The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-02-08

we are 10 nave gOod popular ana Ell
fectIve government in Maryland, we
need to face the situation understanding
ly, and correct our Constitution and
laws to correspond with what demo-
cratic government really means. A
further explanation is needed.
In our national government we have
greater degree of efficiency, direct
ness, continuity of policy and enforce
ment of the peoples will than we have
in our State Government. We elect
one single executive officer, the Plesi-
dent, with possible substitute, the
Vice President, and members of both
houses of Congress. The President is
charged with the duty of carrying out
the policies of the people, and to this
end selects his cabinet and the subordi-
nate officers of the government of real
administrative importance. They are
responsible to him and subject to re-
moval at his hands, We have thus
centralized government and at the
same time, subject to other limitations
not essential to the present discussion,
a government of the people. So far as
the executive is concerned, national adj
mlnlstration is simple, direct and rela-
lively free from the abuses which bur-
den our state governments.
When, however, We consider the statd
! ind O1rcoIvac olact1pcr
and Attorney General for four years, a
Comptroller for two years, Clerk of
the Court Of Appeals every six years,
while, by curious anomaly. the Treas
urer is elected by the legislature, and
serves two years. If we have a truly
popular government without imposing
undue burdens upon the people we
would have our Attorney General ap-
pointed, as is the Acknowledgement of
the United States, by the chief ex-
ecutive power, our Comptroller and
Treasurer, who together roughly cor
respond to the Secretary of the Treas
urY, appointed in the same way, and
the Clerk Of our Court of Appeals named
either by the Governor or preferably by
the judges themselves.
] say that the people are asked to do
today what in the nature of things can
not be effectively done by them. The
Attorney General, the Comptroller and
the Treasurer may find themselves en-
tirely out Of sympathy with the COVER
nor, approaching public questions from
different angle, and ready to hamper
him in the exercise of his most essential
functions. This situation has arisen at
times in the past and it may well again
in the future, varying terms of office
and manner ofoiection contributing to
irresponsibi!ity. These officers now
form no part OF a harmonious whole.
No theory Of checks and balances JUST
ties their choice by election as the rea-
tive success of our national administra-
ton shows.
When We turn to our county govern
ments We find the people called upon to
elect Boards Of County Commissioners,
running from three to six in number,
Judges of the Orphans Court, Judges,
State Senators, two to six members of
the lower house, County Surveyor,
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Register of
Wills, States Attorney, Sheriff, in
many counties Road Commissioners, in
one wreckmaster, and possibly other
officers. Every other year, therefore,
the County elector is expected to vote
for fifteen or twenty officers, making
his choice among thirty or forty differ
: ent men; of the qualifications of three
fourths of whom the average voter
knows nothing, often cares less, and
accepts his party label. To call such
government popular is to make a
mockerY of the word.
While the individual voter in a coun-
ty ought to be able to know something
of the qualifications by repute at least
OF member of the legislature who ex-
presses the policies the people desire
carried into law and something as to
the county commissioners who are the
chief executive officers of the county
and should be made such in the fullest
possible sense. he knows nothing as a
rule with regard to the candidates for
the other officers and is not so placed
that he may fairly judge with regard
to them. He has to take largely on
faith and candidates for States At
torney. Still greater faith and ignor-
ance must he display in selecting the
Sheriff, Judges of the Orphans Court
and County Surveyor and Road Com
missioner. When we speak, therefore,
OF the breakdown Of popular govern
ment in an administrative sense, we
have in the backs of our heads the
fact, though We may not realize it, that
the people are undertaking to do things
it is physical and moral impossibility
they should perform. They act as
; Civil Service Board upon the choice of