The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-03-07
MILES DISCUSSES FEVER ELECTIONS
{ Continued From rage Three)

{ Continued From rage Three) {
quent elections ends, tyranny
begins"
true, these sentiments take US !
back to the early days OF the RepuD-
lie. and before the days Of beaureau- |
cracy, but have times so changed and
men so changed with the times that
we can afford to ignore these solemn |
admonitions OF the Fathers of the |
ReDublic and the wisdom of the nd |
ertv lovinG men who framed our
state constitution? Can the Demo |
cratic Party in Maryland through its
representatives i'll the Legislature |
under the pretense OF desiring TO
save the cost of elections recommend
10 the people of the State the adop- |
ton OF an amendment to the conSl-
tuition that amounts to denial OF
the right of the people to partlcl-
pate in the LEGISLATURE by means
OF frequent elections; or II you
please a denial Of their right TO
"redress grievance, to amend, stren8-
then and preserve the laws by ire
ouent convenings of the Legislature,
except in the discretion of the head
of the Executive Branch Of the gov
eminent that discretion>to be eXer-
cised to determine not only when
the Legislature shall convene, but,
as some iconoclasts would have II,
also as to what matters it should
consider.
What travesty all this would bel
upon the supposed rights of the peo-
pie to participate in the Legislature!
Thomas jefferson said:
"A bill of rights is what the
people are entitled to against
anv government on Earth.
Here is a proposition to ignore the
fundamental principles declared IN
our Maryland Bill of Rights.
But our modern conserVatorS OF
the rights of the people would not
only repudiate the Democratic prln-
chile of frequent elections OF the peo-
ple's representatives in the Leglsla-
ture, but they would destroy the safe
guards established and secured by
that Article in our Constitution
which provides for General Assem-
blv by the peoples legislators com
posed OF two entirely Independent
branches.
It is impossible in this letter. and
if ought to be unnecessary IN
State with our heritage, to discuss
the radicalism involved in such al
change in our form of government
as would follow the election OF a
Senate and House Of Delegates at
the same time and for the same
terms
Our Fathers thought that Legis-
Io+nra-Statn and NatiOnal-Should
be composed OF two Houses elected
for different periods and insisted
that to SO organize and constitute the
LEGISLATURE gave to the peoples re-
representatives. and the people them
selves watching the course OF legis-
Iation the benefit of time for calm
and careful elaboration, and dis
armed the ascendancy which popu-
lar demagogue might obtain over
either House. In other words, they
considered the checks and balances
involved in such ar organization OF
legislative bodies as OF permanent
Importance looking to the proper
Safeguarding of the peoples rights.
viii thu men and women constl-
tuting the electorate OF Maryland,
when the proposed amendment to|
our State Constitution requiring
duadrennial elections of Senate
and House of Delegates at the same
tim, for the same terms, think otEer-
wise when such an amendment IS
submitted for their approval?
NV own deliberate judgment is
that the people of Maryland will re-
iect the new theories of government
and approve the wisdom ana VISION
o. the Fathers.
What then, it is proper TO ASK,
should be done with the Denocfauc
pledge fo9 fewer elections? In or
der to have fewer elections, it is not
necessary to abandon biennial cleo
tions. and go to the extreme OF hay
ine Quadrennial elections. Neither is
i; necessary to change the, Legislative
structure of our government in Mary
land.
As | understand the situation. the
Democratic Party is pledged TO the
submission to the people OF con-
stitutional amendment, which II
amendment, which, il adopted would
mean the abolition OF elections IN
every other year. This is what the
Party has piedged-nothlng more IL
has not promised to submit an
amendment, which ii adopted, would
destroy the present structure of cur
state government.
Ny view is that the present DINO
cratic General Assembly should car
~ odt the Party's pledge. and submit I
to the people for their approval or
rejection the bill prepared by Mr..
Perlman, and submitted to Governor
Ritchic'G recent conference in An
napolis by Mr.. Benson. Let the peo-
pie determine, as that bill would en-
able them to determine, whether or
not they want to abolish in Maryland
every other year, Notwithstanding
that will mean that the elections for
State Officers shall be held in the
even years at the same time as fed
eral elections. In this way, we re
deem the Democratic pledge and I'M
my judgment, the people are entitl-
ed to insist upon the carrying out or