Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-01-23
THE cAPITAI,
a PUBLIC DEMAND

The follow ing, taken from the Har-
ford Democrat, is endorsed by the
Capital in toto 1t IS in keeping with
the policy of this paper and along the
line we have been pursuing. and We
earnestly reiterate the following sent.
iments
The reform wave that swept the
country last fall in many states is
manifested in the messages of the
Governors. notablyEof Ohio. Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland. The two former
were against Republican misrnle and
the latter Democratic Encouragement.
They all agree that there is too much
extravaganza in legislation. too much
graft ia an insidious form. and that
the remedy is in abolishing the lobby
from the legislative halls. the passage
of corrupt practice act making pub
lie, and in limited measure prohibit
ing campaign contributions and in
the passage of primary election law
giving the people a voice in the nomi
nation of candidates and in amending
ing the ballot aud allowing the inten
tion of the voter to count. when that
intention can be clearly ascertained
Maryland's Governor has been
outspoken and forcible in his utter
ances on all these questions. which
have but one object in view, the
purity of the ballot as an aid TO good
government and the advancement of
civic virtue. 1t is in the promulga-
tion of this doctrine in this State that
its citizens, irrespective of party, are
most interested. That there is need
of Improvement along these lines in
this State, as elsewhere, is apparent
TO the most casual observer. 1t is.true
there is no such condition existing
here as prevailed in Philadelphia and
Pennsylvania previous to the last
election, but there is enough to ar
rest the attention of thoughtful citi-
2ens. 1t is undenied that There have
been large expenditures for the cor
ruption of the electorate; that there
las been undue influence exercised
by the bosses. so called; that the
unorganized people are powerless to
resist their Vaccinations; that the
lobby, too, often controls legislation
preventing the passage of good and
promoting the enactment of bad laws,
aud by trained construction of the
ballot law preventing the exercise of
the electoral franchise, the sovereign
remedy of au intelligent people and
the sheet anchor of the republic.
"rhe necessity for. theseEmeasures is
imminent. They have been promo
tive of the welfare of the people
everywhere tried and nowhere are
they more potent than in the South
ern states under Democratic domino
tion In fact they are all Democratic
measures and are necessity If Dem
ooracy is to prevail in future cleo
tions If Democracy means anything,
it means the rule of the people. The
people do not rule when the candi.
dates of the governing party are nom-
mated by self constituted coterie
who make business of politics, live
on the profits, corrupt the voter or
disfranchise him. andbuy and sell leg
islation ut the behest of corporations.
The Democratic party is in control
in this State, by a narrow majority it
is true, but in control, and will be
held responsible for bad laws enacted
and the failure to pass good measures
demanded by the people irrespective
of party The Republicans are playing
waiting game. They are now as
the minority party arrayed on the side
of reform and will be found voting
for OF against bills as will best sub
serve their party interests. They
know the temper of the people de-
mands the passage of good laws. an
enlargement of their liberties and the
protection of the ballot and will vote
in accordance with the popular will.
II the Democrats are less alive to the
needs of the hour and allow the Re.
publlcans the advantage of position
that better record gives them, they
can be assured that the next election
will reveal a want of confidence in
Democratic management and the
affairs of state be transferred TO Re-
publican control -
1.-THE versatile climate of the United