Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-10
GRAFT IN BALTIMORE
Revelations of Police Justice
Garland Cause a Sensation.
MORE SCANDAL Is FEARED
Widespread Criticism Of Governor
Crothers.
REPUTED SALE OF INFLUENCE
Investigation of the Methods and
Practices Of the Courts Expected
to Be Searching.
Special Correspondence of The Star

Special Correspondence of The Star
BALTIMORE, Md. January 9. 1909.
The 'unterritied' democracy, city and
state has certainly been in the limelght
during the week. The present indications
are that both ends will remain III the
limelight for some time to come. The
first event, not on the program, was the
expose of a system OF graft" practiced
by the police magistrates in the eastern
district OF the city. The second event. not
on the program. took place at the 'har-
mony'' dinner when Senator Rayner be
came indignant because Attorney General
Straus was called upon to respond to a
toast before the senator, and an ugly
situation was created.
/, The graft case will injure the demo
cratic party more In the coming election
than any other expose in years. The
police justice involved, William J. Gar
land, confessed to having received $40
from brewery representative TO settle
a saloon liquor law violation case before
the grand jury. What makes the graft
so fragrant is the fact that Garland, acting
as police justice, sent the case of the
saloonkeeper to. the grand jury and then
accepted money to have the Case quashed
before that body. The expose has caused
much criticism to be leveled against Gov
Crothers for appointing man like Car
land to the police magistracy.
Crothers Vigorously Assailed.
The criticism has been most scathing
because it is recalled that Gov. Warfeld
four years ago refused to appoint Gar
land a police magistrate, and at the time
Warfield told Garland, who was hold
over justice from the Smith administration,
that he had scandalzed justice in the
eastern district and was not d lit person
for the position. The criticism of the peo-
pie has been more against Gov. CrotherS
than against Garland, because of the fact
that Garland was not thought to be above
sharp practices of this sort and the fact
that he had been caught red handed
occasioned more surprise than anything
else.
Public opinion is thoroughly aroused
here over the disclosures of the past week
and Gov. Crothers is being pilloried be-
cause he was content to accept the reSlg-
nation of Garland after the justice had
enjoyed a confidential chat with the gov
ernor and confessed to the fact that he
was a CRATER. There are those who hold
that Crothers should have dismissed Car
land and started the states attorney upon
a rigid investigation and prosecution
Gov. Crothers, however, has made no
move to aid in the prosecution of Car
land, who has been indicted by the grand
jury, arrested and released on bond to
await trial on two charges. It is said.
however, that when Garland faces trial
Gov. Crothers, to whom he confessed. will
be called as the principal witness for the
prosecution.
Widespread Scandal Feared.
The democratic ring leaders. both city
and state, are on tenter hooks for fear
that the investigation which Is to come
may uncover a widespread practice of
corruption and bribery, and In the light
Of the Garland revelation practices which
have cen taken for granted and toler-
ated in the past are certain to be probed
mercilessly. Police court hangers-on,
composed in the main Of political bench
men and shyster lawyers who owe their
existence to political protection. are anx-
iously awaiting inevitable developments.
which may reach out and embrace their
large and fairly prosperous class.
The probe will go into the methods and
means of what is always in evidence in
the police courts and the courthouse it
self. where Garland himself says the traf-
fic In influence amounts to thousands OF
dollars. 1t will search the real reason for
the large attendance of political heelers
in the criminal court, in the clerks offices
and at the very door of the grand jury
rooms.
throughout the city there is generally
aroused public demand for cleaning up.
The first response came today when
Mayor Mahool issued order to the
superintendent of public buildings to take
the necessary steps 10 DTtdh up lie pIdt-
tice of lettering about the corridors OF the
courthouse.
Fight for Amendment.
The democratic leaders are girdins
themselves for the Acknowledgement Z.
amendment fight and among themselves
they are not oversanguine of success.
The harmony dinner last Thursday was
supposed to mark the opening Of the cam
paign, and the absence of those who OPP
posed The last amendment was the big
feature of the gathering. Former Gov.
Brown. who is on the outs with the city
and state ring. did not break bread with
the diners; former Gov. Warfeld, who
led the fight against the Poe measure,
was too busy to attend, and scores or
other big independent democrats were
conspicuous by their absence. These in
dependents will stand just where they
stood three years 4go-solid against the
measure Archibald III. Taylor, who took
a leading part against the Poe act, con-
siders the present amendment worse than
the former one, and he proposes to do all
within his power to defeat 1t next fall.
Mr.. Taylor announced to The Star cor
respondent today that he regarded the
amendment as a measure which put a
premiun on ignorance. with such a law
in force" said Mr.. Taylor, "and the poll
ticians in the saddle, the best thought in
the community will be absolutely ignored.
and the politicians Will devote their at
tention to the ignorant and irresponsible
vo:er This means Stagnation for Mary
land not only in material advancement,
but i'm moral and mental advancement,
for the ignorant white man, enjoying
us1aI power, in spite of his ignorance,
will feel no incentive to educate his chill
dren.'' ). M. II.