Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-02-13
MOONS PHASES.
HOW DO YOU STAND 2

III ttttHG 1h1H IA Va
power, machine politics and the adj
hesive efforts of the political trickster
to retain in power himself or those
who do his bidding, the principles of
the Taxpayers Association of Anne
Arundel County, as set forth at the
last meeting of that body, are TO he
commended by all far-seeing persons.
While not raising the cry that every
person now in office is unworthy Of
the trust or making the general cry that
there is mismanagement-or worse.
the association places itself on record
as opposed TO all of those abuses which
have been permitted to grow up in
the management of the ~county's
affairs
The association can work world of
good if its energies are directed in
the proper channel and carried out
with that forcefulness and positiveness
of purpose which its membership war
rants. Many of those who are opposed
to the association raise the cry that
il will soon be deIying in politics. that
il will make suggestions for nomina-
tions or else will endorse the candi-
daoy of certain persons.
There is every reason to. believe that
this is exactly what will be done by
the association when it's full strength
is reached and if il fails to do so it
will miserably fail in carrying out
those efforts TO do good under which
so many persons were induced to be-
come members. What more reasonable
than that the association should begin
at the very bottom of the whole ques-
tion which has to do with the proper
handling of the public money and the
proper doing of the county work?
With the nominations made by a
machine, which can enforce its nomi-
nations under the present existing con-
ditions, no surcease from the wrongs
which are perpetrated can be expected.
For too long time have the taxpay-
ers, the voters, the people who are
most intimately effected by the man
agement of county affairs remained
sluggish and dormant, permitting
things to drift along the stream which
is controlled by the machine managers.
They have walked to the ballot box,
deposited the ballot which represent.
ed their wishes no more than would
the annexation of China, solely and
simply TO keep their own political
party in power, irrespective of the
men who might be on the ticket. 1t
is their duty, a stern duty which they
ought not neglect.
Year by year the machine politicians,
the bosses, are getting firmer grip
ON the people and the peoples money.
Unless they are repudiated or their
acts so carefully scrutinized that they
can work no injury or squander no
money they will have the county
hopelessly insolvent.a condition which
il has closely approached in the not
far distant past.
The Taxpayers Association does not
start out with a 'holier than thou"
blare of trumpets. but solely and sim
ply endeavors to better the condition
of the county, the people who have
made it their home and fitted it TO take
that position which its location and
general blessings of nature warrants.
The county has been in wretched
state, both financially and agricul-
turally for some years. Although the
lack of good and reliable labor has
initiated against prosecuting agricul.
turRl pursuits along those lines which
made the county a power in earlier
DAYS, il is nevertheless fact that the
heavy taxes, and the greivous burdens
laid upon the taxpayers to care for lusty
aud hungry political machines and
bosses have hindered its growth.
If the rank and file of the people,
those who spay the freight, believe
in the self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the ma
chine and the ramifications OF its dis
tributing tentacles. and believe in the
perpetuation of the existing conditions
then the Taxpayers Association had
better go out of business and die from
inanition.
On the other hand if the people de-
sire q change. if they really and hon
estly want better county government.
better school conditions and at least
an effort to aid them in gaining that
prosperity which they SO richly deserve
then they should rally to the support
of the association. If they are afraid
that it will develop into a one-man