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

! Annapolis, March 10th, 1922
/ This has been an exciting week IN
/ the State House, which has been
crowded early and late. by people
I from all sections OF Maryland, look
! ing after bills which are resting in the
/ Committee or in the files on
+ the desks of the two Houses. some to
I die quiet death, others to die in
parliamentary battles. and others to
/ live, after strenuous fights in their
behalf. only to survive after wounds,
/ in the way of amendments have been
inflicted, which often change the
character and effect of the whole
measure. And many will live which
ought to die, while not few Will die
which, in the interest OF the public,
ought to have been given a long
! lease of life.
The fight over the Prohibition En-
/ forcement Bill was one OF the most
/ interesting of the whole session, and
it is to be hoped. although it is a
matter of doubt, thai it has been SCI
tied to the satisfaction of a majority
of the people. No measure OF any gen
eral interest was ever settled to the
satisfaction of everybody. and no
matter what might have been the
tate Of the dry enforcement act, ii
would have proved disappointing 10
large number of people in all sec
tions of the State. and the General
Assembly, would be sharply criticised
for its action.
Governor Richie is at work day
and night in his Office in the State
House. or in the Executive Mansion.
His door is omen to all. and he gives
/ all those who call to see him. a pa
tient hearing. and a cordial receF-
1 ton. He is consulted with great fire.
uuency by members of both houses
on all sorts of subjects. whether per-
tanning to official duties or otherwise.
and is ready to give his advice. Legal
or otherwise, TO all who ask for ii. Ii
is now generally conceded that he
will in all probability he a candidate
4 for nomination to the United States
Senate. this year. and that he will
make an announcement to that effect
soon after the adjournment OF the
/ General Assembly in April. 1t is also
the popular impression here that the
opponent for the Democratic nomina-
ton will be, either Ex-senator John
Walter Smith or Mr.. John VI. Dennis,
State Treasurer. although many peo-
pie believe that States Senator Orlan-
do Harrison, will also enter the pri-
maries as a farmers candidate, Ow-
ing to the announcement he is re-
reiving from farmers in all parts OF
the State and from what is known as
the farmers bloc of Senators and
Representatives in Washington.
Another State official VINO is daily
on the job here at the present ses-
sion is the Attorney General, Alex
ander Armstrong. He has established
an office in the State House, where he
is consulted on all sorts OF matters
which come before the two Houses.
Most of the members avail them
selves of his courtesy. and he is busy
from morning until night advising
as to proper form OF drafting bills.
whether they conflict with laws, now
/ in force, and, what is of most I'M
portance, whether they comply with
/ the provisions of the Constitution.
MIR. Armstrong; constant attendance
/ is of great advantage to the entire
membership Of the General Assembly
as well as to the numerous State Off
Gals here, to all of whom he is the
| legal adviser, provided by the State
Constitution.
In addition to the very general dis
cuSsion of general state politics,
there is considerable talk about the
situation in Baltimore City, and the
outlook for Democratic success there
in the election next year. This dis
cussion has already reached the point
where available candidates for the
city offices are being considered, and
several men OF prominence are re
ported to be ready to announce them
SelVes in the near future.
Two of the men who have come most
prominently to the front in public
affairs in Baltimore in recent years
are both from the Counties and bOtt
were former residents of Hartford
they are Mr.. Howard w. Jackson, re-
Gently elected Register of Wills fol
the third consecutive term, and Mr.
William w Stockham, for the pas
several years, United States Marshal
The indications now are that Mr.
Jackson will be nominated by thC
Democrats for Mayor next sprin&
without opposition, and that in the
State election next year Mr.. Stock
ham will be the nominee of his part!
for Sheriff Both these men have wol
their way to the front on their owl
merits, and have attained their pres
ent high place in the estimation o
the people at large because they hav
proved themselves honest, earnes
and reliable. Mr. Stockham was Mar
shall during the entire period OF tn
great war, when all sorts of conspir
acy and overt treason were rampan
in the State, City and the Country a
large He handled his dangerous an
difficult tasks with such skill an
ability that he won the highes
praise from his superior officers i
Washington and earned the gratitud
and esteem of all those under hi
immediate supervision Throughout
MARYLAND He ranked as one of tn
best Marshals in the wohle countr!
and should he be elected Sheriff
Baltimore City there is no doubt {
his ability to perform the duties {
his Office with satisfaction to tn