Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-12-08
HIS MESSAGE BOLD.


will send to the Legislature Of 1912, the
last message of his administration will BIZ
one of the most far-reaching documents Of
this kind which has been sent to the Gen
eral Assembly of Maryland by any Governor
in recent years.
In an interview given to a reporter Of
The Sun the Governor, at the Executive
Mansion, talked freely of the suggestions
which he is formulating for the message
He said that he had no objection to max
ing them public at this time, as it would
give the members of the Legislature more
time to consider the ideas he would ad.
vance.
While the Governor declined to say
whether or not he would place any refer
ence to the expected passage of the Local
Option bill in his message, he declared
that, in his opinion, so as to divorce the
liquor issue from State politics, a vote
upon the liquor question in Baltimore city
should be postponed "for some definite
number of years in the future"
To the question as to what he thought of
the expected passage of the Local Option
bill the Governor said:
Il would be glad if some way would be
found by which this question could be
eliminated from politics, because the SEN
timent upon the question in certain sec
tons Of the State is so pronounced, one way
or the other, that candidates are frequently
defeated or elected upon their views on
this question alone, without much regard
for their attitude on other questions of
government. A way might be found for
passing this bill and postponing possible
vote on it in jurisdictions like Baltimore
city for some definite number of years in
the future
"Will you make such recommendation
in your messageY" he was asked.
81 do not know as yet what recommen-
dations may make, if any, upon this sub
ject ! only state my views upon the
proposition in answer to your question"
Turning then to other subjects, the Gov
ernor talked freely of the ideas which so
far he has determined to recommend
81 have not yet begun the preparation
of the message" he said, because have
not yet had time, but have been giving
the subject a great deal of thought. and
have no objection to stating what ] have
concluded thus far.
ut is my intention, first, to deal with
the question Of the Corrupt Practices act
and propose some changes which have sug-
gested themselves as the result of the last
election. The first is that the use of money
for any purpose whatever, legitimate or
Legitimate. be prohibited by statute in
any campaign.
Il am recommending that this be done
so that the people will be able to choose
between parties and what parties stand
for rather than between men. 1t is my
judgment that in going to the polls the
voter should not be influenced indirectly
by money when casting his ballot. In our
present system it is quite possible to in
fiuence voters indirectly by what is regard
ed legitimate campaign fund.
with money out of the question, both
parties will be in the same situation.
What wish to prevent is for one man, as
was shown by the accounts of the last
election, not only to have the power to
vote but also the right to put thousands
of his dollars into the campaign fund Of
his party when he was not even candi-
date upon any ticket 1t is my idea that
the individuals right to vote should be
protected from the power which money
can give another individual who also
should have only the right to vote.
THE Corrupt Practices act was passed
to eliminate the use Of money in elections
and while accounts are now filed of the
sums spent. these same accounts only &c
to prove that we are not prohibiting it:
use, but leealizing it, Candidates should
not have the right to get advantage
through money. Candidates, but more
than all parties, must stand or fall upor
the justice of their cause. II it is gooC
cause. it does not need money; if it is baC
one, it should not be allowed to use it.
I'm my judgment, and shall so recon
mend, the statute should provide that i
bona fide evidence of the use of money i;
produced after an election the election
itself shall be vitiated and a new one held
What about the cost of hiring halls anC
having public meetingsH" the Governor
was asked.
1T will be suggested" he answered
that a small amount be allowed for pub
lie speaking, and shall deal with the
question in the message as to whether i
would not be good policy for the State I,
pay the cost Of the campaigns of the two
leading political parties. Elections are TO
government it is a governmental ques
ton. 1t might be deemed fair that tn,
State should bear the cost II it be a small
one. 1t is the peoples business after al
and not the candidates business and i
might be good plan for the State to pay
Turning then to another point, the Gov
ern0r said:
Il shall recommend the repeal of tn,
provision of the election law which re
Quires that if there be more persons vote,
for on a ticket than there are candidate
for the Office the whole ticket shall b
thrown out.
This law. in my judgment, does no
allow the voter fair opportunity. If h
makes four marks for three candidates i
any section of the ticket the judges canno
ascertain what his intention was but the
should be allowed to count the remainde
of the ticket II it be unspoiled
THE outside ballot at primary elections
what is called at times the 'vestpocke
ballot, which the voter can mark at HON
and bring to the polls, should be prohibited
and shall recommend such action to tn
Legislature. This provision in the presen
law facilitates the use of money. II is ou