The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-03-12
SENATOR sPE|CHER AND HIS
L CAL OPTION MEASURE
Some Side Lights on Work Well
Planned And Successfully Carried Out.

Planned And Successfully Carried Out.
( Last summer Senator Harvey j.
/ Speicher, in straightforward manly
circular, announced his candidacy for
the nomination on the Republican pri-
mary ticket for State Senatar. The
announcement was a clear, positive
promise of what he would do in the
Senate for Garrett county. He called
especial attention to the demand of the
citizens of the county for the right to
vote on countrywide local option law,
promising them that if he received the
nomination and was reelected, he
would secure the passage of a law Civ
ing the people this right. Upon this
platform he won the nomination, and
conducted the campaign for reelection,
and again won out, it is true. by re-
duced majority, after heated contest
on the part of the liquor interests and
by their expenditure of large sum of
money, and by false representation and
under-hand work of others. The ma
jority, though reduced, was one of the
strongest compliments that could be
paid to square man,"
/ After his election. you could here and
there hear the expression, ''he will not
make good" "he will sell US out, 4"
CHS bill will have snake in it, "etc.
Those who knew him best placed the
utmost confidence in his manhood and
integrity and answered, time will
prove him man of his word" and
they were not disappointed.
Senator Speicher, as his business
would permit. devoted time to the prep
aration of one of the most remarkable
and far reaching temperance bills eyer
introduced in the Legislature. Time
I and research was spent in this work.
When the bill was in shape for most
critical and thorough inspection, he
called number of prominent citizens
from different sections of Garrett coun-
ty to the directors room Of the Garrett
National bank, of Oakland. Of course
the number had to be limited, because
of the capacity of the room. Among
those present were Rev. DR.. Reed,
District Superintendent of the Oak
land District M. E. church; Rev. A.
Moore, pastor Oakland NJ. E. church,
Rev. j. NJ. Davis; j. T. Glotfelty,
President of School Commissioners of
Garrett county; Prof. F. E. Rathbun,
County Supt. of Public Schools; w. A.
Smith, Hoyes; F. A. Thayer, President
First National Bank; S. T. Jones,
Cashier Garrett National Bank, Oak
land; W. w. Savage, Friendsville; W.
H. Smouse of near Gortner;. E. E
Friend of the Orphans Court Capt.
Jas. A. Hayden and l.. a. Rudlsill of
Mountain Lake Park; Editor B. II.
Sincell and E. c. Harvey. Gormania.
At this meeting the Senator read and
commented upon his bill. 1t was
thoroughly discussed by those present
and after due consideration of its mer-
its, on motion, the Senator was given a
unanimous vote of thanks, every per-
son present rising to their feet and Civ
ing him the Chautauqua salute, after
which those present signed their names
to written approval of the bill and as
surfing the Senator of their hearty sup
port. There was great wave of white
handkerchiefs and hearty shake of
hands and many words of congratula-
ton. Everyone felt that the day of
saloons and saloonism in Garrett coun-
ty were numbered and that in the cleo
ton of Senator Speicher no mistake had
been made.
The Senator placed his bill in the
hands of two leading attorneys of Oak
land for examination. He also consult
ed Attorney General Poe. These gen.
tlemen pronounced the bill all right.
Nothing was left undone to secure
safe, sure, prohibitory law. Just here
it would be well to say that the majority
of those present were met on the street
of Oakland and invited to drop into the
directors room.
AS is always the case in every COM
munity, there were those who predict
ed that the Senator would prove
traitor to his promises. Like the false
prophets of other days, they were busy
sowing seeds of discord and SANDER.
On January 20. 1914. Senator Speicher
introduced his bill in the Senate. It be-
came Senate bill No. l. 1t was re-
tered to special committee and order
ed to be printed. The Republican and
the Democrat, of Oakland, thought the
bill of such local Importance that they
published it in full, for the benefit Of
their thousands of readers. The news
papers throughout the State commented
upon this carefully prepared bill-a bill
which would make Garrett county dry
/ Copies of the bill was asked for by
citizens of other States. The demand
soon exhausted the supply of the bill
/