The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-12-22
REFORMS NEEDED IN MARY
.S LAND.
Corrupt Elections, Useless Offices,
Taxation and Other Political
Problems Considered.
Series OF Articles BY jackson H.
Ralston.
Article I.

over, it is time to commence study
of our state problems, to the end
that we may be prepared when the
next legislature shall meet to de-
mand reform in several different
directions. 1t was a remark of
Montesquieu, several centuries ago,
when democratic government was
even less understood than it is to-
day, that "the tyranny of a prince
is not more dangerous to the public
welfare in an autocratic govern
ment than is Indifference on the
part of the citizen in a democracy"
1T is necessary in Maryland assuredly
to appeal to the intelligence of. our
electorate and arouse it from its
slothfulness and indifference if we
are to have "a better condition of
affairs inSthis democracy of ours.
do not believe that Maryland is
any worse or behind the times to
greater extent than the majority of
the other states of the Union, par
ticularly those of the East In
some respects it is further advanced
For instance, we have the referen-
fdum in excellent shape and Maine
is the only other State along the
We are perhaps alone in the United
/ States in having good Budget sys-
tenn, the benefits of which will be
realized in the future. We have
system of county Home Rule pre-
scribed by our constitution, from
our legislature rises to it's duty and
makes the amendment effective In
addition we have power under our
constitution to improve as we see fit
our very defective and unjust
methods of taxation. Half of the
states of the Union do not enjoy this,
being restricted by >antiquated con
stitutional provisions. Despite these
very considerable advances in which
as Marylanders we may take pride,
we are behind certain other state
in important political legislation
and fall very far short of realizing
anything like true democratic gov
eminent -
We have corrupt elections in COM
mon with the majority of our fellow
states and to this evil we must adj
dress ourselves. Intertwined with
ted because of deficient moral stand
1 ards on our part, and contributing
to corruption as well as offering in
dependent evils, we have-a cumber
some ballot when we should have a
i short one; in the City of Baltimore
and absence of Civil Service refol m
Swelling the power of the machine;
la tax system that interferes with
J freedom and by absolutely creating
poverty, lowers the tone of the cleo
tofate. We have not the initiatiye
and until we. have it real popula.
reform will be difficult to obtain
We are in this behind some eighteen
of our fellow states where popular
Il government, through the Initiative
1 prevails as it does not among us.
With the ability to enjoy freedom
] in taxation we have system of I'M
i Just taxes hampering industry and
interfering with the freedom of our
citizens.
Particularly in our scheme of
4 county government we have un-
necessary. offices, adding largely to
our local taxes. We make the ad-
ministration or non-administratio
Of justice Tor injustice as you MAJ
4 PREFER dependent upon a free sys-
lem, and impose it's burdens upon
the counties rather than upon the
State.
i We have State peculiarly favored
by nature. It's climate is as healthful
as that of any other state in the
fertile and it's waters highly produc-
} tive. Withal, despite the fact that it
) is one of the thirteen original states
and has had considerable settlements
since early in the 18th century, the
produce of its waters does not cor
J respond with their extent. and
very big percentage of its soil is I'M
touched while a large percentage
yields but fraction of the returns
of which it is capable. Compared
with such newly settled State as
Illinois, Maryland is far in the rear
in agricultural development. The
causes for this are to be found in
Iene way or another in our conditions
of government and we must recog-
nize this frankly
There is crying need of reform
in all points l have so far briefly in
Dictated and in many others which
will perhaps not come strictly within
the scope of what l shall hereafter
have to say in a series of letters. In
Stiff, Sore Muscles Relieved.
Cramped muscles or soreness fol
lowing cold or case of grippe are