Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-08-03
ANNEXATION MEANS CITY
RULING STATE.
Glven A Majority OF Voters, Its
Increase In Legislative Rep
reservations Sure.
DEALS AND THREATS POTENT.


Boomers Trying to lntimidate Both Political
Parties and True to Neither Demanding
Ripper" Planks in Democratic and Re-
publican Platforms-Greater City Could
Veto Any Law Hereafter Passed.
No plaything will better amuse small
boy than piece of rubber. The way the
elastic material will stretch to suit his
fancy is perpetual source of Joy to him.
The annexationists Of Baltimore seem to
get fully as much delight in playing with
the State Constitution. They quote with
much gravity the sections which suit their
purposes. but they say the section which
prohibits annexation without referen-
dun has no force. They stretch the Con-
stitutiOn to suit themselves.
An article sent out by the Greater Balti-
more Extension League in an endeavor to
blind voters of Maryland to the danger of
giving Baltimore city majority of the
population of the State (Which effect it is
admitted annexation as proposed will have)
asserts that Baltimore city would have no
more power after annexation than now,
for power comes from the Legislature. and
the representation Of the city and the
counties is fixed by the Constitution. Bal
timore city now has four Senators and
twenty-four members of the House of
Delegates. II has not been very many
years since the city had three Senators
and eighteen members of the House.
How did the increase come about By
constitutional amendment. Constitutional
amendments have become so usual that
the ordinary voter thinks there is some
thing wrong with his ballot If he does not
find one on it.
AMENDMENTS EASILY PASSED.
The Annexationists tell you the Con-
stitution can not be amended except by
an Act which passes the Legislature by
three-fifths vote in both houses and is
then ratified by the people. Since they
have announced that they will make every
thing else subservient to annexation and
are freely using threats and cajoleries to
swerve members Of the Legislature to their
favor, and have shown that they can
swing practically the entire vote Of the
city delegation in both houses in any po-
litical deal or barter, il is easy TO see that
they would not have much trouble in
securing equal representation for the city
in the Legislature. Give the city a numer-
ical majority of the voters of the whole
State. and the ratification of the amend
ment would be matter Of course.
BULLYING BoTH PARTIES.
But the Annexationists are attempting
to deceive the people when they claim that
Baltimore could only assert its power
through the Legislature. Three is always
more than two. and party leaders will be
practically compelled to yield to the will of
the majority in making party platforms and
influencing nominations. Just now. as they
did two years ago. the Annexationists are
imperiOusly demanding that both parties
insert in their platforms to be adopted the
coming fall iron-clad planks favoring an
nexatiOn without referendum. Threats are
freely made Of what they will do to any
political leader who opposes them.
Nor BOUND BY PARTIES.
Can II be imagined that the same men
and influences which are now attempting
to rule both political parties will not in a
similar way endeavOr to dictate nominal
tons II given majority Of votes with
which to back their demands and threats
And IL their wishes are not needed in
making the nominations, can any one
doubt that they will be able TO take their
revenge by defeating any candidate not
acceptable They have already shown
their willingness TO do so. Facts do not
bear out the assertion that when they be-
come citizens of Baltimore. Democrats re-
main Democrats and Republicans remain
Republicans. Most of them work together
to rule the rest Of the State. No political
party can be sure Of their fealty, for they
are avowedly out to gain their own ends
by any sort Of temporary expedient.
Give the city majority of the popula-
ton Of the State and you will give II alb
hOiutC wv uobCINiuB VI
party in any part of the State will be able
to obtain a State Office without the APP
prevail Of the city boss. No law which
does not suit the "city crowd" will stand
any chance Of being passed.
And II such law should slip through, the |
city would have. and without any increase |
in Legislative membership, the power to |
veto II. In 1915 the people ratified the |
Referendum amendment to the State Con
stitution. Under this amendment a ma
jority Of the voters may nullify any law
passed by the Legislature except laws regu-
latine the sale Of liquors and the regular
appropriation bills. Under this amend
ment the city could override any law OF
the State hereafter passed, except as noted.
that is. provided Mayor Preston's scheme
for the Acknowledgement Of the city by |
overriding the Constitution and grasping
one-half the population and wealth OF
Baltimore county and fat slice Of Anne
Arundel county Is successful
BALTIMORE COUNTY NON-PARTlSAN
CITIZENS PROTECTIVE COMMITTEE.
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