The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-10-13
The Campaign In Cecil.

Sun gives the following account of the
campaign in Cecil county this fall
Republican extravaganza and incom-
potency in the management of county
affairs are the principal issues made by
the democrats in this county, and it is
upon definite promises and pledges to
readjust and better the local conditions
that Hon. Austin L. Crothers and the
other democratic candidates expect to be
elected. For two years the republicans
have had majority of the Board of
County Commissioners and practical con-
troll of County affairs. And now there is
a county indebtedness of $500 and
tax rate of 81 20, which is insufficient 10
meet the expenses this year, all of which
the democrats attribute to republican
misrule. These facts and figures are
being driven home by the democratic
orators and papers, and the candidates on
the democratic ticket pledge themselves
to the enactment of legislation making
the maximum rate for the county be-
tween SO and IS cents, which figures, it
is said, were never exceeded during 20
years of democratic rule. They further
favor the adoption of laws to systematic
ally improve the roads of the county, the
expense to be borne by some general
State fund, thus preventing a recurrence
of the enormous expense of the past two
years. The present Indebtedness of the
county, it is stated, has been incurred by
extravagant road-mending under the re.
withstanding the large expenditure, the
roads are in bad condition and no new
bridges have been constructed. The stand
taken by the democrats is that the peo-
Plies money has been expended foolishly
and that the roads cannot be permanently
improved by levying taxes on the people.
Hence they promise to provide plan by
which it can be done without expense to
the county.
The main struggle, however, centers
about the head of the ticket, with Mr..
Crothers as the candidate for the State
Senate on one side and DIR. Joseph 1.
France on the other. Mr.. Crothers is
himself directing the Democratic CAM
paign with the vigor and force that char
acterize the man, and his friends are con-
fident that the whole ticket will win by a
comfortable majority.
For the first time in many years there
is no organized opposition 10 the demo.
cratic candidates upon the part of disatis.
fed democrats in the county, and this is
one main reason why it is believed the
ticket will win without trouble.
During the four years in which he rep
resented Cecil county in the Senate Mr..
Crothers accomplished much, particu-
larly in the line of economy of public
funds and the reduction of State taxes.
AS chairman of the Finance Committee
he was power, and he exercised this
power for the benefit of the State at large.
He was the recognized leader of the DEM
ocratic Senators and worthily represented
both his county and his party. In the
years during which he has been in com.
mand of the organization in Cecil county
Mr.. Crothers has made number of po.
litical enemines, but few of these dispute
his ability as leader or his public ser,
vices as Senator. Another source of
strength in the present campaign is his
vigorous advocacy four years ago of the
Hannah Oyster Culture bill and the
knowledge that if again elected he would
do his utmost to secure the passage OF
oyster legislation of the proper kind.
Throughout Cecil comfy the sentiment in
favor of the Haman bill has been rapidly
growing, particularly as the people are
beginning to understand the fact that its
adoption would furnish them the funds in
a few years for the permanent road i'm.
provements. for which there is now a
tremendous demand. In the upper end
of the county the sentiment is specially
strong and the feeling is unmistakable
there that the adoption of this measure
will not only solve the problem of restor.
ing the oyster industry of the State, but
will furnish the solution of the perma.
nently improved highways question.
i Mr.. Crothers also had some ideas oil
economy for the State, as well as for the
county. which he purposes to urge if he is
elected. "-a m," he said, Gin favor of a
reduction of the State tax and readjust-
ment of our law with view of wiping
out the State debt. The campaign in
Cecil county is being conducted very
largely on economic questions, and our
heavy Indebtedness and high tax rate is
quite unfortunate. The situation de-
mands some legislation that will effectu-
ally prevent recurrence of these condi-
tions. There are also several other mat
tiers of local character in which legislation
] is urgently needed"