration, and in the
method of appointment and tenure
of the commissioners.
"We heartily commend the wisdom
and courage of Gov. John Walter
Smith in calling the recent extra ses-
sion of the Legislature and we feel
that our thanks are due to our Demo-
cratic Senators and Delegates for the
admirable and conservative legisla-
ton enacted at that session in the
face of many and serious difficulties.
"The painful and disgraceful dis
closures made in the recent trials in
the Circuit Court ofthe United States
in Baltimore city of the parties
charged with classifying the Federal
census in some of the counties of the
State amply demonstrate the wisdom
and necessity ofour late State census.
Whatever doubts may once have
existed upon this subject have been
thoroughly dispelled, and the result
attained, viz, an absolute fair and
proper representation of thecounties
in the House of Delegates is well
worth the money which it cost.
"1n taking the important step Of
calling the extra session the Governor
was simply exercising the express
power conferred and performing the
special duty imposed upon him by
the Constitution. Had he omitted
the performance ofhis duty the results
of the fragrant frauds in the Federal
census which judicial investigation
has so fully exposed would have been
fastened upon us for 10 years without
possibility of redress.
"Indeed, the alternative presented
to the Governor Of accepting as true
a false and fraudulent enumeration
of our population, deliberately made
to serve dishonest politicalpurposes,
or of putting the State to the expense
of an extra session of the Legislature
to Illustrate so disreputable conspir-
acy, was one as to which there was
no room for serious hesitation, and
we confidently appeal to the people
to indorse his action in this import
ant matter and to approve by their
votes the prompt response ofthe Leg
islature to his call.
"The experience of 10 years having
demonstrated that changes in our
Australian ballot system were neces-
sary to put an end to the intimida-
ton, bribery and fraud for which, as
enacted in Maryland, it has been
found to afford such ample facilities,
and, the demands for these reforms
being great and urgent, the Governor
felt it to be his imperative duty to
give to the people an opportunity
for relief, and, although the calling of
an extra session necessarily involved
a considerable expenditure ofmoney,
yet the cost was not to be weighed
against the benefits of free, honest |
and enlightened suffrage.
eve stand by the emphatic utter
ances ofthe State Central c Committee |