Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-05-18
LETTER TO EDITOR
Takes Issue With Editorial Views
Expressed Regarding New County
Commissioner Law.

In reply to your editorial under
date of May IL, |, as the person who
is most responsible for the movement
TO obtain a referendum on the law
reducing the County Commissioners
from seven to three-as well as or
two other laws-request space for ex-
pressing my views thereon.
The last paragraph Of your editor
ial contains the gist Of the whole
movement to obtain a referendum.
You state that there may be "a mat
tor for honest difference Of opinion"
AS ] understand democratic gov
eminent, there is no better way TO
settle IAN honest difference OF opin-
ION" than by a vote taken 20 obtain
the will of the majority. The Con-
Stitution OF the State provides that
referendum may be taken IL ten
per cent. of the voters petition for it,
The petitions being circulated are
for the purpose OF getting the ten
per cent. so that we may find out
the wishes of the people OF this ceun-
~ and these petitions do not make
or un-make law. The question of
argument against the law being rati-
fed will be taken care of after tho
question as to whether or not vote
will be taken, Is settled.
You have stated that the average
citizen likes an open and direct way of
dealing with the public questions. !"
So do /. That is why am making
the effort to arouse our people to
the legislation that has been passed
before 1t is too late for them to rea-
Ike what has hcen passed.
You make the statement: 9. that
the act in question has been read by
very few, If any, OF these. attach
ing their names. TO the petitions
-. ;" May | ask you the question
How many knew the Act in question
had been introduced and passed until
The movement forla referendum was
lnaugurated?'
81 implication, you have appeared
TO accuse those responsible for the
referendum moyehent, OF political
iockcying For the sake OF argu-
ncnt. will admit there is some truth
therein. am making every effort TO
accomplish what l consider for the
best interests of The county.
Without accusing yol OF Interior
motives. can | be blamed for lighting
against n law which was not advo-
Gated until the so-called "organiza-
ton" lost control of the County Com
missioners? Personally, | did not
hear Of any effort being made by eth
CT the County Commissioners or their
former counsel to change the law
prior to this year. Aside from any
politics, however, / am opposed to
the three commissioners law for the
reasons that:
1st. l remember when we had
three Commissioners and we were so
badly governed that our people de-
manded the seven commissioner law.
End. Our citizenship is not as alive
10 its Cwp interests as it should be
but they do find out when the COM
missioner from their own district is
not on the job The closer the peo-
pie are to their governing bodies, the
better government they get.
3rd. II it comes to a question of
Control" two members are easier to
roach than four.
4th. In the event of primary fights
such as We have had for the past
ten years, there is danger Of more
than one commissioner coming from
4 point where there is q highly cen
tralized vote. IL is not always pos
sible for "those interested in party
success. !" to control who or who
shall not so on the ticket The his
tory of the past four years shows
plainly that Annapolis does get more
than her share OF the Offices.
However, Mr.. Editor, all these
points are open to argument and diff
ference Of opinion. There is but one
way to settle the natter if we be-
lieve in rule by the people" If the
Ah~gSAtNN VI thO NOANiS VI N4ttS COunte
are for the law calling for three
County Commissioners, l will cheer
fully aid in clecting the three hest
men we can find.
Now for an expression of personal
opinion-call it partisan If you will
You state that no effort was made
10 defeat the law in question in the
Legislature. or to appeal to the Gov
arnor against its signing. l will state
hat no fair minded person familiar
with local politics, will contend that
IN effort made by anyone identified
with the 'progressives' to defeat the
law or to appeal to the Governor,
wcald not have wasted their time.
Certainly the Governor has made
every effort and used every occas-
on, during the past six months, to
show that "he would have none of
them"
Very truly yours.
JOHN de P. DOUW.
Annapolis, Md, May Il, 1922.