The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-03-19
POLITICAL MOVE THAT IS UNWISE.
Says Editor Robinson of DR.. Ravencroft's
RumOred Resignation.

publican nomination for Senator
from Garrett county, inspires the
following editorial from the pen of
Editor j. j. Robinson, of the Iona
coming Star, under the caption of "A
Bad Play in Politics.
We sincerely trust that the report
of Hon. r. A. RaYenscroft's resigna-
ton as surveyor of the port of Balti-
more is untrue and absolutely with
out foundation. DR.. Ravenscroft was
reelected to the State Senate from
Garrett county in 1901 and he would
have had one more session of the leg
islature to serve had he not accepted
the federal appointed rendered to
him, and which he has now been filling
for some time. The report that he will
resign his position as surveyor comes
through adispatch from Garrett coun-
ty to an Allegany newspaper, and is to
the effect that the doctor will divest
himself of his federal responsibilities
for the purpose of DOMINIC his senat-
orial toga during the 1904 session. As
we haYe said, we hope the report is
untrue.
DIR. Ravenscroft was reelected by
the good people of Garrett county in
1901 to serve them for four years as
the State Senator from that county.
After serving the first session of his
second term Senator Ravenscroft
received the appointment ofsurveyor
of the port cf Baltimore, and he ac-
cepted the position with the full
knowledge that he could not fill two
offices-that of surveyor and State
Senatorial the same time. Yet he
preferred to relinquish his senatorial
duties for the more lasting, more re-
munerative and no doubt more CON
genial berth in the government ser
vice. Should he now undertake,
through mere technicality, to fill
both offices, he will do himself and
his party palpable injury and his
~ONpSASStNAtS u pronounced
The doctor probably intends to hold
his government position until the leg
islature convenes in January, then
resign" the surveyorship, take his
seat in the State Senate, and, on the
adjournment of the General Assem-
bly,, resume his position at the Balti-
mora CuctOm Houca
When Senator Ravenscro' was APP
pointed to the surveyorship he gave
out the impression, and his people
understood, that a State Senator
would be elected to succeed him at
the Forthcoming election. 1t is not
doubted that there are several candi-
dates in the field, good Republicans
and competent gentlemen, who aspire
to the position already vacated by
Senator Ravenscroft. We do not
speak for any particular aspirant for
Senatorial honors in Garrett county,
but we submit that his determination
now, or later. to hold on to his gov
eminent position and take his seat Ill
the State Senate as usual, will be a
bit of political manipulation that the
voters of Garrett county and of the
entire State will not accept with any
degree of cordiality.
1t cannot be argued, in defense of
this position, that it will be necessary
for DR.. Ravenscroft to retain his seat
in the Senate to ensure Republican
vote in the General Assembly; Gar
rett county is a Republican county
and the sturdy people over there will
not fail to elect Republican as the
doctors successor Garrett is one of
the surest-if, indeed, not the most
certain-Republican counties in Mary
land, and there is no doubt of Re
publican being elected for years to
come. The suspicion that Senator
Ravenscroft's anticipated resignation
has been inspired by the candidacy of
United States Senator Louis E. Nc
Comas for reelection, makes the doc
tors position all the more untenable.
Perhaps it will be conceded that Gar
rett county will elect a Republican
State Senator to fill out Senator Ra-
venscroft's uneXpired term, but itmay
not be quite so certain that he will be
a "McComas'' Republican. Aye,
there's the rub.
Senator Ravenscroft has Jared well
in the hands of the Republican voters
of Garrett county, and the Star will
not so much as intimate that he has
not deserved all the preferment shown
him; that is more the reason why the
doctor should decline to see-saw be-
tween two good offices, even in the
interest of another Republicans am
bition to succeed himself in a higher
branch of the governments service.
Senator McComas has also received
many emoluments from his party and
he should not countenance, much less
encourage, temporary official trans
position even to secure vote in the
General Assembly for himself without