The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-11-07

throughout the entire State, electing
one congressman and the Mayors of
four of the five leading cities.
The Democrats carried the State of
Missouri by $4,000 plurality. The
legislature is safely Democratic.
Odell's plurality in New York is
s.S67 and it is said that his election
will be contested. Coler carried eight
counties in the State. Fivein greater
New York and three outside of the
City.
The Republicans still hold control
Of New Jersey but their majority has
been materially reduced. The Demo
Gratis elected three congressman.
POSTELECTION THOUGHTS.
Now that the election is over, the
people can settle down more easily
and prepare to accept the form of
government as outlined by the voters
choice last Tuesday. These frequent
agitations bring to mind the convic-
tions of many persons that it would
be better for the country at large, if
fewer elections were held, as each
campaign, and more especially when
the Presidency is involved, upsets the
business interests of the country.
Many of our best public men have
urged that the term Of the President
should be extended from four to six
years and that he be ineligible for re-
election. There is much force in this
argument, because it has been es-
pecially true of late years, that those
who occupy this high office, do not
hesitate to use the patronage that it
carries for the purpose of strenthen-
ing individual fences to further per-
sonal aspirations. For instance,
anyone can see that the present occu-
pant of the White House is using
every endeavor 10 succeed himself in
1904. In the ordinary business af.
fairs oflife this would not be tolerated
because it would be considered bad
policy and could only result in the
wrecking ofthe concern which did not
appoint its employees strictly on the
ground of personal fitness. If this
be true of private enterprises, it must
also be the case in matters pertain
ing to the Government.
1t has also been strongly urged that
the manner of electing our United
States Senators be changed and that
they be chosen directly by the people
instead of the Legislatures of the
different States. This too, has many
strong points in its favor, for it
would be possible, if the people made
the direct choice, to get our very best
statesman in this high and response
BILE position. In many States in the
Union it is an open secret that the
United States Senatorship is simply
a question of dollars and the man
with the biggest purse always wins.
While this has not been the fact so
far as Maryland is concerned, yet
there is no telling but what we may
drift into the same position.
Another point that is causing much
uneasiness is the fact that it is no
longer possible for a poor man to
aspire to any high political position.
With the modern election method
come the necessity of raising a big
campaign fund in order to carry the
vote to a successful termination. 1t
is an open secret that no man can
accept the gubernatorial nomination
from either party in this State unless
he be prepared to spend sum which
would be a fortune to the majority
of us. There is doubtless today,
timber available for this high place if
it were not for the fact that the big
contribution to the campaign fund
must be in sight before a candidate
can be seriously considered by any
nominating convention. 1t is not
charged that this money is used for
purposes. On the con-
trary we doubt if very little, if any,
of the fund goes for corrupt uses. 1t
is necessary to bear the expenses III
cident to the campaign, such as hold
ing meetings, organizing clubs and
getting the vote out on election day.
Politics has now come to be regardcd
rs purely business matter so far as
the conduct of the different campaign
headquarters are concerned 1t
seems hard to do away with the
necessity of this organization, but it
S unfortunate for our people to be
placed in the position that they must