The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-08-28
MORAL ISSUE SUPREME
Senator France Shows UP Record Or Democratic Ring m
People Are offered The Facts

As never before in this State we
are face TO face with a great moral
issue. compared to which every mater
ial issue must seem relatively subordi-
nate and uninportant, and we have
been brought to point where, as a
whole people. we must take stand,
irrespective OF party, either in favor OF
or against the fundamental moral prin-
ciples involved in this issue. The dis
graceful record OF the Democratic
Ring, during the last session OF the
Legislature, has made Il imperative
now for the people OF this State TO de-
eide whether they are content TO have
the State government administered by
graftrs, corruDtionists, and protectors
OF those who brazenly and insolcntIy
violate the statutes OF the State The
first plank in the platform OF each
party should be solemn pledge that
every effort OF that party will be di-
rected TO the elimination OF graft, cor
ruption and dishonesty from every de-
partment OF the State government,
that the party will stand. first OF ali,
for honesy and efficiency and economy,
with the realization that with the abo-
lition OF crookcdncss good legislation
becomes easy and bad legislation be-
comes impossible Not only should
this plank be forced into the platform
of each party. but it should be a primi
facie evidence OF breach OF faith for
either party after adopting this plat
form, TO ask the support OF the voters
of the State for any man whose rer
in he past would indicate that he is or
has been opposed to reform measures
which have been offered to secure these
ends.
GRAFT IN MARYLAND.
Thre are two usual methods BY
which corrupt political machines carry
on their profitable system OF graft.
no the one hand the members oi the
ring, who are members OF the legsla.
tive body. secure money from interests
who desire to promote or oppose leg
islation. AMI. on the other hand. the
politicians. who are not members. are
rewarded with money. taken out OF the
public treasury on one pretcnse or an
other. and to make the distribution oi
this iuned possible. Offices are created
and the public payrolls padded. The
Democratic Ring in this State is
clearly on record as being in favor oi
both oi these forms OF graft. ! have
previously pointed out how the votes
oi the Ring Senators protected the vio-
lators and encouraged the violations oi
| law designed to prevent corrupt prac-
tees at Annapolis. and. believe il to
be important at this time TO call the
attention OF he public the facts which
show he determined stand. taken al
the last session OF the legislature. by
the Ring. in favor of using public
funds for the reward Of political work
ers. With an hypocrisy which is in
sulting to the intelligence of Our citi.
zcns the spokeSmen of this corrupt
ring talk glibly about their being in
favor oi a co -rupt practices act. when
with no trouble at all. any one can
find from the Rings record that il not
| only iavorS corruption by rewarding
itS political workers but that il goes
further than this. even misappropriat.
ing public moneys for the purpose.
For long time il has been the prac-
| ticc of this political macine To paw its
political henchmcn BY giving them
positions as legislative employees and
II has ben variously estimated that
from at least fifty To scycnty-five thou
| sand dollars. AT each session. is vast.
ed by being paid to nominal employees
who are in no wav needd for the con
duct oi the legislative business.
GOVERNOR WAKEFIELD OPPOS
ES GRAFT.
Governor Warfeld. in his message.
oi 1000 and 1908 condemned in the
strongest terms these dishonorablC
practices He described them as :
"scandalous and reckless sauandcrins
of the peoples money" a Species o
craft which cannot be tolerated" anC
further stated that friends OF the leg
isuators. employees and hangers or
around the legislative halls have shared
in the distribution oi the peoples none,
as cratuitics" In his message Of 1908
referring to what he had said on thi.
subject in his previous message h,
added this statement: "No heed wa,
paid to what said ;hcn but or III,
contrary the expenses OF that session
were increased over those of Iooi" II
this last message he gave many figure
to show To what alarming proportion,