The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-12-08
BALTIMORE LETTER
Baltimore, December :, 1922.

Hotel Rennert,
The discussion of city politics, es-
peclally among the Democrats, is in
creasing from day to day, and is OBJ
sorbing a great portion of the time
of a large proportion of those citizens
who are concerned in the welfare of
the public, as we'll as the welfare of
the Democratic party For it is prac-
tically conceded in the minds of a
large proportion of the citizens gem
orally, regardless of party. that the
Democratic candidates for Mayor and
all the other city officials, no matter
who they may be. will be elected in
! May, and have control of the city
government for the following four
! years. Hence the very great interest
taken on all sides as to the personnel
of the ticket, and the fractional align
ment of the candidates-for notwitl.
standing the fact that the factions
have been working together for more
than a wear, the odd feeling of ieal-
ousy and factiOnal hostility still exists
and is ready to break ont on the
slightest provOcation.
1t may be matter of surprise to
lUt DtODlt VI jHt NOtllittS u hlION
that a large proportion of the sub
Ordinates in the city government at
the present time. are Democratic hold
overs from the administration of Ma
yor Preston. although the Republican
Mavor has been in office nearly his
full term of four years. This SurpriS-
ing fact is due to two things, one the
law providing for non-partisan, non
political merit system in all the city
departments. and the other the city
council which is Democratic in both
branches. These TWO reasons, very
forcilbIp reasons. have prevented the
Republican administration four max
ing a clean sweep. and replacing the
thousands of Democratic city officials
with men of the party now in power.
So far as Mayor Bruening's intentions
were concerned there is no doubt but
that he would gladly have given to his
party workers every office in sight.
and no Democrat would have been
left to tell the tale. hut all his plans
were frustrated by the laws and the
Democratic city council. The Mayor
and his advisers are firm believers
that to the victOrs belong the Spoils,
heen able to remain encamped on the
field. and are holding on TO . large
promotion of the SnoilS. despite the
fact that the battle was tonight. and
they suffered a disastrous defeat
nearly fOur years ago.
1t can easily understand why the
fractional leaders and their followers
are so anxious to have Il Mayor on
their own crowd in the City Hall. The
Democratic holdoveE officials who are
now there are all retainers of Mr..
John J. MahOn. who of course desires
to keep them there. During his last
four years as Mayor, Mr.. Preston
literally threw all the followers OF
Frank Kelley out OF the Hall. leaving
not one OF them in possession of
lob, no matter how small. This action
Of the Mayor was practically the
cause of his defeat for denomination
and had much to do with the bitter
feeling between the two factions. and
is no doubt largely responsible for
the present strained relations be-
tween the followers of the two city
leaders The Kelley people want Ma
vnr who will give them some Of the
patronage attached to the office. white
the Mahon people, who have literally
thousands of jobs. not only want to
hold on to what they have, but want
more To give an idea as to the num-
Der of the Mahon Democrats still in
the city hall. the ninth ward has ON
the pay roll one hundred and ninety
six at least, while the tenth ward has
over two hundred, and many of the
other wards would show even more.
notably the twelfth, which is said to
have over three hundred. Republican
workers have ragged and howled at
Mayor Broening, because he has not
nut members of his own party i'll
these places-but he could not do so.
He has always been willing. but the
laws and the City council have stood
as bulWarks against his schemes
To the city politicians. the control
of the city government is nifty times
as important as the State or National
government. There are literally sever
al thousand jobs, most Of them good
Jobs. to be given out by the Mayor,
and the city revenues amount to near
ly. if not quite, fifty millions wear
not intending the expenditure OF the
millions !" ,Uans for public improve
ments. During the next four years
the amount will be larger than ever
before, the number of public officials
and subordinate employers, will be
greatly increased, and the faction
which controls the City Hall, will
have what they call "a picnic. Hence,
the desire of the leaders and their
followers TO have their own friends
nominated for office. when all the in
dications are that their party viii!
win with case