The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-09-23
GUBERNATORIAL INYESTIGA.
TI0N.

UU6EnNAIUhlAI IafESIIOA-
TI0s.
Recently Maryland.s Governor has
been busy investigating the Police
Department Although the members
of It have not been furnished with
any specific charges Of misconduct.
yet witnesses are examined, one
sided stories given to the press, and
the public will have made up its
mind to convict before any one il
literally on trial This may be n
shreWd way of accomplishing ones
desires and pleasing to those engaged
in It. but how unjust Is 1t to the ae-
cused Who are later - be tried
IN this country everyone accused
of crime is entitled to fair trial
The preliminary Investigations held By
q grand jury are secret and It's menu
bers cannot diyulge the testimony
they have heard Everything is done
to preserve the rights Of the accused.
YET. the men who constitute the
Police Board, men Of high standing
and good regulations. are convicted
of maifeasance In Office In the public
mind. without having had the OPP
portunlty of saying : word I'm their
defense. IL is useless to say that
they will be given m opportunity to
later prove their innocence: no mat
ter how unjust the verdict may be
shown to be. their characters VIII be
gone.
From what has happened in the
past and the Developments nov
taking place, there can be no doubt
that there have been individual
cases of gross misconduct, on the
part Of members of the detective and
police force of Baltimore city.
Humphrey got out 8hen he saw
danger coming. ami n doubt would
lave otherwise been Justly thrown
out. But even he should have been
given fair show. and II guilty of
misconduct In his Office. should be
punished for II nov.
hui 1t has been said that the Gov
efnofs object is not u punish those
who have violated their public trust.
but 10 get control Of the police de-
partmant for political purposes II Il
certainly due the people that such
charge should be nefuted. and one
of tie simplest ways Il TO investigate
some other branch Of The State Gov
ernmant end punish al found guilty
of wong doing There has already
been talk OF lndletlng the Road Conn
mission for non-feasanee; why not
then investigate It?
For Ger years, this body OF men
have len spending hundreds of thou
s4n5s Of dollars but NJ public report
Of tfesa expenditures has been made
HIVE tfey not violated their trust to
the people in this Their duty has
ben to select and lay out roads that
vii serve the best interests OF the
people. In other words. those roads
thai will serve the greatest number
of people. yet. in Carroll county il
Is vel known that road desired By
a prominent politician was selected
asaIHst the protest Of his eonstitu-
,eneY. md nov that gentleman or his
$50 will construct portion of It.
Similar reports come from all over
The state Have they been false to
tie people in their selection of State
Rnadsz
So We see. thai there are some
otter things that might be looked in
r.. hut the results Of the looking
Should not be made public until
e:afge be preferred and the per-
son al sed given an opportunity
u b Heafd. Star Chamber proceed
ms afe not popular. and men who
bear good names should be accorded
the SINE privilege Of 4 fair hearing
which 3 secured to tie meanest Grim
inai. And while about It Governor.
do Your work thoroughly and II you
do. you will no doubt ind that the
Road Commission and yonr henchman
Tucker. have not In al cases acted
wisely or we'll in the manner they
haze dealt with the subject OF good
roads You may tfy 10 excuse them
By saving that mistakes will be made
aud that the road question is large
one. This is very true. but for heav-
en- sake give US men, big men 10
gfapple with 1t, and remove from Of
fee the men who do not measure NJ
to lie work, Man Friday Tucker may
pie. e the friends he faYors, but he'll
damn you with the voters.
WHAT Is THE ANSWER