The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1911-02-03
Friday, February 3, 1911
AN INTERESTING PUBLICATION.

AN INTERESTING PUBLICATION.
We have before us an interest
esting publication recently COM
piled by Mr.. Robert B. Ennis,
giving a description of the lands,
products and industries of the
State of Maryland. 1t is full OF
valuable information and doubt
less will attract persons seeking
homes to this section of the coun-
try.
The Board of Public works is
one of the most important
agencies for the government OF
the State, and this publication
contains the following sketches
of the present members OF this
body:
GOVERNOR CRoTHERT!
The Hon. 'Austin L. Crothers, Gov
ernor of Maryland, was born at Como
wingo, Cecil County, in 1860. He was
educated in the public schools and at
West Nottingham Academy. For
time after his graduation at the
academy he taught in the public schools,
and then studied law. He graduated
at the law school of the University OF
MARYLAND in 1890, and began the practice
of his profession at Elkton. He had
natural inclination toward politics and
soon took an active part in public
affairs. The next year after he gradu-
ated at the law school, namely. IN 1891,
he was e'ected States Attorney for
Cecil County by large majority. In
1897 he succeeded his brother, Charles
C. Crothers, who had been candidate
for Attorney-Ge General of Maryland IN
1895, in the Senate of Maryland. In
his first session, that OF 1893, the
Senate was Republican, but there was
a strong Democratic minority which
was lead by John Walter Smith,
Joshua W. Herring and Mr.. Crothers
At the next session the Democrats re-
gained the Senate, Mr. Smith was Gov
ernor, DR.. Herring Comptroller of the
Treasury, and Senator Crothers chair
man of the finance committee and
leader of the Senate. His leadership
was wise, able and unchallenged. As
chairman of the finance committee he
did admirable service for the State by
keeping down appropriations to the ut
most limit in his power. In 1901 and
again in 1905 Mr.. Crothers was nomi-
mated for the Senate, but was defeated
by reason of factional differences with
in the party. All this time he was
the leader of his party in Cecil and
exerted wide influence in the politics
of the State In 1906, when Judge
Edwin Brown died, Governor Warfield
appointed Mr. Crothers to succeed him
as associate judge of the Second Cir
cult. Early in the following year he
announced his intention to retire from
the bench and not to be candidate at
the election of 1908. On the 9Th of
August, 1907, Judge Crothers was
nominated for Governor by the Demo
cratic State Convention in Baltimore.
He began his campaign by going quiet
ly around through the State, meeting
the people at county fairs and other
non-political gatherings. On the 18th
of September the formal notification of
the candidates took place at the Lyric
Hall, in Baltimore and this was made
the occasion of a great Democratic
meeting, over which Ex-Governor John
Lee Carroll presided, and Senator
Rayner made the notification speech.
Mr.. Crothers was taken ill at the
Lyric Hall meeting and took no further
part in the campaign. Nevertheless
he was elected by 5000 majority and
was inaugurated on the 9Th of January,
1908.
His experience in public office as
States Attorney, as State Senator and
as judge admiraf ly equipped Mr..
Crothers for the duties of the executive
office. He knew how to gain the con-
fidence of the Legislature, and he ex-
erted strong influence over it, which
was always directed to the enactment
of good laws and in opposition to lad
ones.
In 1908 he was sent by the Democratic
party as a delegate to the National
Convention at Denver, and there he
succeeded Incorporating in the national
platfrom of his party his views upon
the improvement of highways or post
roads by Federal aid.
Governor Crothers is unmarried and
resides in Elkton.
HON. WILLIAM B. CLAGETT.
The Hon. William B. Clagett, Com
troller of the Treasury of Maryland,
was appointed to his Office ty Governor
Crothers on June 1st, 1910. Dr.
Joshua w. Herring had been elected in
1909 for term of two years, but in
June following his election he resigned
to become a member of the Public
Service Commission, and Mr.. Clagett
was appointed in his place. William
B. Clagett was horn in Prince Georges
County on the 18th day of August,
1853, near Upper Marlboro. His
father was Charles Clagett, an extern
sive tobacco planter, and his son
William, after he had attained his