The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-08-22

PIOtCSI TIC ilSllI anu pIONlu6 the
opportunity for all white persons,
native and naturalized, to exer-
else the right of suffrage under its
provisions and then framed and
submitted.
We favor a system of oyster cul-
ture by the state, so framed and
administered as effertually to pre-
serve the right, which we hold to
be inalienable, the citizens of the
state to the use of the natural beds
and bars of our rivers and bay.
We faxor such modification of
the act of 1906 as shall more clear
ly construe and safeguard the pro-
visions of that law as to taking
oysters from natural beds and bars,
to the end that it may be impossi-
bic for any Shell Fish Commission
to so use the power and discretion
committed to them as to convert
what may be properly considered
as natural beds and bars into de-
pleted or barren rock, and then
subject them to lease to private
parties to the subversion of the long
and well-recognized right of the
citizens Of this state to the use of
such natural beds or bars.
We are in favor of a nonpartison
commission to execute this or any
other law to be passed upon the
subject matter. We do not feel
satisfied as yet the present COM
mission is free from partisanship
in its administration of the law,
and cannot Improve the hating,
hesitating, shiftless and unprogres-
sive work of the said commission
thus far, with an excessive force
Of partisan employees and super
numeraries, already entailing, and
likely further to entail, deficit in
the Treasury, with little hope that
abundant revenue for good roads,
the promise of which, held out to
the farmers of the state, gave to
the measure much of the support
that it received, and the realiza-
ton of which, at this day, seems
at least far distant.
= We favor legislation for replen-
ishing the depleted beds and bars,
the return of the shells to the bot
tom of our rivers and bay at public
expense, under such supervision as
to aid the processes of nature in
the increase of the oyster supply,
add to the earnings of those de
pendent upon this industry for
their livelihood, and bring more
substantial revenues to the Treas
ury Of the state.
We believe that there ought to
be higher and better grade of
men appointed as justices
throughout counties and in the
city, and particularly, does this
apply to the Office of police magis-
trate in Baltimore city, to the end
that here may be a most thorough
and rigid enforcement of law and
order in all portions of our state.
We believe that these positions
should be filled upon qualifications
based upon merit alone, without
regard to political utilization; and
we promise the people of this state
that if the selection of the men
shall be entrusted to a Republican
governor supported, if need be, by
legislation to better carry out this
policy, that the character of these
officers in the future will be based
upon their fitness, rather than
their ability to control a ward or
precinct in the city, or an election
district or precinct in the counties
at primary, or effect advantage
ously oftentimes 1raudulently the
result of the vote in any such po-
litical subdivision at the election.
We favor more liberal appropria-
tons for our public school system,
to the end that the salaries of the
teachers of the state may be in
creased; that the poorest child in
the state may have the opportuni-
ty, by heightened school year,
alike in the cities and counties,
and by more capable and better