The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-10-28
THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE

THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE
The Smith Harrington organization
comes to the people of Maryland this
year baslng its appeal for support, not
on what it has done for the State, but
on promises of what it will do if given
another chance, When asked what
trust can be put in these pledges, in
view of the number of times promises
equally as explicit have been broken,
the reply is: ''Oh. this time we are
going to appoint commission that will
see that we are good
But let US look for moment at the
power behind the throne We do not
suppose anybody in Maryland disputes
the fact that Senator John Walter
Smith is responsible for Mr.. Harring-
tons candidacy. Now, in making a
bargain that he has no power to enforce
if the other party to it wishes to re-
pudiate it, the prudent man pays
good deal Of attention to the character
and reputation of the man he is bargain
ing with. Has he kept good faith? Has
he shown in the past that his promises
can be relied upon?
In this instance the other party to
the bargain is the Smith Harrington
organization. Just recently we had
Mr.. William L. Marbury's estimate
of the credit that can be put in this
body. He charged to its misrule, its do
nothing propensities all the ills of the
Democratic party in the State. Isaac
Lobe Straus, Attorney General under
Governor Crothers, had as good op-
portunity as any man in Maryland to
study at close range the attitude of
Senator Smith and the organization he
dominates toward governmental re-
forms. Mr.. Straus said of the Senator
in his last campaign for reelection:
In matters Of State policy Senator
Smith has been the EXTREMIST of re-
dictionaries. He has been at all times
the unbending, memorable opponent of
every distinctive progressive measure.
He opposed all the direct Statewide
primary election laws which | drew and
presented to the General Assembly.
He also opposed the direct primary
laws which Senator Lee proposed which
based the direct vote upon the counties
and Legislative districts of the city as
the units.
He was opposed to the direct Presi-
Dental primary law passed in 1912.
He opposed the introduction in the
State platform of 1909 of a pledge in
| favor of nominations in primaries by
the direct vote.
In 1902, largely at this instance, the
corrupt practices act was killed in the
Senate.
In 1908 he opposed the corrupt prac-
tees act. And one of the creates
struggles of the Crothers Administra-
ton was to pass that law in 1908 against
the opposition of Senator Smith.
In 1909 he opposed the efforts of the
progressive elements of the party, led
by Governor Crothers, to insert
pledge in the State platform of public
| service commission law, and was only
| defeated in his opposition after a ire
menduous fight.
When the Public Service Commission
measure had been prepared and while it
was pending in the General Assembly,
Senator Smith was opposed to it.
know of no measure of progressive
| legislation which Senator Smith has
ever advocated, and | know of no such
measure which he has not opposed with
all his might.
This is not Republican view of
Senator Smiths activities. 1t is not
| the estimate Of some reformer on where
the Senator has stood in the past in the
struggles the people of Maryland have
made for business management of their
affairs. 1t is the deliberate, openly
expressed judgment of Democrat who
stood mantully by Governor Crothers
| when he put through the Legislature
| many of the reforms on which the
Democratic organization is now basing
its appeals for support and for the en-
| actment of which Governor Crothers
was cast aside. Not being able to man.
age him, the organization would have
| none of him.
In the light these facts shed on the
personality of the man who at present
dominates the Democratic party, what
cause for wonder is there that indie
pendent voters question the sincerity
of the promises that are now being
| made and which cannot be fulfilled
without Senator Smiths sanction and
| CO. operation.