Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-10-15
How Is MIR. Weller Going To DO 1t ?


Editorial in the BALTIC. Sun.
Mr.. Weller, the Republican candidate
for Governor, in his speech of acceptance
declared that the promises made by the
Democrats in their platform were for cam
paien purposes only. He also says this
IL wish to be at Annapolis solely to en-
deavor to do something for the State and
for my party. If should be unable to
accomplish something in big constructive
way, then to me my administration would
be failure"
Now, in view Of the fact that the Repub-
licans have controlled but two Legislatures
in Maryland since the Civil War-1896
and lS98-and inasmuch as il has already
been publicly conceded by Republican or
gans supporting Mr.. Weller and privately
by Republican leaders, that the coming
Legislature is practically certain to be
Democratic, it is hard to see just how Mr.
Weller, If elected Governor, could accom-
plish these constructive things of which
he speaks. These things can only be
brought about through legislation. The
Governor of the State has no legislative
powers or functions of any sort. They
are lodged entirely with the Legislature.
With the Legislature in the hands of the
Democrats -and.sh chances are over
whelming that Il will be-how is the
legislation necessary to make his admins
tration constructive, to keep it from being
failure and to redeem the promises made
to the public, to be obtainedY Does Mr..
Weller think he could so arouse public
sentiment as to compel the Democrats to
abandon their own program and adopt his ?
According to his speech. he does not even
believe the Democrats are sincere or in
earnest in their own platform pledges.
II the Democrats in the next Legislature
are not honest and sincere in the redemp-
ton of their pledges. how is Mr.. Weller, II
elected Governor, going to accomplish any
thing for the State He cannot do it alone
The Republican minority in the Legislature
cannot do it for him. II was the Demo.
cratic majority in the Legislatures of 1917
and 1914 that were responsible for the re-
demption of the pledges and the good leg
islation enacted in the last four years, anC
not the Republican Governor, who sat il
the executive chair and made the appoint
ments. Mr.. Weller's intentions are gooc
and we think he means what he saws
The trouble is that If elected he will no
be able to make good and the State woult
have to look to the Democratic majoritie
in the House and Senate, and not to Mr.
Weller for the legislation essential to tn,
progress of the State. Mr.. Weller, of course
is not in position to admit publicly tina
his party has no chance of controlling tn,
Legislature. That is too much to expec
of him, but the fact remains that littl
short of landslide will alter the com
plexion of the General Assembly, an,
every Republican leader in Maryland know
IL. The Democrats now have, for instance
eight hold-over State Senators, and it viii
be necessary for them to elect but six o
the entire IA Senatorial candidates in tn,
field in order to have control of the Senate
Their chances Of controlling the House o
Delegates are equally good. There are N,
indications of landslide in this fight, an,
under the circumstances ii does not seen
Illogical to expect much in the way of ac
complishment from a Governor of one part,
who has to deal with Legislature con
trolled by the other, which he has con
demned as insincere and not to be trusted
to enact legislation needed.