The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-28
THE HOUSE MBROGLIO.

THE HOUSE LNBROGLIO.
The sessions of the House of Dele
gates on Thursday and Friday of
last week at Annapolis will long be
remembered by the people of Mary
land. 1t was probably the most
stormy and tempestuous time that
has been witnessed in the historic
old Capitol since the dark days of
Civil War. The Democratic majority
of the House is very close when all Of
the m embcrs are in line, and it re
quires the most careful management
to prevent break at ordinary times.
The cause ofthe disturbance this time
was the appointments made by Gov
ernor Smith for Anne Arundel county.
AS has been the custom, the Govern
or was guided in his selection by the
State Senator who made recon-
mendations Numerically opposed
by the local members of the House of
Delegates. The principal bone ofcon-
tention was the appointment of Mr..
Robert D. Moss as Democratic
election supervisor as he is PERSONA
NON GRATA to the wing Of the Demo-
cratic party, which is now in control
in Anne Arundel county. When the
House was called to order on Thurs
day the four Democratic members
from that county joined with the
forces of the Republican party, and,
marshalled by the renegade Demo-
crat, Straus from Baltimore City,
caused all manner of trouble. A call
had been issued for a caucus to con-
slider party matters and the hour
named for the meeting was eight
o'clock that evening. To prevent
the Democrats from assembling, the
Republicans, with the aid ofthe Anne
Arundel delegation and Straus adj
journed the House until that hour.
The Democrats discovering that four
Republicans had gone to Baltimore
on the evening train determined to
break the quorum. They took pos
session of the Senate Chamber and
locked themselves in. When Speaker
Mitchell called the House to order it
was discovered that only forty-six
members were present, which is three
less than a quorum. The Sergeant at
Arms was directed to look for the alb
sentees and bring them before the bar
of the House He started on his trip
and returned in few minutes saying
that he understood that a number of
the members were in the Senate
Chamber and that the doors were
locked. Mr.. Straus then requested a
call of fourteen members to assist the
Sergeant at Arms in breaking down
the Senate door in order to gain adj
mission. Only the cool medicines
ofSpeaker Mitchell prevented a SER
ious conflict, for had this been done,
fight would have ensued. He
stated to their leader that he did not
feel that he was called upon to
authorize such a drastic request and
turmoil ensued, which lasted for
some little time. The Republicans
realizing how absurd and ridiculous
they were allowing themselves to be
made, finally made a motion to adj
iourn which was carried.
On Friday the fight was renewed
and remarks on the floor ofthe House
became of personal nature. The
elimination of the affair, however,
capped the climax. After the ad-
journment a personal alteration
took place between Mr.. Straus and
Mr.. Painter, of Baltimore county.
The former called the latter cur and
for his remarks was slapped over
Friends interviewed and no other |
physical damage was done.
This state of affairs is one which |
should receive the severe condemna-
ton of all good citizens. 1t was en-
tirely uncalled for and the only sur
prise that is expressed is why decent |
Republicans will allow themselves to
be willingly made the tool of those
who are attempting to inhict
personal punishment for either real
or imaginative wrongs. SO far as
Mr.. Straus himself is personally con-
cerned, we have nothing further to
say The contempt that is shown
him both by his own people and his
opponents should be sufficient re-
Duke. The Anne Arundel county
delegates we think should be con-
demned for joining in such an unholy
alliance. They undoubtedly have
their side of the case and it is an open
question whether or not the Govern
or, who is in possession of all the
facts respecting the situation in that
county, should not in this case