Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-02-06
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 6. 1922.
4 SEVERE TEST or PARTY
REGULARITY

The developments OF the past
week in the Legislature have
brought to the point OF hnal de-
cision the issue as to whether the
pending measure for increased
representation for Baltimore city
shall be passed or not. The posi-
ton occupied by the Delegates
from Anne Arundel county IS
peculiarly difficult one. ON the
ono aspect there IS the over
,yhclmine sentiment OF the people
81 the county against increased
REPRESENTATION itself. and ON the
other there is the pledge of the
Democratic party that the mea-
sure shall be submitted TO the
electorate Of the state II the local
DELEGATES vote against the bill
thcv would do SO OH the asSunp-
lion that their own individual sen
tirents and those Of their constt-
ucnts should prevail over their
party's pledge, As expressed IN the
platform adopted at the state
Convention last Fail. II they
vote for the bill, it would mean
that they have decided to make
the party pledge paramount toI
ali other considerations. 1t IS al
severe test of party regularity.
rs previously stated III the
Evening Capital, some Of the dele
oates. notably Mr.. Rullman of
this county, during their cam
paign took special exception to-
the pledge OF increased represen-
tation. and could now with per-
feet consistency adhere to their
stand and vote against the pend,
ing bills. if their convictions lead
them that way. Moreover. they
would not be open TO censurc tor
so doing, for when a delegate un-I
der his oath acts in accordance
with his convictions he Is entitled
10 honor and credit, whichever
decision he reaches. And right
here be it said that Mr. Rullman,
having been singled out by the
Baltimore press tor Castiyatlon.
has given a refreshing exhibition
of courage and scli-respcct that
shows him To be worthy Of the
trust and confidence repased in
him by his constituents. he
final vote has not vet come. but
ne and the other delegates from
Anne Arundel have already
shown that big stick" method
not only do not influence them,
but that it they should finally de
eide to vote for the pending bill
it will be in spite of these tactics
and not because OF them. More
over, if their decision should be
against the bill it can be couQted
as certain that the coercion
sought to be applied had the very
opposite effect
As was pointed out III these
columns in the issue of January
rs: 1t may. of course. develop
that the Democratic state leaders
NAV be able to make out such a
strong case of party crisis and
emergency as TO impress all Dem
ocrats that this IS an hour OF trial
iu Vlnch the individual viewpoint
should give way 10 party neces-I
siu and party pledges. and the
referendum was mentioned as the
open door through which to gath
,r the fall party strength behind
tie platform pledge and At the
same time enable every member
Is keep faith with his convictions.
The situation. as now presented
iii the Legislature. seems to show
that such a case has been made out, (
for on the success or failure OF the
Democratic party 10 carry out this
particular platform pledge will de
pend III large measure Its ability tos
put into effect the other adniniStra-
ton measures 10 follow. the sum
total Of which would rebound
greatly to the welfare OF the
State.
Another point which has be
gore clearer ali the time, and the