The Washington times., 1911-11-15
A "RIPPER" sEssIoNIN MARY
LAND.

LAND.
Whom the gods would destroy are
apparently giving counsel to the man
ayers Of Maryland's discredited De-
mocracy. A ripper" session of the
Legislature is proposed, to be held
before Governor-elect Goldsborough
shall come into office, with the purpose
of ripping all substantial power and
patronage out of the control of the in
coming governor. It is proposed.
To pass new law taking from the
governor the appointment of election
supervisors and boards of education
and turning this power over to a com.
mission named by the governor. by the
retiring Democratic governor, that is
SO as to keep the incoming Republican
from exercising it.
To take the supervision of road
building away from the governor and
give it, likewise, to commission
which the retiring governor would name
just before going out of office.
To fix up ballot law that will make
it difficult for colored voters to vote
without kicking back and injuring the
Democrats worse than the Republicans,
as the Wilson act did in the recent
election.
A fine program it is, dragged forth
from the skeleton closets of the politi-
cal dark ages; program that ought to
be executed by Legislature wearing
black masks and carrying dark Ian
terms. We learn from Maryland con.
temporaries that Senator John Walter
Smith will confer with Governor
Crothers about the scheme, and that
the governor is disposed to call a ses.
sion to execute this pleasant job in
political housebreaking.
The excuse is given that the election
boards, school affairs, and road man.
agement should be taken out of poll.
tics! Yes, indeed! Going to make
these things more efficient, safer from
undue political influence! Ye gods!
John Walter Smith become the
apostle of non partisan administration
strictly Democratic, of course-is a
spectacle for men and angels to contem-
plate, and weep.
Is the old Smith German Mahon
Democracy SO narrow between the eyes
that ~ 20 mint faka m m ;Joa o,,o,,
when the idea is presented by a pile.
driyerf
Surely Governor Crothers must know,
for he has at times shown most com
mendable independence, that the last
man whose counsels he may now accept
is John Walter Smith.
Smith is the man against whom
more than anybody else in all Mary
land, the recent revolt was directed.
1t is inconceivable that the Mary
land Legislature will show itself SO
blinded, so insulated from all currents
of present-day thought, that it will
permit itself to be made the tool for
the accomplishment Of such piece of
monumental folly.
Just about one such performance is
all Maryland's Democracy needs to
ruin itself for decade.
Why, Penrose's Pennsylvania Legisla.
ture DOES NOTDARE, today, to rip
the government of Philadelphia out of
the hands of the Blankenburg fusion
lists who have wrested it from the old
gang. That was accepted political
strategy a decade ago. Even Pennsyl-
vania's stomach is not strong enough
to make the present leaders dare try it
If the Maryland Democracy wants to
make the State Republican; if it wants
another election to bring a Republican
Legislature and Senator; if it wants
to make Maryland the horrible example
of rotten politics for the edification OF
the whole nation; if it would put tc
shame the worst performances of the
repudiated Tammany Assembly in
New York
Then it should go right ahead with
the ripper session and rip itself to
complete ruin.