The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-02-10

which will not submit to a general dis
Establishment of voters. They are
jealous of their regulations and may be
depended upon to resent any move that
would tend to besmirch them.
Experienced as the Democratic lead
ers profess to be in the game of poll
tics they have still much to learn before
they are entitled to medals. They made
a monumental blunder last week when
they voted to lay upon the table the
message of Senator Wilkinson to the
House asking for a joint committee to
examine the States finances. Assum-
ing that this was an attack on the State
Comptroller and the administration of
affairs in the treasury the Democrats
refused to concur and voted solidly
against adoption. As matter of fact,
Mr.. Wilkinson had no idea of rejecting
on either official. \What he desired was
information as to whether the cOnstruc-
ton placed on the Comptroller report
by the Governor or that by the Presi-
dent of the Senate was correct. The
Executive had declared the treasury
was facing a deficiency while Mr.. Cor
man insisted there would be a surplus
Here was an honest difference of
opinion and inasmuch as the legislature
was about to make the usual large APP
preparations. Mr. Wilkinson thought it
wise to determine just what the condi-
tons are. Hence his message.
If, as is claimed and as everyone be-
iieved, the accounts of the financial Of
ficeIs are straight and in perfect order
there was nothing to fear from an in
ves+igation. The committee appointed
would simply have called at the office
Of the Comptroller, gone over the books
and obtained from the Chief Clerk an
explanation in keeping with the figures,
which would have set at rest all con-
tention and enabled the General Assem-
bly, to proceed intelligently. Such re-
port would undoubtedly have done much
toward the enhancement of the value
of the State road bonds of which in
vestors are fighting shy, especially
when signed by members of the OPP
posite political party who would surely
not be parties TO a whitewash.
More than that, the Democrats by
appointing Republicans on this commit
tee would have spiked one issue in the
next campaign which has always figured
in the platform, namely, a criticism Of
the conduct of the finances Of the
State. The report signed by Republi-
cans would have been in the nature of
an Endorsement. While the benefit de-
rived would have been distinctly politi-
cal it would also have inspired conf
dence in the administration and would
therefore have boosted the Democratic
regime.
The inert brains of the Democratic
managers were unequal, however, to
the emergency. They have instlled in
their noodles that nothing good can
come from Republican source, that is
to say. nothing that would benefit the
Democratic party, and so when the
proposition Of the St. Marys senator
was put up to them they voted it down
on general principals. In doing this the
wise and mistrusted Democrats played
right into Republican hands If the
latter had planned the more it could not
have resulted more satisfactorily to
them. For now that it is all over it
may be stated that several OF the Re
publican senators sat on needles until
the message was laid on the taUle.
They realized that Senator Wilkinson,
VINO offered the resolution in good faith
and not as a political move, had made
it possible for the Democrats to put
them in hole and they breathed much
more freely when their opponents
spurned the opportunity.
Now what is the result? The Demo
cratic party is placed in the position Of
having refused to permit an inspection
Of the public accounts and instead Of
allaying a suspicion the governor had
aroused they strengthened it so that in
the next campaign they will be called
upon to explain their action.
In the meantime the question as to
who is right, the Governor or President
German, remains unanswered.