The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-02-10
POLITICS BEING
PLAYED At ANNAPOLIS
Kind of Legislation Democrats Are
Planning.

Fearful of the retribution which they
believe to be near at hand, the Demo-
cratic machine Is endeavOring to fasten
its tentacles upon the counties in the
State in such manner as will render it
difficult to dislodge them or until they
are compelled to let go various schemes
that have been and are still being de-
vised at Annapolis to make certain con-
/ tinued control of the State, but no def
mite plan has as yet been reached which
is wholly acceptable. The Brewington
plan is regarded as too radical az d will
not be adopted unless as a last resort.
Others are now under consideration, in
GLIDING that which would prevent a re-
mOval of supervisors by a Republican
governor in the event of their continu-
ing the high-handed proceedings in the
Wilson law counties in dcfyng the law
( 1t is possible that but for the strained
/ relations between the executive and the
leaders greater progress would have
been made in the preparation of such
legislation as would answer every pur-
pose. As long, however, as the situa-
ton continues as at present nothing
will be done. Perhaps some action may
lie taken after the appointments have
been made.
Meanwhile the Democrats in Repub-
/ lican counties are doing some tinkering
to benefit themselves. Those who sue
ceeded by questionable methods at the
/ last election in securing control are
] seeking the enactment of legislation
which will enable them to hold on and
, prevent the Republicans from coming
back into their own, while others are
planning such changes in the election
laws as will make it possible t. disfran-
chise enough Republicans a. the next
4 election and have returned a Democratic
majority.
+ Charles county is the first to ask for
legislation which will insure possession
to the Democrats and prevent the Re
pubIcans from registering the will of
the people The senator who owes his
election to the outrageous trick ballot
which prevented Republicans from vot-
ing is jamming through a bill which
. legislates out of office a Republican
county commissioner and another who
was appointed by the Governor to fill
vacancy and whose successor must be
chosen at the next election and contInu-
ing in office the two Democrats who
owe their election to the trick ballot
and one Republican. AS the terms Of
the two Democrats do not expire until
1915, they would hold the fort until
then and the Democratic machine be in
absolute control. As the Democrats
have an overwhelming majority in the
legislature, the bill will undoubtedly
pass, the vote on last Friday against
the reasonable request of Republicans
to postpone action until the bill had
been printed indicating a determination
to ride roughshod over the rights OF the
minority.
/ During the past week Democratic
leaders IN Frederick county were at
Annapolis endeavoriug to secure the en-
actment Of legislation which would rem
der nugatory the Republican victory in
the county last fall. They were SAID to
have appealed to several majors to
father a bill which would take from the
county commissioners the appointment
of road supervisors and give it to the
Governor with the view Of making this
important work part of a political ma
chine. Those appealed to did not take
kindly to the PROPOSE ton, contending it
was going a little too far to override
the wishes Of the county's representa-
tives in matters purely local.
1t was rumored that they also urged
the extension of the Wilson law to
Frederick but that pending general
political legislation it was not deemed
wise to take it up piecemeal The Re-
publicans assume that if this law is
made to apply to Frederick that the
machine would not hesitate to 90 the
limit to gain possession, even to the ex-
tent of imposing such ballots as were
inflicted upon Somerset and Charles
counties. There was also some talk of
including Cecil county.
A leading Eastern Shore Republican,
who was in Annapolis last week and
who was advised of the schemes con-
templated by the Democrats, made the
prediction that if the Wilson law was
extended to these two counties Demo-
cratic voters would resent the imposi-
ton by voting the Republican ticket.
Said he: "'Our people won't stand
for fraud. AS long as their party gives
to elections a semblance of fairness
Democrats will stand by it, but if they
put up ballot like that in Charles and
Somerset, we will sweep them out of
business. The counties of Frederick
and Cecil have enlightened communities