The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-11-03
The Political Situation as Ana.
lyzed by Major Barton.

Major Randolph Barton expressed his
views recently on the political situation
as follows:
II think that the present conditions
are very healthy. Instead of condition
of dead stagnation and indifference
among the voters, if you ask any man
on the street what he thinks of political
affairs, he does not treat the subject
as a nuisance and is very apt to have a
ready answer.
The primary election frauds have
aroused much Indignation AT first It
was directed upon the Democratic party
alone, but by degrees. as it was demon
strated that the Republican officials were
as rascally as their opponents, the feel
ing has extended to them, and now it
would seem that what all desire is that
the individuals who were guilty of the
fraud should be punished, \ and that
neither party, as party, be held to a
special responsibility for them. 1t must
be observed that this is real Justice in
this incident Of our political history.
IF the judges of election IN both par
ties connive at fraudulent count, it must
be evident that the individuals must be
punished if the evil is to be rooted out.
1t will do no good, because Democratic
officials have proved false to their oaths.
to deliver the State to the Republican
party, whose officials have proved equally
false.
'The sole remedy in my judgment,
is to prosecute the men presented by the
grand jury to the bitter end.
81 this is fair way to look at the
matter. tn II we turn to a comparison
between Mr.. German and Mr.. Colds
borough. | have no doubt that both
men have in their lives committed acts
which were not explained in a satisfac-
tory way. For instance, | suppose Mr..
Gormau's denunciation of the Indie
pendents" some years ago was very ex-
asperaing to those who believe in indie
pendence in politics, and thus Mr.. Lee
was the choice of many such voters
! suppose Mr.. Germans advocacy at the
last session of the General Assembly
of the seemingly unnecessary payment
OF large sum of money TO useless en-
ploves hanging around the Capitol is
hard TO explain unless you say, dogmat-
icaly. that it was simply to secure these
men as his followers in his future political
life.
ION the other hand, Mr.. Goldsbor-
ough is charged with being exceedingly
close to the expenditure of an immense
fund.- alude to the Jackson Congress
sional election His denial of any re-
sponsibility for the disbursement of the
money do not think as clear and pos
tive as desirable.
ION the whole, therefore, if we are
charitable enough to suppose that both
Mr. German and Mr. Goldsborough
could in personal interview explain
away these disagreeable incidents in their
lives, and We are then face to face with
the question which party should have
control in the State, considering alone
the public welfare.
Hoping and believing that the
grand jury proceedings will result in the
conviction of many who have defrauded
the voteIs. aud knowing that that is the
mode prescribed by law for the correc-
ton of such evils and is far more effect
i've than any other method, personally
| cannot in this election believe that we
are curing any evil by the defeat of
the Democratic party. OF course that
means will vote for Mr. German.
Undoubtedly, the most fragrant
abuse now existing is the stupid blunders,
or worse, of the election officials, but re-
member that The Republicans are just
as bad in that respect as the
Democrats. The law has provided a
remedy for that The grand jury, under
such directions as it is proper for Judge
Duffy and Mr. Owens to give is steadily
doing its duty Now, lei 'he jury hefure
which the officials are Ultimately 10 ne
brought do its duly, and we will see
if rascal,y can flourish in this CITY with
out being checked.
''San Francisco. Pittsburgh and Saint
Louis have caught their rascals. and if
the jury will do its duty and not permit
itself to be fooled and bamboozled by
the shrieks OF bullying criminal lawyers
Baltimore can clean out her rascals.
"The Criminal Court is the place to
work this cure-not the ballot box. |
cannot see that change Of adminstra-
ton will purify the air"