The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-10-03
SOME POLITICAL SNAP SHOTS.

The minds of the people can't be diverted
from the fact that there is no good reason why
certain men should enjoy the emoluments OF
Office in Baltimore county all the time. While
there may be nothing to be said against them
personally, yet there are scores of men in this
county just as honest. just as competent as
they are who have never had chance to taste
any of the sweets of office" "a term that is
in many respects misleading and delusiye,) yet
who have never had an opportunity to show
what they could do in public life. 1t only
seems fair and just all things being equal
that any man of good standing should be
given a chance. Think of this little and
the force of it may become plain.
1t makes the "gald jade vince" when THE
UNION speaks of the late Democratic conven-
ton in Towson, and no wonder. We have
many times seen both Democratic and Repub-
lican conventions here that were the most far
cical things in the way of political gatherings
that could well be imagined, bat we never saw
anything coming anywhere near that of Au-
gust of this year. The men who composed it
had been through hard school and so well
did they get their directions in the Piper Build
ing that none of them, although uttering Bit
ter threats, got away from the leash that bound
them. 1t was sad spectacle, but when fair
minded men get TO thinking it will all be
changed.
The old-time idea was when a sheriff was
elected in this county it was his duty to have
a general supervision over affairs to the end
fbof evil doors no;9hf in coma meaeure no
either arrested or checked in their disposition
to do wrong. Apparently all this is changed
now. Law-breakers stalk the county unmo-
Tested and the sheriff and his officers seem to
see how far they can get away from them and
keep the Jail as empty as possible. Our law
abiding people are up against tough PROPOSE
ton just now and whilst no one acquainted
with the facts expects to reform everything"
yet it can be said that there should be at least
some semblance of checking evildoing.
The Towson Democrat, always unreliable,
speaks constantly of the legacy of debt left by
the Republican Board of County Commission
ers. Everybody of any intelligence at all
knows that this is lie out of the whole cloth.
When Mr.. Magruders Board went out of Of
flee the debt it left amounted to well on to
$780, 900. This is what the Republicans had to
face, and where they made the mistake was in
not putting on big levy at once and paying
this Democratic debt. If they had done that
the controversy over the debt question would
have been of short duration after the retire
ment of the Magruder Board.
A Democrat from one of the upper districts,
on his way to market in Baltimore few days
ago, stopped few minutes in Towson. Asked
what the political outlook in his section was,
he said 1.-The Democrats of my district-at
least large number of them-are heartily
sick of boss rule in their party and they think
it good time now to put an end to it,"
There are, he continued, 81 voters in my
family who have always been straight Demo-
Gratis but this gear they intend to vote the Repu0-
Rean ticket to man." This farmer expressed
himself seriously and with emphasis. Is the
handwriting on the wall?
II is q sorrowful spectacle to see once pow
erful party in Baltimore county almost on its
knees begging support from its aforetime fol-
lowers. And why2 Simply because its man.
agement has become entirely the assumed right
of one man whose word is the law and gospel
of politics and those who will not tamely sub
mit-those who have some independence and
manhood left in their makeup-have nothing
else to do but kick" Hence the woods is
full" of them just now and what they will do
to the ticket of the boss on the third of No
vember will be something that can't be ex-
pressed in words.
Although THE UNION is discredited by an
utterly unreliable authority as Republican
newspaper, we have no quarrel with the per-
son who makes the statement. We have been
doing business so long at the old stand and
upon lines that we believe to be correct and
honorable, that we gladly allow the public to
Judge between US. If some think we have
"gone wrong" glance into the facts will not,
we think, establish it. Our record as news
paper publishers in Baltimore county is open
to inspection and, without egotism, we invite
theclosest scrutiny. We cannot say any more.
Mr.. Charles H Knox is a much sought-after
man Just now. Those who treated him shah
billy find that he has personal following that
is dangerous and they want him to come off,
and stop being an independent candidate for
County Commissioner. Thus far Mr.. Knox
has easily withstood all the Establishments of
his former political friends and it is likely, if
he deserted his following now, the marble
heart would be his for all time to come.
A correspondent wishes to know why THE
UNION has said nothing about the private
business record of Mr.. Mann, one Of the Demo-
cratic nominees for County Commissioner.
We have before said-and we now repeat it
that this paper cannot be used TO point out
candidates personal shortcomings. If such
course is deemed necessary other means must
be adopted to get the facts before the public.
A sufferer from late 'raid" said this week
that if the county police were not so busy
with politics, including registration business,
they perhaps might catch some of the chicken
thieves, or men who are holding up and
shooting inoffensive people on the public
thoroughfares. We are sorry for this force"
at least for the good men on it. Those who
know say they are not to blame.
It's getting shaky when some Democrats are
figuring already on 500 majority for their
ticket in Baltimore county. But they'll be
"skeert'' worse than that before the expiration
of four more weeks. One man--counted
straight all right-said, when he heard of
the 500 estimate; They'll be devilish lucky
if they get through with anything"
The Highlandtown Sentinel would like to
know why Mr. Henry P. Mann, one of the
Democratic nominees for County Commission
err is willing to sacrifice his present office (su-
perintendent of fire-alarm, salary $1,5O0,) for
that of County Commissioner, salary 81, 200.
1t does seem odd, doesn't itP