The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-10-17
AN ANSWER TO A LETTER OF
SYMPATHY.

ating exhibition of mentality. 1t is
generally conceded within the quiet
confines of that sedate assembly that
discussion is superfiuous and debate an
outrageous imposition upon patient
gentlemen who prefer to vote and get
out. "No vote in this body was ever
changed by debate" said venerable
Senator to the writer, "all this talk is
just a waste of time, every one of US
knows how he is going to vote before"
-"he knows anything about the sub
ject under discussion" twas the way
we completed his sentence). Which,
naturally had the effect of cutting
short the old gentleman's condolences,
but which also fixed him in the belief
that the man who would "bother" to
study and discuss a State problem is
more or less of an ass. And we don't
know if the old gentleman isn't quite
right.
1t, of course, clocks well" to the
public for the Senate to make pre-
tense of d"eliberating", of thrashing
things out finally on the floor in intel
ligent debate. But that is all for the
CLOCKS of the thing" AS matter of
fact, what really happens is that by
party alignment, or personal solicita-
tion the votes to pass measure are
pledged before the measure comes on
the floor. Once in while Senator,
with refreshing frankness, will not be
at pains to explain, defend or advo-
cate his measure, knowing he has the
votes already pledged to pass it. More
frequently, however, is enacted the
solemn farce of man tearing pas
sion to tatters"in his fiery pleading for
his Bill, all the whole looking into the
faces of the men from whom he has
extracted a promise to put it through.
1t was not without interest to nov
ice to quietly observe these venerable
customs of the Maryland Senate. Of
course, it was dreadfully disillusion-
ing. But we have always declined to
be overcome by situation for long at
time, whereupon we promptly con-
cluded if we had to face few weeks
of mental degradation, we at least
would extract what quiet amusement
we could from the performance. And
our success was not small. The past
winter at Anna"olis (barring the an
noyance of draughts to bald mani
was quite mildly entertaining. We
found it impossible to take most of the
performers seriously. When Senator
-, as curtain raiser, felt it his
livery unpleasant duty respecting his
oath to support the Constitution" to
attempt to hurtle Senator Williams
from his seat, we began to see places
for smiling at the verbal garb with
which these well known actors always
clothed their most questionable per-
formances.
A dignified Thomas Cat would have
laughed to hear land see) Senator
- in his perfervid explanation of
why the Democratic ajority felt call
ed upon to politely but firmly remove
Hon. Ounce Ashburn from his Sena-
torial desk in order that Hon. Orlando
Harrison might grace it. The Sena-
tor climbed the heavenly sleeps" and
vowed before high Haven that he was
moved to this action by nothing but a
sense of conscientious duty" BY the
way, if Senator - carries that
Sense of conscientious duty" with him
everywhere as much as when in the
Senate, he ought to begin to feel
mighty stale in its company. Anyhow,
he always had it handy in the Senate,
as had the rest of the honorable gen
tlemen who voted without a whimper
or word to deprive Ashburn of his
seat-after an all-day caucus spent in
whipping them into line. Now to a
man with the smallest possible sense
of humor, it was to laugh to watch
these dear men get their "sense of
conscientious duty" into working or
der so that they could do what they
were told to do, without a fatal loss of
self-respect
Which reminds us that one of the
amusing sights in the Senate was the
exhibition made of themselves by the
progressive Democrats, the little
group of high minded gentlemen VINO
were supposed to stand for "the better
things" AS a matter of fact they
didn't stand at all. They did nothing
but side-step and it was funny to
watch them at it. Put them all toge-
Their and they didn't have enough red
blood to make a fight against a pulling
babe, and to a fellow who didn't be-
long to the majority party and didn't
have to obey party boss, it was
highly entertaining to watch these
elegant" gentlemen do just exactly
as they were hidden. Wonder what
they imagine would happen to them if
they didn't do as they were hidden.
To all which there were, of course,
exceptions-but mighty few; so few,
indeed, as not to interfere with the
"amoosing" antics required for an on
lockers entertainment.
No. no, my dear sir, we didn't have
an lawful time" at Annapolis at all.
We had an lawfully funny time,
watching the performance, and then
seeing how the gentlemen of the press
properly trained to the job would
fix the story up for the dear public's
edifcation and is)information in
the next days papers. Our only re-
greet was that the public couldn't
see the "inside" of the show with
us. But then that might have shaken
said public's respect for the law-mak-
ers of the State-which the same
would be too bad.
The MARYLAND Workman's compenea-