The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-24

siStance, ETC." In other words, the
purpose of these provisions was to save
the right of voting to men-whose disad-
vantage in life had robbed them of edu-
catiOnal opportunities but whose in
dustry and thrift entitle them to the
rights of good citizens, as much as the
man who holds diploma from college
Mr.. CrOthers by his vote said mo. -
The workman must have all the manual
deXterity, all the educational training
required TO vote the Chinese Puzzle
ballot, or he cannot vote at all. This is
the measure of Mr.. CrOthers' sympathy
with the working man, and beside this
record of his public acts, his public pro-
fessiOns are only airy nothings."
Or take another illustration. In his
speech Of acceptance Mr.. Crothers
pictures out plaintive protest against
political corruption. That's good, if it
Is sincere. And one hesitates to ques-
ton its sincerity, for while the lamp
holds out the burn, the vilest sinner may
return; it is not beyond the bounds of
possibility that Mr.. CrOthers has really
experienced a change of heart. But
one cannot help comparing this most
Vlrtuous declaration with some nOtori-
Gus chapters in his previous political
career. The primary fight of 1903 in
Cecil County is a case in point. No
such open and disgusting venality was
ever witnessed in the County as the
Crothers people practiced to win that
fight. Money was used so freely and
IN such large sums that the use Of It
was ovcr-shadoWed by the Tonderment
as to where it came from Some said
1t came froma certain great corporation
by which Mr.. Crothers has been en-
ployed Tor years; others said it came
from John Walter Smith, whose candi-
dacy for the Federal Senate Mr..
Crothers zealOusly supported. And so
the speculatiOnS went. But certainly
whatever source, the money came. and
the county was flooded. If MIR. CrOthers
is now dead set against political corrup-
ton it is notable conversion. The
next thing you know John Walter
Smith Will be found amongst the peni-
tents. And then what JOY there ought
to be in Heaven.
These few illustrations from Mr..
Crothers career may serve to enlighten
the people of the State as they have en-
hghtened the people of Cecil concerning
MIR. Crothers' unreliability. If anyone
is disposed to ask why such a man was
placed at the head of the State ticket,
the inquiring soul must be referred to
the Honorable John Walter Smith,
whose Herculean efforts at the pyscho-
logical moment, succeeded in landing
the votes at the State Convention for
his own, his very own, candidate. And
If one is tempted to inquire further as
to why Mr.. Crothers should be the man
whom Mr.. Smith delighteth to honor,
we beg to refer that inquirer to the
days of the EXtra-Session, when Mr..
Smith was Governar and Mr.. Crothers
his right hand man in the Senate. There
were two souls with but single
thought, in those days of disfranchise-
ment doing, and their unholy alliance
has never been interrupted since. Mr.
Smith doubtless discovered then, that
however little Mr. Crothers could be
trusted in most things he could be thor
oughly trusted to make this State a
,'one-party State" if ways that are
dark and tricks that are (hardly) vain, "
should not lose their efficiency in carry
ing elections