The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-12-22
TRYING TO READ GOVERNORS MIND
Democrats Want to Know Whether lie
Has Designs on a Second Term.

Has Designs on Second Term.
Many Democrats are occupied these
days IN an effort to read Governor Croth-
ers' mind, to ascertain how far he has
laid plans for the future and what those
plans are. Men who know the Governor
best know that his is not an idle mind,
that he generally has basketful of
ideas on his arm, either going to or
coming from market. 1t is not assumed,
therefore, that the Governor is lettering
on the eve of an important campaign
in the city and state.
One thing may be said in behalf of the
Governor. He is not wholly selfish in
his aims. He is more often actuated by
a desire to keep his party than he is to
keep himself, knowing full well that
party success is essential to his indivld
ual success. Nor is he constantly plot
ting to overthrow the organization of
his party. He NAV do some things
which the organization leaders may not
like, but he never strikes at the vitals
of his party, and when he does some
thing. as, for instance, the appointment
of Mr. Roger W. Gull as a temporary
police commissioner, he has purpose
in view, and that purpose, according to
his understanding, is to strengthen the
organization. Others NAV not see his
object. Like the boy and the girl kiss
ing behind the door, he and the other
fellow may know what they are doing,
but nobody else does. His appointments
viewed as whole demonstrate that he
has hewn his chips pretty close within
the organization.
There is lurking suspicion IN the
minds of many Democrats that the Gov
ernor is nursing future political ambi-
ton, possibly a denominations for gov
ernor next year. His plans in this di-
rection may be better fathomed after
his completion of the trial of the Police
Commissioners. He NAV think that he
can lay bare such situation here in the
city that certain elements in the popula-
ton may demand his denomination and
will not be content to accept the candi-
dacy of any other Democrat.
There is one thing certain. The Gov
ernor has placed his party in an I'M
enViable plight by poking his big stick at
the Police Department in this city. If
he goes ahead with the trial, and that
is believed to be his plan, and if he con-
victs the commissioners he will make
thousands of Democrats fighting mad.
If he should suddenly change his mind
and abandon the charge against the
commissioners he will be disappoint-
ment to those Democrats upon whom
party ties rest lightly. If the trial
takes place as arranged and if the Gov
ernor, who will be prosecutor and judge,
should acquit the commissioners on
charges, but administer repriman
and threat, he would, perhaps, satisfy
more elements in the community than
if he pursued any other course. In con-
sidering the charges formulated against
the commissioners the fact must not be
overlooked that the Governor has heard
only one side of the case, that the COM
missioners were denied an opportunity
to present testimony in rebuttal. Their
chance will come with their trial. Of
course, there is the constant possibility
of interposition by the courts. In fact,
there is the possibility that months may
elapse before the courts finally dispose
of the affair and indicate to the Cover
just what his powers arein the premises.
1t is possible, so lawyers say, for the
commissioners, if they so desire, to re-
sort to injunction proceedings, when
summoned to trial, on the grounds of in
sufficiency and invalidity of the charges.
Still an interested public, and especial
iy an interested Democratic public,
would like to know how the Governor
proposes to handle the trial and to what
extent, if any, he will employ it for
political purposes.
The Governor is on record as declar-
ing that he will not again be candi-
date for political office. This declara-
ton, however, is not an injunction
which shuts him out from pursuing an
ambition to succeed himself or to be a
candidate for any office. Such declara-
lions of officeholders are not seriously
taken and do not generally mean the
burning of bridges. While their spon-
sors were sincere when they uttered
them, there may arise, and frequently
there do arise, conditions which make
them obsolete.
On March of last year the Governor
gave utterance to the following declara-
ton:
When l complete my term as governor
| will step down and out of public office
and will never hold another My mind
is irrevocably made up as to this. am
not ''in the hands of my friends, " and
there is no string attached to my deci-
sion. | simply have made up my mind
that no matter what the situation may
be when my term ends, will not be a
candidate for denomination, nor will
accept it. 1t may be that l would not