The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-06-03
GOVERNOR RITCHIE ROUNDLY
SCORED BY HUGH A. M'MULLEN


SCORED BY HUGH A. M'MULLEN
State Executives Sincerity, Gratitude
and Road Plan Questioned by the
Former Comptroller.
A special telegram to the Baltimore
Sun of last Sunday under a Cumber-
land date line of May 10Th, said:
Political circles were unusually dis
turbed today by the publication of a
letter from former State Comptroller
Hugh A. McMullen, Democratic lead
er in this county, addressed to Gov
ernor Albert C. Richie, in reply to
one from the State Executive. telling
him why he could not reappoint c.
Clinton Uhl, of Mount Savage, this
county, member of the State Roads
Commission.
Mr.. McMullen questions the Gov
ernor's sincerity, gratitude and desire
to maintain the present high stand
ard of Maryland roads. His letter
follows:
May 20, 1920.
His Excellency, Albert C. Richie,
Governor of Maryland,
Annapolis, Nd.
Sir-I am in receipt of your let
ter of May "a, as follows:
l know that you will be disap-
pointed at my decision to appoint
an entirely new State Roads Com
mission. l am sorry and l want
you to know that it is in no sense
due to my lack of appreciation of
Mr.. UhPs services or of your own
wishes.
1t is simply that we are about
to embark on a new era in road
building, viz, our lateral road
program, and l feel that l would
like to discharge my RESPONSE
bility with respect to that throu
a commission of my own selec-
ton.
Your letter containing two para
graphs, the last being the most i'm
portant, in which you give US your
reason for appointing an entirely new
commission the fact of the construc-
ton of lateral roads in the state.
This explanation is similar to the
statement made by you in Baltimore
newspaper. The present road system
of the State of Maryland is its own
argument as to the capability of the
former Roads Commission, and | do
not think that your clumsy effort to
invent an artful explanation for this
change will be accepted by the people
of the State as the correct reason for
having made it. 1t bears on its face
a purpose to advance the political in
terests of a certain faction of the
Democratic party rather than a de-
sire to protect the roads and their
users throughout the state.
Certainly the work of Mr.. Zouck,
Mr.. Uhl and Mr.. Mudd has been of a
high order and their capability to con-
struct the main arteries of the roads
in the State would seem to assure
their qualifications to perform the les
ser tasks of the lateral road construc-
ton.
"The further fact, if the newspaper
reports are true, that you found it
necessary to appoint a relative of
yours, no matter what the ability of
that person may be. indicates a per-
sonal interest from the point of the
taxpayers and citizens of the State.
I'm regard to the first paragraph of
your letter, / have nothing to say
Your frequent statements to me of
appreciation of my efforts in behalf
of your election l dismiss without
further consideration / leave your
action to determine the measure of
gratitude and sincerity contained in
them.
"You did not treat me with candor
in turning down the application for
appointment of personal friend
whose merits as a road builder have
been publicly testified to by Repub-
lican board of county commissioners
in Allegany county.
(Signed) "HUGH A. M'MULLEN"