The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-24
WHO IS THE JOKER?
To the Editor of The Republican:


And It must be confessed, they are do
1 ing very well at sustaining the parts as
signed them Strauss scored the first
little Joke when ne undertook to brighten
Baltimore into voting the Democratic
ticket with threat of losing the bust
ness patronage of the SOuth-as if men
bought goods on the strength of their
political opinions. The Joke didn't take
well and was promptly withdrawn from
the boards. Miles was called on to do
better, and did better-aS a joker. No
more delicious bit of humOr has enliven-
ed this campaign barring of course,
the Senatorial cOurtesies of the Sena-
torial aspirants, than Miles declaration
at Deals Island, that the Democratic
party has always ''striven for ballot
, reform and the publication of cleo
tons. Lend US hand at laughing,
gentlemen, as we read the words aloud.
And then hoop US in, or we shall burst
with laughing, as the solemn visaged
candidate for the Federal Senatorship
proceeds to picture that sturdy and
regular Democrat. Mr.. John P. Poe"
as the valiant leader of the movement
for purified elections. Evidently, the
! spell-binders of the State Democracy
/ are bent on entertaining the people with
pleaSantrleS rather than discussing with
them the issue that are vitality involved
IN campaign which means so much to
the freemen of the Safe. The State
Convention seemed funny enough, when
a gubernatOrlal candidate was evolved
from 'dog-eat-dOg" scrap among the
leaders. Then came the cOntOrtions of
contendlng forces, striving to find an
acceptable answer to the simple inquiry
What is Democrat - Treading close
upon the heels of this eXhausting strug-
gle was the endless chain of conferences
by Senatorial asplrantS, wherein gentle
men who express their unbounded trust
IN the dear people find themselves Who'll
ly unable to transfer any portion of that
trust to one another. And now comes
the bowling climax to the whole show,
IN the funny things that are being ut
tered bY.th campaign orators in lieu of
any serious and worthy arguments to
, be found for continuing their machine
/ IN power. In view of which fact it is
interesting to hear the Standard Oil At
torney Solemnly aver that there is no
: earthly reason why any Democrat
, should vote against his party this year "
! But Mr.. Gull has doubtless already found
multitude of Democrats who are shift
ing the question thus: is there any
earthly reason why any Democrat should
vote for his party this year," That
party refused to heed the popular de-
mand for Wartield's denomination,
| turned deaf ear to the candidacy of
| Baker, and put itself in bondage to John
/ Walter Smith and his faithful bench
man, Crothers. Why should any Demo-
crat feel bound to vote for the entrench-
ment IN power OF men who have proven
themselves utterly indifferent to the
peoples 5 rights, recreant to their most
sacred pledges, and unworthy of high
places at the hands Of a party which
holds large percentage of the best
citizenship of this State.
The time has gone-le let Us hope, for
ever, and ever gone when man votes
the Democratic or Republican ticket
because his great grandfather did; just
as he declines to wear an old ''drab coat
all buttoned down before because it
was the approved attire Of his respect
ed ancestors. We are living in a new
era, although the Baltimore Sun has
recently expressed Its unklnd belief that
the Democratic managers have not yet
walked up to this fact IN the State Of
Maryland. But we are living in new
era-the Bourbon democracy to the con-
trary notwithstanding. Men are not
led as lambs to the slaughter in politics
any longer, by the ancient dodge of
partisan appeals, People are voting
tor, the man, looking to his character
and record more than the party name
ne wears And nothing in the history
OF Maryland politics goes further to the
proof OF this gratifying condition, than
the way men OF all parties are lining up
beside George K. Gather in his fight
Tor good government and a square
deal. Mr.. Gather 5 record as a public
Official has been 50 clean, his honesty
and integrity are so unimpeachable, his
fearless stand for equal rights to every
man has been 50 sincere and frank, that
every body (even his opponents) have
come to trust him: Nothing could bet
terlllustrate tins fact than MIR. Gather S
attitude toward public service corpor
atoms. 1t was rumored, IN certain
quarters, that Mr.. Gather 5 opinions
on this subject were radical and danger
Gus, and that the public service corpor-
atoms would oppose his candidacy.
Mr.. Gather did not equlvocate in the
lace OF this report. He spoke right
out IN his speech of acceptance, and
that what | call man was the
dc nt Al i