The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-01-05
LEGISLATURE
FOR SESSION OF 1922 HAS MET
Success or Failure Of Meeting VIII
Rest With The Democrats

Lefday at noon. Republicans were
conspicuous by their absence. The
House, owing to the increase of popu-
lation in several counties, as shown
by the last Federal census, consists
of 106 members, as compared with
1O2 for the session Of 1920. OF these
LOG, 70 are Democrats and 80 are
Republicans. Of the 27 members of
the Senate, only six are Republicans.
Baltimore City did the unusual
thing by sending a solid Democratic
delegation. Even the Fourth Legis-
lative District in the city, usually
conceded Republican, sent this SEES
sion all Democrats. The only Senator
chosen at the last election was from
the Fourth district and he is a Dem
oerat, Benjamin W. Fox. With the
three hOld-over members, Messrs.
Norris, Biggs and Frick, he makes a
Democratic quartet from Baltimore
City in the upper branch of the Leg
islature.
By the Democratic leaders, the par
tvs majority is regarded as excess
sive, so large as to be unwieldly. And
while the Democrats will have
chance to make record for them
selves in the way of beneficial accom-
plishment, theirs will be considered
the responsibility for sins of both
omission and commission.
In particular, action or lack of ac-
ton taken on the State prohibition
enforcement question will be ascribed
to the Democrats. Should the present
session of the Legislature pass an en-
forcement law drastic enough to
make the liberals writhe and call
down further maledictions upon the
devoted head of Volstead, the accom-
plishment will be chalked up on the
Democratic party. Should the Leg.
islature fail to take such action, its
dereliction will be imputed by Messrs.
Crabbe and others to the Democrats
party for Wickedness, and rightly so.
What attitude the Governor will
take on the prohibition enforcement
question is awaited with interest. If
the Governor acts in accordance with
the resolution of the Eleventh Ward
Democratic Club. on whose governing
board he she will urge that the Leg.
islature call upon the Federal Con
gress to liberalize the Volstead act.
But the Governor is keeping his
counsel. He has not intimated how
he will deal with this question in his
forthcoming message to the Legisla-
ture. Months ago he said the matter
was worthy Of the deepest study. He
mas said nothing furter on the sub
sect. Mr. Crabbe of the Anti-Saloon
League, is not so reticent. He has in
dictated that the Legislature will do
the right thing. The right thing" in
the Anti-Saloon Leagues point of
view and in the view Of the majority
Of the better thinking people of Ma
ryland who respect the law, is a
Folstead law for Maryland and its
strict enforcement.
For some time this State has had
IN arid quarters a bad reputation,
because Of its lack Of concurrent leg.
islation. But that States which have
such legislation may fail in enforce
ment is indicated by the recent letter
which Attorney General Daughertv
mas sent to the Attorneys General of
the various commonwealth, bespeak-
ing their cooperation with the Fed
eral authorities in the enforcement of
Laws, especially the liquor laws. and
those dealing with the food and fuel
supply.
The 'wet'- and "dry" question. in
spite of the Eighteenth Amendment
and the Federal enforcement meas
ure, promises to be anything but
FINISHED business" so far as the COM
ing session of the General Assembly
OF Maryland is concerned. John Bar
ieycorn's body may be buried with
hitting ceremony in the Federal Con-
stitution, but his soul, that is to saw
MS spirit, goes marching on. He bids
fair again to rise to plague the Solons.
Another hardly perennial promises
to be actively doing business at the
old stand in Annapolis. This is the
race-track question. The last session
OF the Legislature passed the Burke
law, which created a Commission that
was to regulate the tracks. In addi-
ton the tracks-at least the four
one-mile tracks-were to pay $4,000
Tor each day of racing and in addition
were to pay tax of Is per cent on
their net annual revenue.
How wisely and how well the Com
mission has regulated the tracks is a
question about which opinions vary
widely. The Commission has, how
ever, not been free from criticism. The
prospects are that the tracks. even
under the Commissions tutelage, will
not be exempt from attact at An
napolis. The forecast is that Mr..
Gambrill, of Howard will he IN +ba