The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-10-23
WHY DO THEY PROTEST?

CIy L are nol surprised that the
" hcnchmen of the local Demo
W cratic Machine are protest.
ing at the Republican PLATFORM pub
lie and pointed reference TO Mr.. Omar
Omar ID. Crothcrs' uniitness to repre-
sent the people of this county III the
State Senate. But for the lie OF us
we can see nothing improper in such
reference. Mr.. Crothers IS asking the
peoples support Tor most responsible
and important office. Tie certainly
cannot expect the people To give that
support, or to withhold it, without
some proper inquiry, and some ade-
quatc information, as to his fitness Tor
the position to which he asks election.
Such inquiry involves an honest exami
nation OF his record. II the Republic
can platform does that record any in
justice, then its criticism is open to
condemnation But does it, Will Mr..
Crothers undertake To deny his con-
ncction with the corporation which en-
dcavored at the last Legislature, TO
iastcn an annual financial burden on
the people OF this county for its own
selfish aggrandizemcnt, in the matter
OF the old F., B. & w. K. r. bridge at
Pcrryville; viii he undertake to deny
his personal efforts To further the pro-
motion of that scheme; Ii not. can
he complain at criticism OF his con
duct as a clear evidence that he cares
more for the promotion OF selfish
schemes than ior the promotion OF the
peoples interests And are not the
people entitled to say that such is not
the sort OF MN they want to represent
them where vital legislation is con
ccrncd; Contrast Mr.. Crothcrs' re-
cord here with the record OF his OPP
poncnt MI Charles \. Benjamin, when
Mr.. Benjamin was defending the peo-
pie OF Cecil county at Annapolis and
before the L. s. Government cngi-
nccrs Gin The matter Of the b. & O.
piers, and il ought not la take any
lair minded citizen long To decide
which man would make the BETTER
AND TRCER representative oi the
people in its Legislature. We do not
care to go further at this time into
Mr.. Crothers record at Annapolis or
elsewhere We think it would be per-
icctly Legitimate to do SO. because we
think the people are entitled To- all
honest information rs 10 any Cdnul-
date Tor whom they are asked Ia vote
But il one incident can suffice. VIC pre-
fer to avoid the unpleasant task Of de
failing the whole chapter. We are.
however. going To frankly and strongly
declare that Mr. Crothers candidacy
is a piece OF bra1cn cffrontcry such as
we supposed even the Democratic Ma
chine would not venture III this age
and State. II the power OF that Ma
chine or the personal efforts OF Mr.
CroiherS can succeed in securing his
election. then We say the people OF this
county have destroyed all standards
oi conduct for its public men, and no
candidate need hcncciorth trouble
himself about his personal rccord-hc
need only trouble himself to get the
backing oi political Machine Mr.
Crothcrs' candidacy involves something
a good deal bigger than mere divl-
sion OF parties. II involves the vastly
more serious question OF whether or
not partisan zeal will lead a majority
Of the people to sacrifice every CON
Sidcra,ion OF fitness for mere partisan
regularity. Is there MORE PARTI-
SANSHIP THAN CONSCIENCE
IN OUR CITIZENSHIP?