The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-04-15

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ADJOURNED
SPEAKER BENSON GIVES "THE SUM-
A WHACK.
Resolution Was Offered to Gust Sun
Reporters But Was Withdrawn.
Baltimore. April 12. 1910.

Baltimore, April 12, 1910.
Now that the General Assembly has |
adjourned after the completion OF It's |
work in almost every important par
ticular, it is well that the Democratic |
press of the state should be in a posi-
tion to understand just what was done |
and what were the most interesting
events of the memorable session.
session, the members Of which were
treated with no courtesy and much
abuse, by daily papers; session upon
which the press Of Baltimore City
poured out the walls of it's wrath, be-
absolute control, and because without
any exception, the newspapers of
Baltimore, now entirely controlled
by Republicans, were anxious to
belittle and malign the Democratic
party Of the State.
1t is fact of which the Democrats
of Maryland must realize the impor-
tance without delay, that every
daily newspaper published in the
English language in Baltimore, in
cluding the old time honored Sum- is
now under the control of the men
who have been hostile to the party for
years. They are the men who ira
duced and maligned the late Senator
German, who traduced and maligned
the entire Democratic organization,
and who brought about the catastrophe
of 1895-1S97, and who have opposed
every Democratic State ticket since
1898, and who are insidiOusly working
now to defeat the Democratic party
In the city and State elections next
year.
Heretofore they have worked with
out, Except infrequently) the aid of
1.-The Sum-, but now that they have
wrested the control Of that old friend
of Democracy from the family of its
founder, they are supreme in the news
paper field I'm Baltimore city; and the
party of the white people of this State
must look entirely To the County pa
pers for active and loyal support. The
Sun" is in the hands of the enemy,
and If it occasionally does say latter-
ing or complimentary things about
certain prominent Democrats, 1t only
does this for the purpose Of using
them, and later on should these gentle
men fail To obey its behest, 1t will
turn and rend them, as has been done
before.
1t is the purpose of the writer to
send out series Of letters, of which
this is the first, reviewing at length
the recent legislature and it's work
work which marks an era in Mary
land politics, and which is the begin
ming of a new era in the way of leader
ship and management Of partyS affairs,
as the old leaders and the old style of
management have zpassedaWay, and
new leaders and methods have
come to the front.
Before going into detailed account
of the work of the session, it is per-
haps we'll to call attention to the fact
that almost every prominent Demo-
crat there was in turn attacked and
severely criticised by the newspapers,
especially "The Sun" after the change
in it's control in the early days Of the
session. Very few of the members
made any reply to these attacks, but
submitted rather tamely, contenting
themselves with mere contradictions.
This was not the case however, with
Mr.. Carville ID. Benson, the Democratic
floor leader, who replied with great
vigor and made a counterattack on
"The Sun" and it's new manager, which
so far as Mr.. Benson himself was con-
cerned practically silenced his critic.
Mr.. Benson's defense and counter-at-
tack was the most sensational and
dramatic event of the session. After
he had commented on the attacks of
''The Sum- made upon himself, the
speaker and others, Mr.. Benson said
Now, Mr.. Speaker, think it is i'm
portant, and particularly important,
that the press Of this state give forth
to the people of the State of Maryland
the fact of what the Baltimore Sun is
today. IT is no longer the property OF
the family of Mr. a. 5. Abel, who was
and whose family are a part of the
history of the State. They have been
pushed aside. The control is in the
hands OF Mr.. Chas. III. Grasty, who,
when he edited the News, was known,
and everybody knew him as the enemy
of not only. the Democratic party, but
the enemy of the Republican party,
but particularly Of the Democratic
party; the same Mr.. Chas. II. Grasty
who sold the News to Mr.. Munsey and
bought competitive |
paper in Baltimore; the same man of
whom Mr.. Munsey wrote, when asked
whether Mr.. Grasty had not agreed
not to 60 into competition with the
paper that he had sold, as follows
I assume-and I think with very |
good reason-that such a stipulation
was unnecessary; that it would, in
fact, have been reflection on the honor
of the man from whom + bought the \
Baltimore News
His assumption was sad and griev-
Gus mistake.
Now MIR. Speaker, after this savage,
unfair and unjust criticism of me, one
Of the ablest lawyers Of the South
came from his home here to Annapolis,
being reader of the Sun paper, star
tied and surprised at this situation,
and Safd-a man I had never seen be-
fore, but an able man, man of integ-
rity, came from the South up here and
sat beside me the other night here in
this session and gave me this letter
which + had not intended to use, and
that in addition to attacking you, in
addition to attacking other people, he
Is just getting ready to 60 down the
line, and he thinks he can attack any
body; that he il privileged character.
And whatever the results may be, I
am going to stand up and protest
against honest men being attacked i'm
his manner.
Now, MIR. Speaker, have about con-
cluded. / want to say to you gentle
men OF this house that have fought
my fights as saw them, a. I believed
them to be right, and don't think n
would be q man III i stood here and