The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-05-04
The ''Non-Partisanisn' OF The Re-
form League.
From the Baltimore star. Mas !.

From the Baltimore STAR MAY l.
If any doubt existed concerning the precise
status of the Civil-Service Reform League
with respect to party and partisanism. that
doubt has been dispelled by the report which
the executive committee submitted at the an
nual meeting of the organization last night,
April 30) and which received the unquali-
fed Endorsement of the League, the latter by
this action assuming responsibility for the
statements contained therein and making
them virtually its own expression of opinion.
The censure and condemnation of the
League fall heavily upon the Democratic par
ty. 1t declares the latter to be guilty of many
sins of omission and commission, denouncing
the Police Commissioners for their alleged vio-
lation ofihe spirit of the merit system, assailng
the Fire Board for the same reason, attacking
Mayor Hayes for the part taken by him in the
last primary election fight, expressing unqual-
flied disapproval of Governor Smith s course
and denouncing the General Assembly for the
legislation enacted at the extra session.
The League, in fact, has not a single word
of commentator for the Democratic party
beyond according its nominees for the City
Council the tribute of being personally repu-
table and and respected men. Even this re-
luctant admission is qualified by the allega-
ton that the nominees owe their place on the
ticket to the arbitrary repression of one fac
ton by another and that they are not, there
fore, in position to discharge their duties
without fear or favor, if elected, but stand
pledged in advance to obey the behests of
discredted bosses.
The report is valuable and instructive in
that it removes whatever uncertainty might
still attach to the precise position of the
League. This body has sought to pose as an
exempler of public and civic morals, and as
an aggregation of men who hold devotion to
principle dear above all else, standing wholly
outside of parties and casting the weight of
its influence on the side which represents po-
litical purity and unselfishness in the dis
charge of patriotic duties. The League has
consistently endeavored to pose as the EN-
bodment of all that is respectable and high
minded in matters of local government, and
as mentor whose voice is ever lifted up when
there are evils to combat and abuses to rectify.
The report presented last night is com
plete refutation of this claim. In the face of
its Enthusiastically and VIGOROUSLY partisan
tone, the plea OF impartiality must be aban
doned BY indorsing the report the League,
in fact, places itself squarely on the side OF
the Republicans, finding everything done by
them commendable and criticising unsparing-
ly the opposition for its every act. That one
party should be absolutely spetless and the
other without single redeeming quality is q
proposition which even such an eminent au-
thority as the League will hardly render ae-
eeptable, and which is emphatically rejected
in view of the Extensively partisan and intol-
Grant manner in which the Stone faction man
ipulated the Republican primary. Accord
ing TO the Stone organ of this city, only one
ward was lost to the redoubtable leader of the
Custom house clan, and this result was &C
complished by unblushing bribery. fraud and
That tha I chonld hava
no censure for Republican primary election
methods is explicable only on the theory that
the League has ceased to be an exponent of
and has become the servile
instrument of a Republican ring. As be-
tween Democratic candidates chosen in ac-
cordance with established precedent and I'M
der conditions which insured absolute fair
ness, and the Republican ticket named in
manner admittedly irregular and subversive
of an untrammeled vote, the citizens will not
hesitate to decide next Tuesday.
As to Governor Smiths course it has re-
ceived the unequivocal support and common
dation of every paper of unquestioned indie
pendence in the country, and this testimony
is not likely to be controverted or even weak
ened by the denunciations of the Reform
have been said for it in former years, has
sent unbiased public opinion.
The work accomplished at the special SEES
sion of the General Assembly involves solely
a question of policy. 1t cannot be charged
that the Democratic majority violated single
law or held at defiance one statutory provi
sion. There is no prohibition against the
Mayor or other municipal officers taking part
in a political campaign, but United States
statute DEGREES that Federal oficehoders
shall refrain from participation in election
contests proviso fagrantly set at naught by
Collector Stone and his subordinates. The
Custom-house was, in fact, made a polit cal
headquarters. and a plain Congressional en-
actment was treated openly with contempt.
Yet this infraction of the law does not elicit
even faint remonstrance. The League has
eyes only for alleged Democratic short-com
ings and inferentially gives the Republicans a
clean certificate of character.
In stead of parading under false coors, the
Reform League should have the courage and
The common honesty to proclaim openly its
with and attachment for the Repub
lican party.