Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-01-05
Governor Looks Back.
From the Baltimore Sun of Monday.

MS experiences IN once.
With four years of ceaseless activity be
hind him and the quiet of Elkton befor
him, he paused to review and philosophiz
on his labor-crowded and eventful admin
istration.
Are you satisfied to relinquish the of
fee p was the first question asked.
"Of course" the Governor replied.
must confess that | look ahead to tn,
quiet and relief from the responsibilities
of the office with great degree of pleas
ure. would be entirely satisfied if coult
truthfully say that have done the best
could.
But this" he remarked slowly. 81 can
not say. frankly confess that believ,
very much more could have been accom-
plshed. | believed when | came into thi
office and believe now that there are yer!
great possibilities for this State and the
great city of Baltimore, if we would direc
our engines and our thought to working
out the problems that lie before us. All
nor nearly ALL has not been accomplished
There is much yet to be DONE"
What have you enjoyed most in al
your administration was asked.
The parts which have attended the
passage of the great program of construc
tive legislation passed during the last foul
years" was the reply. But that was harC
work. 1t was time of great strain wher
the fate of measures like the Public Utili.
ties Commission and the Primary Election
laws hung in the balance"
And what part of your administration
was most gratifyineG"
THE development and the awakening Of
the great interests of agriculture in the
State"
And what, of all your duties. did you
like the leastP"
"Pardons, he answered unhesitatingly
"0f all things else the pardons. The ap-
peal from relatives of prisoners who came
with sad hearts to seek executive clemency
is the hardest job of all. The use of the
pardon power must be made sparingly
grudgingly almost. and when used it must
be for Justices sake alone. 1t is hard not
to be swayed by the human element Of
sympathy"
And what, Governor" he was asked
have you tried to stamp upon your admin
istration that you would like to have ac-
cepted as its chief characteristics ?"
Progress and economy" he answered.
when these 90 hand in hand both mean
something. have tried to further both.
| am gratified at the condition of the State
Treasury. am proud of the position which
Maryland holds as a State that has pro-
crossed. but others have as much, if not
more, cause to share this pride. for they
have shared in full measure the work which
has made the situation one to evoke pride. "
How have you liked the social side ?"
ut was most enjoyable. OF course,
was not able to avail myself of all the
opportunities to attend public gatherings,
because it would have interfered with my
strength for other important public duties.
Going to bed late after attending banquets
sometimes affects ones health. had to
watch that closely. think the public I'M
derstands that a public officer must re-
serve himself for the more serious situa-
tons of his Office.
Then the Governor. being asked how he
had regarded the GOvernship before he
entered it and how he had found the place
once the duties of the Office pressed fully
upon him, said:
Il had not set the GOvernorship as an
ambition when younger. | had it in mind
to practice law. When accepted the ap-
pointment as judge did so with great
deal of hesitancy and soon afterward con-
fided to several of my friends that would
not be candidate for reelection at the
next election.
Nor was it my intention, when deter
mined not to run for the judgeship, to get
into the fight for the nomination for Gov
ernOr. II had not occurred to me as an
actual possibility for the campaign of 1907
The subject of running that year was first
mentioned to me by Mr.. Thomas A. Smith
and Col A. W. Sisk, both of Caroline county.
1t so happened that later others made the
same suggestion and was ultimately nom-
mated and elected.
Il had no preconceived ideas Of the Gov
ernorship did not think il was an easy
position. | knew that il was an exalted
Office. but knew that had been elected
to perform specific duties just as some
other public officers. not so exalted.
81 had typhoid fever during the cam
paign and came from Atlantic City, where
was recuperating to Annapolis to be in
Quoted into office. My physician doubted
that could stand the strain Of a legisla-
tive session. 1t turned out that made out
very well.
AT the very beginning was anxious
and determined, as far as could. to carry
out the pledges Of the party platform. This
was not merely from a sense of personal
obligation to the people, but because had
always believed that party platform
ought to mean something and that TO adopt
platform and then pay little or no atten-
ton to 1t afterward was grave mistake.
IN fact, believed then, and do now.
that the political battles Of the future
ought to be fought on the principles and
policies in the respective party platforms
and that by this method could best be Sc
cured party unity and enthusiasm. Per-
sonal bitterness and factionalism could
thus be eliminated and the people them
selves could secure the things that they
wanted much more expeditiously.
Il am myself what would be regarded as
a strong party man. believed. however.
that parties were to some extent fast drift
ing away from the purposes for which they
were organized and which alone justified
their existence, to mere questions of per-
sonal rivalry and political ambitions. did
not then believe, and my experience since
has confirmed me, that any party could
axiaN .a.,, Innd ,nnr tbsa sJoo