Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-02-20
FIGHTING FOR CLEAN POLITICS.

FIGHTING FOR CLEAN POLITICS..
Mr.. James E. Ellegood, who has made
and who is still making such a gallant fight
against the forces OF political corruption in
the First Congressional district of Maryland,
still has faith in his position. He lie trying,
through the local press Of Wicomico county,
to educate public sentiment TO such degree
that clean politics may become an issue
within the Democratic party OF that section,
the party with which Mr.. Ellegood Ia affll
lated. In the Salisbury Advertiser he makes
powerful plea that the honesty exhibited
in business and in private life be carried in.
to politics. Mr.. Elegood's letter is worth
quoting and studying. He says:
One OF the embarrassing and painful Hea.
lures OF an anti. bribery campaign is the
feeling that one is criticising the conduct OF
his own party friends, and also his personal
friends in both parties; men of the highest
standing and greatest influence in church, in
business, and in all other relations of life;
men whose private lives are above reproach
men whose word is their bond But with.
in the domain of party politics, seem TO feel
intuitively that they are an object of sus-
pcion and consequently suspect others who
come within the same contagious atmos
phere, and manage by mysterious process
OF casuistry 10 furnish an excuse for doing
that which they admit Is criminal and dan.
gerous. Now, why should IL be offensive
to call spade spsde'H How can we criti-
else a crime and not condemn the criminal 2
Why should corrupt condition be held up
for public examination, and the promoters
oil 1t concealed2 The bride. producer is the
bribe-giver. 1t Is allowable to 'decry bride
~, but not TO condemn the briber. Condi
tons have no sensbilities TO be hurt, and
can't be fined or imprisoned.
II a bank 10 broken into and vault blown
up, the repairs may b. made-but why ar
rest the bank robberP The wounded sensi
blities of the James boys and Harry Tracy
ought by all means TO have been respected,
while their victims ought To have kept out
OF danger.
Every practical politician opposes bri
berY-in the other fellow, and iavors re-
form-in the other political party
Mr.. Ellegood argues that each party is
under moral obligation to the people 70 OBJ
serve the law and suppress corruption, nu
matter what stand may be taken by the op
posing party. Bribery, past or present, on
one side is no excuse for bribery on the
other. He asks:
what claim has party organization
upon q candidate that he should violate the
law and commit the crime OF bribery, fol
which, If convicted, he would bring infamy
upon himself and familyP What possible
claim in morals has party or candidate to
commit any act that will corrupt the PEG
pier II a candidate cant control his party,
neither can his party control him, without
his consent, TO do anything that lie unfair or
illegal. Have not the people outside OIL
party organization 80 cal!el, some rights
to be protected against Individual aud party
corrupt practice Such specious, bat vicious,
reasoning for crime ought to be punctured
by the public press. There are men OF in
tense party loyalty who will at times sacri
flee their fealty from patriotic motives, and
there are, unfortunately, too many who will
sacrifice both patriotic aud party allegiance
to crafty selfish ambition, and try to de
ceive themselves that II is done Tor the pub
lic"