The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-03-17
BALTIMORE LETTER.
State House,

Annapolis, February 10th, 1922
The situation here at the State
House is really becoming exciting, as
the various conflicting interests are
manifesting their feelings in favor oil
certain important bills, on the one
side, and against them on the other
side, for their is now no doubt about
! it, certain large and influential eie-
ments of the Democratic party are
lining up in hostility to several OF
the more important points in the Gov
ernor reorganization plan, while
others are equally strong in their
| favor.
There is also no doubt as to this
fact, there are many Democrats here
who are opposed to what they call
the radical and revolutionary
changes advocated by the Governor,
which opposition they are backed by
practically all the present office hold
ing forces in all parts of the State.
They contend that the present sys-
TEN is the growth long period of
years-in fact that much of it goes
back to the Revolution, and that it is
all based on experience, and that II
has worked well. That under this sys-
tenn, the state has been well and eco
nomically governed that it has pros
pered, that it recovered rapidly from
the bIighting and evil effects of the
Civil War more than half a century
ago. and that no real reasons have
been given for the proposed reyolu-
tionary changes. Those stand-patters
among the Democrats, assert that the
only real advocates for these changes,
are the restless clique of uplifters and
professional reformers, whose views
find a welcome in the columns of the
City Newspapers, which are on one
side of the political fence today and on
the other side tomorrow and which are
always ready to find fault with
Democratic administrations and DEM
ocratic officials, while they are eX-
tremely lenient with the glazing de-
fects of Republican administrations.
And before many days have passed 1t
is highly probable that this slowly de-
veloping opposition, will burst out in
the open and possibly make radical
changes in, if not totally destroy, the
whole reorganization plan.
Another developing prospect, is con-
test for the further leadership OF the
John Walter Smith, who appears to
have given over the active manage
ment of party affairs, and is now
working simply in an advisory capacl-
ty. There are three men here day al
ter day, who are looked upon as open
aspirants for the leadership, MAJOR
Brooke Lee, Mr.. Samuel X. Dennis,
and State Treasurer John NJ. Dennis,
and a three cornored contest, may
break out at any time. 1t was sup
posed, prematurely il now appears,
that State Treasurer John NJ. Dennis
had assumed, with authority, the State
leadership in succession to Senator
Smith. and that his title would be un-
disDuted. but there is every indication
now there that such will not turn out
TO be the case Not a few people OF the
old guard crowd, openly express a
preference for Samuel X. Dennis as
State leader, while others, VINO are
many in number, are equally open IN
their advocacy of Major Lee as state
leader. and all are waiting with IN
terest and no little anxiety for sign
from Governor Richie as to Whlch
one of the three aspiring young men
he will favor for the successor 10 the
leadership of the party and in the ena
tbe Governor may find it necessary 70
take another radical and unprecedent-
ed step and assume the leadership
himself and thus prevent a bitter in
ter-narty fight While others belleNe
that in the end he will back MAYOR
Lee.
The last of next week will pro0a5Iv
see the opening up of these under
ground schemes and maneuVers. Al
that time the leading State appoint
ment will be made, and at that time
If is usual to see the development OF
all the latest hostility to the Executive
which has been smouldering for the
first two years of his administration
This hostility is usually kept under
cover until after the second session
amendments are made, and then IL
bursts out, often with much violence.
THIS las been the ca je With eve a.!
m :, stration since the present cnhSI
-rtion was adopted n lS6I-and tAe
Ind.tai.pus tle that 4 pre- eHcHts ol