Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-29
AS BRYAN SEES
FRIENDLY ADVICE
An EI-AttOTney General Says Il
Is Just As Bad As Fed
eTaI Interference.

viewed from another point of view,
with Federal interference" with the
spoils system as club for enforcing
the executive desire is made very plain
in statement issued by William Shep-
ard Bryan.
Mr. Bryan thinks that if President
Wilson is trying to dictate the nomi-
nation Of William L. Marbury for
/ United States Senator in this State he
/ is exceeding the rights and duties
which the Constitution confers upon
I him. and is in measure helping to
break down the State autonomy which
the Democratic party is bound to con
serve
He said: Stuart ). Janney in an in
/ teryiew Tuesday advocates the selec-
ton of my friend. William L. Marbury.
as United States Senator. and at the
close Of his interview says: Mr.. Mar
bury, in his Centreyile speech. so
thoroughly disposed of the bugaboo of
Federal interference that nothing can
be added on that subject
With all due respect. | respectfully
maintain that Federal interference by
President Of the United States. who
is a citizen of New Jersey with the
selection Of a Senator to represent the
State Of Maryland in the Senate Of the
I United States is not 'bugaboo, and
that my friend. William l.. Marbury.
did not either thoroughly. or in any
other manner. dispose of this question
of Fedora interference with the exer-
else Of the purely local rights of the
people of this State.
LAS understood Mr. Marbury's con-
tention at Centerville in regard to Fed
era interference by the President OF
the United States with the selection
By our people of a Senator to repre-
sent US in the Senate. it was substan-
italy this
1t would, OF course. be improper for
the President TO interfere in this Sena-
torial fight and coerce our people into
selecting a Senator desired by him; but
Mr. Marbury adds that the President
is the leader Of his party. and as such
is entitled 70 give his friendly advice
/ to fellow Democrats as to the selection
of Senator who will be in sympathy
with the President 5 plans for the bet
terment of our people.
This sounds much better than the
phrase Federal interference. but il
means the same thing. There is very
little difference between coercing peo-
pie and giving them friendly advice.
when many of the people being advised.
want Federal Offices. and the gentleman
giving them the friendly advice has
the disposition of those offices.
1T is said that "a nod is as good as
wink and weak and sinful human ma
ture Is so constituted that it is very diff
ficult to distinguish the friendly advice
given to officeseekers by President
acting from the purest and most patri-
otto motives. from "a vigorous use Of
Federal patronage or spoils to enforce
the political views and desires Of the
President having the disposal Of the
Federal patronage.
Federal patronage when used by an
official we do not admire TO further his
own wishes is called 'spols. but it is
practically the same thing, in the eyes
of plain man. as the bestowal of pub
lie Office on good men who have shown
their goodness by taking the advice
Of the President in the selection Of their
partys candidate for United States
Senator.
"A rose by another name would smell
as sweet
Il. therefore. still maintain. very re-
spectfully, but very confidently. that il
is fundamentally wrong for the Presi-
dent Of the United States to interfere.
directly or indirectly. with the nomina-
ton of the candidates for the United
States Senatorship. 10 State Of which
the President is not citizen. The fact
that the President may be good man.
and may have the best motives for
wishing a particular candidate to sue
coed. does not justify him in interfer-
ing in the exercise of right by the
citizens Of particular State. which the
Constitution Of the country intended
should be exercised BY them, and not
By him.
i ought to add that | am not willing
to assume that President Wilson con-
templates interfering in the Senatorial
primary in this State. lie has given
no signs that he intends to favor the
nomination of either Mr. Marbury or
Senator Smith. and until he does indi-
cate in some authoritative manner that
he does intend to take part in this con-
troversy shall believe that he will de-
vote his energies, exclusively. to those
public activities which the duties Of his