The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-06-10
HOT SHOT FOR HIS
RICHNESS THE GOVERNOR
States Attorney J. Frank Turner
Defies Him and Questions His
Sincerity.

q OCAllOC1dlF VI LdSLOIls has sent d very
| tart letter to Governor Crothers in
reply to the Governors recent letter
advising him to give up either the
States AttOrneyship for Talbot county
or the craftsmanship of the Democratic
! State Central Committee for the county.
He declines to do either, and points out
that the Governor himself, Attorney
General Straus, State Treasurer Van
diver, Comptroller Herring and other
State officials hold more than one office.
He also accuses the Governor of lack Of
sincerity. He says, in part
| After your disclaimer to me in the
/ presence of Hon. Joshua W. Miles that
you had any knowledge of the effort
being made to have me put off the COM
mittee for my county, accepted your
declaration, which was made to me vol
unfairly and unsolicited, in good faith,
and then and there told you that had
given you credit for having too much
legal sense to be engaged in any such
business. But when | received YOUR
letter | must confess that | was not
only disappointed and my confidence in
your sincerity shaken, but was really
grieved that one holding the high and
exalted position that you do in the coun-
ellis of the State and of nv party should
be wiling to lend himself to such
cause.
] To show you how ridiculous is the
contention of the Attorney-General,
and how absurd is the proposition
which you have undertaken to uphold,
let me illustrate.
You are Governor of Maryland, and
It's your duty under the Constitution
to take care that laws are executed.
Now you are also chief of the State
Road Commission in this State. Can
Austin L. Crothers, Governor. enforce
the laws against Austin L. Crothers,
road builder? Now it is very important
to the people of the State irrespective
of party, that the State roads should
be built The law for their construc-
ton was passed more than a year ago,
So far no roads have been built. and
yet it is too much for the people to ask
or expect you to issue a mandate
against yourself to proceed without
further delay with this important work.
And no one would ask you, notwith-
standing this apparent incompatibility,
and where you are in fact and truth
holding two Offices created under the
Constitution and laws of the State and
directly under the State government, to
resign either the office of Governor or
as chief road builder of the State.
If you will look over the State you
can find enough illustrations of this
character to fill a volume. There is
the State Treasurer, who is the chair
man of the State Central Committee,
and at the same time he is director of a
dozen banks or more. There is the
Comptroller of the State Treasury, who
is also cashier of a bank in West
minister, Nd. And all three of you
gentlemen are members of the Board of
Public Works, members of the board of
directors for the House of Correction
and members of the board of directors
of the Maryland Agricultural College
and other institutions.
There is the ttorney-General, who
is the legal adviser for the executive
officers of the State, and he is also the
legal adviser for the chief executive
committee Of the Democratic party.
What possible chance would any man
have in getting an opinion in his favor
from this law officer of the State upon
any question of this character if it
did not meet the approval of the chair
man of the State committee? Here is
incompatibility with vengeance! The
Acknowledgement might be as pure and
unsullied as the angles of Heaven, but
no opinion which he might give under
the conditions | have named would
carry any weight or inspire any conf
dence in It's truth and impartiality in
the minds and hearts of the people of
this State.
knew that an effort was on foot to
get me out of the committee. But how
to do it, that was the question. 1t was
at first thought would be cajoled into
submitting the question to you or
hurry Vandiver. That was the PROPOSE
ton made to me by the Attorney Cen
eral on April % at the Eutaw House, in
Baltimore city. He called me his
friend, and for fear would not believe
him he went to gentleman from Tai
bot county, who he knew was my friend,
and told him how much he thought of
me. THAT man Turner is nice fellow
| like him." said Mr.. Straus. But
had heard too much too much to be
caught with that kind of chaf and