Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-01-08
THE SECRET CAUCUS.

AhN JANAeHA NA SOOO'
1t a noteworthy fact that Hons. Isidor
Rayner, E. E. Jackson and Joshua W Miles
have declared openly and unreserVedly for
the open ballot in the vote for United States
Senator, and more noteworthy fact is that
the only other candidate for the honor, Hon.
John Walter Smith, has refused TO declare
for such open ballot.
What Is the reason for an open balloti
That the people Of the various parts of
the State, for whom the Senator will be
elected, may be in touch with the situation,
from time 10 time, as the election goes on +,
and may advise or request or demand Of
their servants, the members Of the General
Assembly, individually, that they vote for
the candidate who is the choice OF those
people, or in the event that such servants do
not vote as their masters demand, that the
servants may be answerable 10 the people
with full knowledge of the facts.
By this method the least opportunity for
political or personal bribery and debauch-
cry will be given and the greatest oppor
iunity will be given for an honest expires.
sion Of the will of the people Of the State.
Can any member OF the General Assem-
bly,, desiring the future support or even re
spect OF his constituents, afford TO oppose
this systemP
Can the Hon. John Walter Smith, in his
present position Of honor and trust, expect
to retain even the slightest respect Of the
people Of the State II he does not declare
for this method when he Is now their chosen
representative and, at least supposed at this
present time to be, acting for themi
What are the reasons against an open
ballotP
Simply one-that the Democratic mem
ber OF the General Assembly may meet and
by their vote determine, not which one Of
the candidates has the most people OF the
Stale Tor him, but, which candidate can con
troll the most secret ballots. Whether some
OF the secret ballots were obtained by the
direct purchase Of them, or by pledges Of
political patronage or otherwise, will never
appear, the people will never know for whom
their representatives cast their votes, and
hence those members whose secret ballots
were purchased, or otherwise debauched,
will be IN a measure relieved OF the neces'
atty OF answering TO their constituents.
By this method the greatest opportunity
for political and personal bribery and de-
bauchery will be given and the least oppor-
tunity will be given for AZ honest expires
sion Of the will of the people Of the State.
And does our present Governor, John
Walter Smith, elected by, and to represent,
the sovereign people of this State, say that
this is no affair of hisi That he Is not con
cerned 10 III In il your business, the PEG
pies business, the peoples rights, the PEG.
Piles honesty and prIvllegesH
Can any member of the Assembly desir-
ing the future support, or even respect, Of
his constituents, afford to approve this sys.
tenn
There never was large constituent body,
State, political or religious, without its small
percentage of members who were open to
the temptations OF the money bride, the po-
litical place debauch or other political blan.
dlshment, but the percentage Of honesty 10
the Maryland General Assembly is equal to
that OF any other body In the world.
Let those honest and sei.respecting mem
bers Of the Assembly, who believe 10 serving
the people and In honest methods, insist on
the open ballot, so that those members who
would betray their trust may not be able to
do SO without an opportunity TO the people
to demand the reason. II Is not fair, self.
respecting members Of the Assembly, that
those members desiring TO sell their secret
ballots should make you divide the blame
with them or force you TO take explanations
to your constituents at home.
And let every member Of the Assembly
know that the first step taken In the caucus
will necessarily be q viva voce vote on the
question as to whether or not the vote for
caucus nominee will be secret. And Let
every member know that by that viva voce
vote be will be giving clear indication 10
his constituents as 10 whether he is for the
aforementioned method for the first men.
toned reason, or for the second method for
the second reason. -Laurel Democrat.