Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-06

hdd mace BaItlmOFe a One-pafty city. VIII
the masses OF the people naturally and fr-
revocabiy committed to democratic affilia-
lions, the politically selfish had hocked to
that standard for twenty or thirty years:
For a generation there was no political
competition md the democratic monopoly
In Maryland produced those same abuses
that grew out Of republican monopoly In
the adjoining state of Pennsylvania. The
Maryland machine was even more secure
than In Pennsylvania because our state is
smaller and easier to handle. and our sec
tional sympathies are kept alive by the
presence Of considerable negro popula-
ton. This tended constantly to solidffy the
democrats and to disintegrate the repub-
Hcans. -
Such conditions were ideally favorable
for building up and maintaining machine
continued Mr.. Grasty, "and they were taken
advantage of by men OF genius. The late
Senator German was in command. and 1t
may be said that his mastery was SO abso-
lutte that for long period. his chief task
was to choose by nod among those eager
to execute his will. In Baltimore there was
an organization the like of which, for
structural perfection and expert naanipuia-
ton. did not exist in any otter city Mr.
Croker and his like in New York were as
blacksmHhs to engineers in comparison with
MIR. !. Freeman Rasin, who, for nearly a
score OF years, was absolute in his power
| over the politics of his city Mr. .Rasin.s
methods of controlling nominations and
elections ard debating g2yernments, to the
end that ne might profit by The sale Of
legislation. rose almost to the level of
craftsmanship. While these methods might
command admiration for their fnesse and
sagactty, the results to this city were vast
ly more Injurious than II he had brutalized
the business of bossism. He was able at all
times to keep considerable portion of the
respectable community In a tolerant atti-
tude toward himself and his practices. He
carefully and skilffully avoided such ex-
cesses as would bring Into existence an in
dasnant public opinion. He studied his com
munlty. knew the ms and outs of business
and personal relations, kept In touch with
the trend Of sentiment. SO far as II existed
anu anu IN Io52 was more secure In his power
than any despot. :
A Futile Fight.
There arose in 1885, said Mr.. Grastv
a. movement against the oppression and
mental servitude under the splendid leader
ship of the late s. Teackle Wallis. a south.
erner OF southerners. John K Cowen. who
had come here from Ohio and was general
counsel for the Baltimore and Ohio railway
man of splendid mold, Joined Mr. Wallis
and. to a large extent, put the Baltimore
and Ohio behind the rebellion against the
German Rasin ring But all the years Of
their struggle were futile, SO far as concrete
results were concerned
I'm 1892, therefore. Baltimore was In a
low political state. There was a general ac-
ceptance of the inevitable. Mr. Wallis HIM
self had grown old and. lost his fire and
hope. The necessities OF the Baltimore and
Ohio situation had added their influence to
that of WEAKNESS to stay Mr.. Governs hand
Baltimore was in a desperate situation as
| a municipality; OF all large American cities
New Orleans alone made a worse showing
on the face of the figures
cit was at time like this, with the pub
lie apathetic to the very last degree, that
| the fight was begun which demonstrated
the potency of the printing press In the re-
| demption Of city. The distinctive features
about the newspaper war which resulted in
the oyerturn Of bossism and the establish
ment of a popular rule based on the interest
and intelligence OF the people themselves
| have been its persistence its continuity and
the absence of spectacular methods. There
were some crusades in the early stages, but
/ the campaign has consisted in keeping a
steady light on public men and affairs.
The Public Enlightened.
'The first point OF the attack" said Mr.
| Grasty. was huge lottery policy organi-
! zation that was the keystone OF the ring
| structure. An army Of men. supported by
| the profits OF selling lottery tickets, did the
dirty political work, such as repeating and
stufiing ballot boxes. It was an army with
| free rations There was a law on the stat
| ute books against lottery policy, but It was
| shamefully overlooked by the police grand
1 juries and states attorneys. The assaults
on the policy evil were Immediately recoe-
| nized as aimed at the vitals Of the whole
| system, and the politically controlled grand
| jury promptly Indicted the responsible edi-
| tors for criminal lbel After long trial
| an acquittal resulted, and that was the be-
/ ginning of the end OF the Baltimore ring.
| In this trial the good people of Baltimore
| learned for the first time OF the methods
l that had been employed by the organiza ton
which their support had kept In power.
/ Subsequently the Tight against all OF the
l abuses that had sprung up under the politi-
4 cal monopoly was carried on without let IN.