The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1921-12-16
BALTIMORE LETTER.

Hotel Rennert.
Baltimore, December Sth 1921
The preparations Tor the organiza.
ton and work of the General AsseInb.
~, which will convene on Wednesday
january 4th, are rapidly nearing com
tDlction, and all the indications point
Ito harmonious and efficient meeting
\ Wnen the members get together at An
napolis. The Governor is busily en-.
gagged in tine preparation Of his mes
sage and also in the completion Of the
budget af appropriations and such
lother LEGISLATION as he deems neees-
sary 70 present early in the session
80 that there viii be no delay In get
ting the lawmakers down to business.
1t now seems nighly probable that Tor
the first time In many years, the work
preparatory to the biennial session
viii be ready for consideration much
earlier than usual. and that the GUS
I tomary delays, which force matters in
20 a Jam during the last weeks oi
March, viii be absent. and that there
will be more than enough time, TO
I give measures careful consideration
before the closing hours.
II Is the general belief, AZ the pres
ent writing, that Delegate John l.. G.
Lee, Of Hartford County Will be elected
speaker, and Senator William !. Nor
ris OF Baltimore City, President OF the
Senate. The opposition to Mr. Roberts
of Prince Georges as candidate for
speaker. developed with great sudden
ness, and was 50 strong and vigorous
that several OF the most influential uf
the party leaders. who had been fay-
orably disposed TO the Prince Georg-
ian. changed front almost over night.
and now II appears almost certain that
the Hartford County member win be
chosen TO preside over the House OF
course all this may be changed when
tile members frcm the Eastern Shore
counties are heard from, and should IL
develop that the statesmen from
across the Bay have candidate for
speaker from ampng their own NUM-
Der, the whole situation may be chang
ed II has been the impression here
ever since the election that should the
Eastern ahurv want the sDeakcrshlp.
its wishes would probably be Rratifed
But no word on the subject has come
over from that section. and Il has now
been taken for granted that no eandi-
dates viii come from there this year
II has been q matter ~ surprise ahat
after a victory in which the tide-@ater
counties had such d great part. 30 few
OF them have been In Baltimore %
take part IN the plans Of the leaders
for the coming session 81 the General
Assembly In years past the Eastern
Shore Statesmen have been on hand
immediately after the election espe
eially when the Democrats we're vic
torious. This year they seem 20 be re-
naming at home. bot NO doubt they
viii be on hand In force later on and
Will take their usual prominent part
In All that goes on IN bubble affairs
The coming Assembly Viii be a
Democratic session IN the fullest oS-
tent OF the word. and the Republicans
will be there In such few numbers,
and as insiEnincant Ia personality and
ability, that they VIII be hardly worth
taking into account Not since the scs-
sion Of 1853, when they had bat four
Senator's snd ten members III the
house. viii the Republican party pres
eni sueh an insignificant and ihlpoient
spectacle In the General Assembly OF
Maryland They were literally wiped
out In several counties. md the afro-
giant beast Of Senator Weller. that
Maryland had nov became Repuh-
lean State, WIS thrown back into his
face with HcDrn and contempt when
the Democrats -ot Maryland are united
and are WORKING together. az they are
'at the present time. the Republicans
have no chance whatever ~ win Il Us
only when the lcalousieg and quar-
hack Of them, aid the RppubllgBnsf
that they have even the sllghteat hope
10 gain ANYTHING, and 4 50 ia BE- hoped
that ali these Internal toudn and biea
erings. have gone. not 10 return Tor
long period Of years. II ever
In the meantime Governor Richie
Is az Annapolis working a. no Cover
nor ~ MARYLAND ever worked 60 gat
things IN shape. so That the General
Assembly can start out with . definite
program. ready Tor action. He has de-
voted the two years " hts inounbeney
Of the office TO ii thorough study ~
the needs Of Maryland IN ali phases.
Just as hn devoted four years % hts
ineumbency Of the Office 81 attorney
general. 10 the study OF the statutes
ut the State, 50 that be obtained q
thorough knowledge of their defects
Ever since he became Governor he
has been studying the needs OF Mary
land, from material educational and
every other point OF view In addition
70 bis desire 20 secure the enactment
nto law Of his plan for q reorganiza
lion OF the departments OF tile State
administration, he has had 10 view a
very considerable program for the
ietterment ~ ,he public welfare, in
he WAY ~ changes in certain laws,
which are now obsolete and have been
rendered useless or cumbersome by