Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-03-04
THURSDAY, MARCH 4. 1918.
A Friendly Feeling.

Mayor Preston has started a cam
paign whereby he aims to have a
more friendly feeling exist between
the City and the Counties and through
the Managing Editor of the Municipal
Journal, Mr.. A. S. Goldsborough, he
has asked us for our views and sug-
gestions, our reply being as follows:
A. S. Goldsborough,
Managing Editor Municipal Journal,
Baltimore, Md,
My Dear Sir
l have your postal card dated
Feb'y oath asking me to let you have my
views not later than Monday cas- to how
a close and cooperative feeling can be
developed between the Counties and the
City, resulting in mutual helpfulness
rather than antagonism.
There are a number of ways that a
better feeling can be brought about be-
tween the Counties and the City, chief
of which is the sending to the Legislature
by Baltimore of men of higher calibre
than are usually sent; men who will rec
ognize that the County men are not lot
of moss back, hayseeds, and numbskulls,
who are supposed to fall in behind one or
two strong minded men from the City
and vote for any thing that may be put
up to them. The Legislature is the
breeding place for all the present foment
and strife between the City and Counties,
brought about largely by the demand
made by the City because Of her prestige
that she claims, and the only way that
any one County can safely maintain her
position is by combination with other
sister Counties, and this necessarily en-
genders spirit of antagonlsm betw cen
the two. Baltimore is demanding an ar
rogant and no self-respecting County
man will permit it being rubbed in on
him. The writer of this article has been
a member of the Legislature and has at
tended nearly every session for the past
twenty years and is in position to speak
with some knowledge as to conditions.
Baltimore City sends some good. clean,
Conscientious men to the Legislature,
but they are very largely in the minority
Again we frequently find the Baltimore
City delegation meddling directly in coun-
ty affairs, largely through the influence
of corrupt politicians and legislative
grafters.
For instance, during the last session of
the Legislature the Baltimore City dele
cation almost to man helped to force
a piece of legislation on Frederick coun-
ty in the shape of the "LeGore Bridge
Bill" which was recognized by every
right thinking person as being the rot
tenest piece of legislation that was at
tempted in number of years, which,
had it been enacted into law would
have saddled burden on Frederick coun-
ty, that it would have taken fifty years
to obliterate.
My suggestion is to "play fair" and
don't exact the "uttermost farthing'
from the Counties, for it must be born
in mind that Baltmore's ''arteres of ex-
istence" come from the Counties.
Bind and gag your corrupt politicians
(for you have them) and recognize in the
Counties that they have certain rights
that must be respected; encourage feel
ing of the "big brother" kind and don't
let your people get it into their heads
that because Baltimore having a large
population must be the dominat factor in
the whole state life.
His Honor Mayor Preston will do a
great thing if he can bring about the
feeling of cooperation between the City
and the Counties, but it is my opinion
that he will have to begin at "home."
Very truly yours,
Editor of The CATOCTIN CLARION