Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-02-20
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 20. 1922.
ROCKING THE SHIP OF STATE

A test will probably come IN
the House OF Delegates tomor-
row OF the ability of the State adj
ninistration 10 redeem IN letter
and in spirit the Democratic plat
form pledge as 10 reorganization
Of State departments. This was
the paramount issue on which the
Legislature OF 1922 was elected.
and ECONOMY and efficiency"
was the slogan all during the
campaign This reorganization
plan was heralded as one OF the
surest and best ways OF accom-
plishing this that had ever been
evolved i'll Maryland. Political
leaders throughout the State gave
their approval to the plan and the
details of it were put in final form
by a commission appointed by
Governor Richie and composed
OF over a hundred representative
men and women OF the State. The
bill was introduced in the Legisla-
ture presumably with the full
knowledge and approval OF all
those who had had any part III
deciding on it as a matter Of poll
icy, as well as OF those who ac-
tually drafted the measure.
About the last thing that could
have been expected was an at
tack on the measure i'll the House
of its friends and sponsors. and
especially at this late hour when
the party'S commitment had
been so irrcvocably made. The
Republicans during the campaign
and afterwards had lost no oppOr-
tunity TO attempt to belittle and
defeat it. but the continued united
front of the Democratic party
was confidently looked to as a
safeguard against miShap. The
confidence. however. in the fulfill
ment of this pledge in no wise
lessened the convictions of the
party leaders that the defeat OF
il would be disastrous.
Therefore. when State Treas
urer John Nj. Dennis, one of the
Warehouses" OF Democracy i'll
Maryland, cut loose last week
with his onslaught against the
main structure of the Democratic
platform it fairly took the breath
away from both sides. 1t was a
case of let I'll Brute" for there IS
40 political leader anywhere OF
more genial, likable nature. or
one less calculated TO inflict 4
wound. politically or otherwise,
than Mr.. Dennis. And yet. If he
has been correctly quoted. his
present attack on the re-organiza-
ton bill means a death blow 10
party harmony and 10 party sue
cess in the immediate future.
In looking for the reason for
this sudden instruction in the
camp of the Democratic hosts, we
have Mr.. Dennis own alleged
statements to the effect that it all
centers about four political
"iobs." Mr.. Dennis wants two
of the three members of the State
Board OF Prison Control 10 be
paid members instead of non
paid. and likewise two of the three
members of the State Roads Com
mission. The reorganization bill.
as drafted i'll the interests of
economy and efficiency, and as de-
termined by those who gave the
matter intensive study. leaves the
composition OF these Boards the
same in number. but puts the bur
den on the paid chairman and
leaves the other two members in
an advisory capacity. This is on
the assumption that suitable men
can be found for these positions
who are willing to render public
service without being put in the
classification of paid job-holders.
1t is to be hoped that Mr. Den
mis- did not take the extreme
stand indicated by the newspaper
dispatches. for, if so. he and those,
who may align themselves with
him in this particular matter are
doomed TO defeat and even TO dis