Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-01-25
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1922.
ADEQUATE. AND NOT INCREASED,
REPRESENTATION FOR
BALTIMORE CITY

BALTIMORE CITY
Tn the pending matter OF grant
ing to Baltimore city increased
representation in the Legislature,
the Delegates from Anne Arun-
del county co6ld not. without
stultifying themselves, take any
other stand than that of unaltcr-
able opposition 70 this measure,
and they are to be commended FOR
showing the courage Of their con
Victions in the recent develop
ments in the House No propa
ganda or buncombe about party
platform pledges will swervt
them from their duty as they sec
it. nor from faithfully represent
ing their constituents on this sub
ject, an ovstIwhelming majority OF
whom are tRhinst it. They hav,
been againkhIf ever since the idea
was broa3lsd shortly following
the puttin over of annexation
so that Anne Arundel's represen-
tatives in the Legislature are
bound by a commitment that is
prior to the political platforms OF
either party, and their recent cam
paign was conducted accordingly,
Over and above this.and all other
obligations, however, is that en-
bodied in the oath of Office taken
by them. They are to decide and
vote on measures on that basis,
and not be controlled against their
judgment and conscience by any
such document ns a political plat
form, adopted at vote catching
time and with fxpediency as the
guiding motive.
Reading the newspaper &C
counts of the fight in the Legis
lature on the question of increased
representation, one might infer
that every Democrat was bound
to support Baltimore city's bill
for the reason alone that 1t wa
party platform pledge, and
grave fear is expressed by the
Baltimore city papers that there
will be enough Democrats voting
against it to defeat it.. One of
them says unless a vote can be
postponed until most OF these
Democratic members can be
changed, it appears almost GER
tain that the Democratic pledge
will not be redeemed in the
House" How, may we ask, is
this change to be brought about?
And what kind of pressure is TO
be applied? In the same article
the open threat is suggested OF
an effort by the Chairman of the
Baltimore city delegation to have
al other administration measures,
and all measures in which the
counties are particularly interest
ed absolutely blocked until ''fav-
orable action on increased repre-
sentation is assured" This it
is added, is almost sure to pre-
Ciritate bitterness"
1t is indeed a sad commentary
on the political situation in Mary
land if members of the Legisla-
ture, with deep conscientious con
vicions on 4 pending measure.
are 70 be thus threatened and
bamboozled against their convic-
tons, and have their county legiS-
lation scrapped on that account.
This very development empha-
sizes the argument against pres
ent increased representation. II
the power which the city already
has in the Legislature is TO be
proStituted to any such tactics.
then the State would be better
of BY holding to the present lin
itation.
In opposing increased represen-
tation in the Legislature. the peo-
pie OF Anne Arundel county have
never attempted TO minimize the
importance of Baltimore city Or.
70 detract from its greatness as
Maryland's metropolis. No sec
ton OF the State has more in com
mon with il than has Anne Arun-
del-county. and it is indefensible
Tor the propagandists OF the city