The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-04-17
VETOES WORCESTER BILL
THAT COUNTY MUST SUBMIT TO HA.
man OYSTER Law
Governor Says Legislature Redeemed
All Party Pledges.

StatehOuse, Annapolis, April b.
Governor Crothers today vetoed the
bill exempting Worcester county from
the operations of the Hannah oyster
culture law.
This is the measure that was sc
strongly urged by United States Sen
ator Smith, State Senator Moore and
other Democratic leaders. The Gov
ernor said he was convinced that these
gentlemen were not influenced by sell
fish or pecuniary considerations, but
he thought no exceptions should be al
lowed until the law had been given g
fair trial. In vetoing the bill Cover
nor CrotherS said:
After many years of agitation upon
this oyster culture question the state
adopted a policy of oyster culture fol-
all the people in all sections of the
state under the provisions of the ACT
of 1906. l must, therefore, look al
the matter from the standpoint Of
the state.
To sign this bill would make an ex-
ception in favor of this county, while
keeping under it's provisions the Other
counties of the state, some of which
were equally opposed to it's provisions
have arrived at the conclusion that
this would greatly weaken this meas
ure in the further operation of this
work. Other counties would come tC
the legislature and ask that they, too
might be exempt from it's provisions
In my opinion, it would weaken the
effectiveness of the measure. But
after all, find, leaving out all of these
considerations that the Democratic
platform at the last state convention
pointed the way that 1 should act with
reference to this measure in most en-
phatic and explicit terms. The reso-
luton is as follows: After a dis
cussion extending over many years
resulting in reasonably thorough
understanding of the subject by the
people, the legislature of 1906, respond
ing to a popular demand that could
no longer be resisted, passed a care
fully considered oyster culture law.
We favor the fullest opportunity for
the putting Of this law into complete,
practical operation, and we are op-
posed to all attempts to annul it by
repeal or to modify it by amendments
that would destroy or weaken it's eff
ficiency."
This platform 1 accepted when l
accepted the nomination for the high
office which l now hold, and the in
which l placed upon this
plank in the platform in my inaugural
address after the selection was over
is as follows: Il am also earnestly
in accord with the opinion expressed
by the Democracy in it's recent plat
form-that the fullest opportunity
should be given for putting the Oyster
Culture Law Of 1906 into complete
practical operation-and that there
should be no attempt of any sort to
destroy or weaken it's efficiency. What
ever the legislature may appropriate
TO strengthen the efficiency or to more
fully effectuate the objects of the
measure in question ought to be sup
piled by the General Assembly,"
l must carry out in good faith the
resolutions of the platform and the
promises so solemnly made by it and
myself in good faith to the people of
the whole state. To them only am l
and to them | must ac-
count. / have not deviated one hairs
breadth from the sacred promises Of
The platform.
1t promised to submit constitu-
tiOnal amendment in accordance with
the ideas of the best thought of the
state in reference to the same. That
has been passed in exact
accord with the promises of the plat
form. 1t promised to pass corrupt
practices act to break up the use of
money and other corrupt practices at
elections That has been carried
o11t an6 roooc11pa haon ncccod
so rigid and so good in it's provisions
as might be said to be even beyond the
promises that were made. We prom
ised to pass law that would i'm
prove the public roads of the state.
Such law is now on the statute
books, with good provisions also be-
yond the promises that were made.
We promised to pass United States
senatorial primary election law. What
ever l may say in reference to the
same from personal standpoint, it
is in absolute and exact accord with
the plank in the platform in reference
to the same. We promised to pass a
primary election law to insure the
fullest opportunity for all our peo-
pie to express themselves as to the
candidates for public Office, and while
must say that it's provisions are not
exactly in accord with my expressed
wishes in reference to the same and
not in exact accord with the platform,
all it's provisions, except one, are in
full redemption of the promises made
in the platform. We promised the
people Of the state that we would ex-
ercise the most rigid economy in the
expenditure of their money. We have
reduced the appropriation 100000 in
obedience to that pledge.
In addition to carrying out these
pledges of the platform, the legisla-
ture has passed more good and whole
some legislation and less Objectionable
legislation than any legislature in the
history of the state. 1t passed a high
license law for Baltimore city and for
Baltimore county; it passed a new in
corporation law, the need for which
was demanded on all sides, and which
Will bring, together with the collateral
inheritance tax law and other meas
ures, sufficient to pay the interest and
redeem the $5,000,000 of the bonds is
sued to carry on the great work of the
reconstruction of the highways; it
amended the election law so as to
give the intent of the voter full con-
sideration in marking his ballot, so
that the same would not be rejected
because of the cross lines extending
beyond the square. We passed what
is known as the Barratry Act,to break
up practice that has heretofore ex-
listed and which was demanded by the
best thought of the legal profession.
we passed all the laws which were
demanded by the city of Baltimore,
improving the discipline and effici-
IF no