Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-12-25
The People vs.. The LObby-WhIoh
Will Win1

Mr.. Editor viii the next United States
Senator from Maryland be named by the
members of the General Assembly Of Mary
land when the Legislature convenes, or by
the Third House before II convenes, is the
vital question now confronting the Demo.
cratic party of this State say vital ques
ton, because belive by its answer the party
will either be united or disrupted for years
to come.
In answering this question 1t may be we'll
to consider first who compose the lobby.
think / can answer this query fairly by say
ing 1t Is composed of a number Of gentle.
men Of eminent responsibility, outside Of
politics, who have acquired more or less
substance through holding office, who want
every thing In sight all Of the time, and who
have been successful during the last quarter
| OF century In having their wants grained
would not, however, have my readers think
| that perouistes OF office are the only sources
| of income these gentlemen have, for the
houoraria. by the vulgar called gratis, which
they receive for their services in securing the
passage Of legislation has IN the past yielded
them no uncomfortable amount OF pin money
TO contribute to the luxurious Tastes OF them
| selves and their friends.
The Chief Lodge of the Lobby is located
|
except during the session of the Legislature,
when 1t is transferred to apartments In the
State House at Annapolis. II Is presided
over by an Exalted Grand Ruler, one Of
whose duties II is never to be absent from
the Lodge when the Legislature is actually
in session, unless he Is on the floor of the
House or Senate, as corporation legislation,
which Is regarded with great solicitude by
the entire fraternity, may arise In his abb
sence, and cannot be proceeded with until
he has been "seen"
Immediately prior to the converting of the
Legislature the Senators and Delegates are
invited TO visit the Lodge at Baltimore, and
meet the Exalted Grand Ruler. II the in
vitation is accepted, occasionally 1t is not,
when they arrive they are invited TO enter
the sanctum sanctorum sngly with the Ex-
allied Grand Ruler, and possibly one or two
OF his TRUSTEES. II the visitor Is novice he
lie iniated into the first degree, that is the
mysteries Of the caucus. 1t is explained TO
him the party can only act through the
caucus, and that he must then and there
double cross his soul and body that he will
In all things obey the dictates of the caucus.
He is told the Lobby controls the caucus,
the caucus the organization OF both branches
OF the Legislature, and that If he will be
good, and obey the Lobby, there are all sorts
of nice things in the way Of committee APP
pointments for himself and patronage for
his friends 10 store for him, but that II he is
laboring under the mistaken impression
that he is going down TO Annapolis to rep
resent his constituents he can have none OF
the plums which are for the faithful only.
The gentlemen of the Lobby are noted for
their modesty. 1t is true they are the or
ganization Of the Democratic party, In their
own estimation but we can pardon this van
ity when we recall how often the party has
been compelled TO call for their assistance
10 the times of it's troubles, and how freely
that assistance was rendered-for consid-
Grafton, /. g., fat Office for every one OF the
| craft.
But, naturally, you will ask, how have
| these worthy gentlemen been able 30 long
TO maintain their powerP In the first place,
they are bound together by ties as strong as
the ties which bind the Malta and High
binders, and In the next place they are Sc
lected with great care from those who have
proven themselves adopts In the arts of pol
itics-men who will obey orders without
stopping TO ask the reason why.
Again they have heretofore, In a large
measure, controlled the Executive appoint
ments, and while they have never been
/ kuOWu W puICuhob q NOto III ACbtoiosutOi
they have been able TO be 30 kind 10 the
gentlemen who vote with them.
It Is true the Lobby Is now somewhat en-
barassed by the fact that Mr.. Warfield, who
was nominated against its better judgment
to appease an unreasonable ciamor OF the
people for his election, proposes TO make his
own appointments, and says he has discov.
cred that the people, from whom he received
bis nomination and election, do not wanI
the same gentlemen TO hold office all Of the
time. Such talk is Of course dlscouragine
TO gentlemen who have given the best years
OF their lives 10 their party, but then hsS
knew what sort OF man Mr.. Warfield wa
before he was nominated, and as the people
would have him they will have 10 put or
with him for the next four years at least
Such is the Lobby, such It's Methods
Will the people win, or will the Lobby win
Mr.. Rayner Is the choice Of the people, anC
anybody 10 beat him is the choice Of thu
Lobby. Have the people, or has the Lobby
the greatest influence with the representa-
tives Of the peoplef The people are crying
with a loud voice, "Vote for Rayner." The
Lobby ia whispering, "Lay low, keep mum
until the caucus" The people are fighting
10 the open, the Lobby under cover. Which
will win 2 The people, sure
DEMOCRAT.