The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-04-26
Correspondence baltimore County Onion.
THE MARYLAND DEMOCRACY.
Broken Promises to the People-No Pri-
mary Law and no Corrupt Practices
Act-Trick Ballots Party's Only
Hope-Played It's Last Gard"
Now for the Coroner.
TowsoN. MD. April 10, 1902

TOwsON, Nd. April 10, 1902.
MeSSTs. Edit0Ts The session OF the Leglsla
ture of 1902 having now come to close 1t would
be well for the people of Maryland to examine
carefully the actions of the men to whom were
entrusted the carrying out of the pledges upon
which they were elected. The Democratic, ma.
jority In the Legislature, and particularly In
the Senate, has utterly failed to redeem the
most important promises made to the people
prior to the election.
demanded by almost everyone, regardless OF
party Affiliations. it is fair and honest, primary
and election laws that are invulnera0le 10 the
attacks of shrewd gentlemen of the legal pro-
fession who change the wording of laws at WILL
and equally interruptions supervisors OF cleo,
ton who ruthlessly violate the law OF the land
by furnishing to the voters of certain counties
u form of ballot printed and arranged in euch
an illegible and deceptive manner as TO even
shock the sensiblities of Governor Smith. but
not until all the harm had been done and the
purpose for which the infamous law was en-
acted had been accomplished. And yet this
visors who had been guilty of this gross out
rage upon the voters of their respective coun-
ties.
their platform to the passage of primary cleo
ton law and yet our representatives at Annap-
oils had Baltimore county exempted from the
provisions of the bill which finally became
law.
It will not do to say that it is too expensive
nor will It suffice to urge that It is unnecessary,
is a contest, particularly in the districts ada
cent to Baltimore city, bribery, intimidation
and violence are of common occurrence and in
one district particularly, with less than 500
voters the evil of bribery has become so great,
that the fact is well known that 1t Is useless for
any man to enter into a contest unless he Is
prepared to spend several thousand dollars to
corrupt the integrity of his neighbors.
In view of this deplorable condition OF AFFAIRS,
which challenges contradiction, what man or
party can longer attempt to convince the peo
pie Of this county that the correction of these
evils is too expensive or unnecessary
The failure of the Senate to pass the corrupt
practices bill was as inexcusable as it was sig
nificant; it was inexcusable inasmuch as the
same gentlemen who voted at this session 10
kill the bill had not only once, but several times
before, voted for this identical bill and neces-
sarily the only inference to be drawn from SUCH
course is that the bill only received their sane,
meet its doom in the House of Delegates, and
when we consider the star game of hypocrisy
which the Honorable Senate of Maryland has
played upon the people in this matter for the
past six years, it Is not drawing too violent in
ference to conclude that in the past session the
Senate has shifted its mantle of deceit upon
the shoulders of the House and that the large
vote it there received was due to the knowledge
that the Senate would this time enact the role
of executioner and that when the bill was once
entrusted to its tender mercies it would be a
sure case of "off with its head so much for
Buckingham" Its defeat is Significant in That
it serves final and unmistakable notice upon the
people of Maryland that the leaders who control
the affairs of the Democratic party are going 10
depend for future success upon the same oul-
q currupt ballot, surrounded by all the political
evils which corrupt practices act would pre-
vent.
roborated when taken in conjunction with Gov
ernor Smiths appointment OF supervisors and
the trick ballots in southern Maryland, con
nived at and made possible by the Governor call
ing an extra session of the Legislature for pure
ly partisan purposes, in violation OF not only
the spirit. but the letter, of the Constitution,
shall only be convened in extra session on ex
traordinary occasions. for example, the one
that existed owing to the failure OF the House
of Delegates to pass the bill authorizing the
levy of the State tax. But neither the consul
tuition nor the laws of this State are allowed tx
stand in the way of the political schemes of the
Aside from the regret which all must feel a
the low level to which a once great pc Utica
party has descended, and looking at the action:
of its chosen representatives in purely selfish
and partisan light, its condition Is source o.
great satisfaction to those of its former mem
bers who were finally compelled to realize thu
fact, reluctantly in some cases, ito use the nov
famous expression of the Police Commission
ers of Baltimore city, whose salaries are paid b.
the people, but whose services are rendered Il
Mr.. Isaac Freeman Rasin,) that the Democratic
party had entirely ceased to be useful instru
ment in the hands of the people to promote
necessary reforms and rectify abuses which hat
become inimical to the best interests of thu
State, and that their plain duty directed then
to support the Republican party which, whei
given power, had redeemed every importan
pledge previously made in its platforms.
Viewed in the light of past performances thu
only hope for fair and honest primaries ant
elections in Maryland lies in the success of thu
candidates of the Republican party who hav'
been in the past, and will be in the future, alb
solutely pledged to the enactment of such laws
and these pledges so solemnly made will be a
faithfully redeemed.
Like its parent organization, or rather, dis
organization, so-caled National Democracy
that party in Maryland represents no enlght
ened or advanced ideas and stands for naugh
but promises, broken and unredeemed; in fac
its only issue. as stated so forcibly by that rep
resentative and rising young Democrat, Rober
W. Wells, in his recent letter to Governor Smith
is the race question. and to use his own words
ut is the best and last card of the Democratic
pdI " before The people OF Maryland To-Day"
Surely, Messrs. Editors, with the Democratic
party loudly claiming to represent the 1ntelll
gence. morality and industry of Maryland, ant
at the same time sunken to such a low ebb ant
appealing to such unworthy prejudices, the time
are most propitious for Repu blicans everywher'
to sink all past differences in the enthusiasm
for future success and with high sense or th'
duties and responsibilities which rest upon then
as the only means whereby our fellow citizen
can obtain good government, to stand shoulde
to shoulder with a bold and undaunted front t
the enemy, and the result will be complete
verification of the prediction made short TIM
ago by the Baltimore Sun that after the neg
State election there aOiH not be enough t1t Or IN
Democratic party in Maryland upon eUhich TO hotd
c0YOner's Inquest Yours truly,
RICHARD GRAsoN GEORGE