The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-04-03
ISN'T 1T THE TRUTH?

The Republican, and, we presume,
many others who CHANGED to see the
following article, reproduced from a
recent issue of the Cumberland Even
ing Times, were struck with the fore
ible and honest argument of Delegate
w. Scott Corbett, of Washington
county, a member of the Maryland
Legislature which adjourned on last
Monday not to assemble again in reg
ular session for the period of three
years, when Mr.. Corbett said, "The
State of Maryland would be better off
if we had all stayed at home"
This comment on the part of Mr..
Corbett concerning the Maryland Leg
islature of 1924 no doubt is the opin-
ion of many other members of that
august body not alone for the pres
ent year but of other years preceding
and mayhap of years to come.
Marylanders, however, may take
JUNCTION in the happy thought that
they will not be "pestered" with an
other session for three years unless
sooner convened in extraordinary SEES
sion by Governor Richie.
The Times article is so convinc-
ing that it is reproduced herewith in
full:
"The State of Maryland would be
better off it we had all stayed at
home" Thus spoke Delegate w. Scott
Corbett of Washington county, as
quoted in a special dispatch to the
Evening Times from Annapolis yes
terday. Delegate Corbett has been a
member of the Legislature since 1914
and in ten years has introduced less
than ten bills. He has not proposed a
new law this session. Why does he
go to the Legislature then? one may
ask. Mr.. Corbett explains:
81 have devoted my time here try
ing to prevent useless legislation
There are too many laws. Washing
ton county and the entire State would
have been better off if we had all stay
ed athome. And isn't 1.-THE truth? Ex-
cept the acts required >oI carrying on
the government and business of the
State, which could have been attend
ed to in less than a week, what Will
the Legislature have accomplished
when the ninety days are spent, that
was at all necessary or that will
amount to anything worth while?
There is and has been for several
years a constant complaint from cit
liens about too many laws. And yet
the people will contine to elect rep
resentatives who fall into this mania
e., To-,
Probably it is due to the very appar-
ent fact that the chronic and constant
-complainers and the agitating and
dreaming portions of society are OBJ
scessed with the notion that they can
obtain ease, comfort, wealth, or what
ever they may think would satisfy
them, by new laws and more govern
mental regulations instead of by work
and thrift and the exercise of common
sense, prudence and Judgment in
their individual doings and habits
Some legislators are known to believe
that unless they introduce a number of
bills or do something in the way of
getting their names associated with
new legislation their people will con-
denim them for not working. For pop
ularity sake they think they must
make showing or the people will
not reflect them. And it seems they
all want to be reelected"
The experience of Delegate Corbett
indicates this is false notion when
one considers the great body of the
people and not merely the street cor
ner and other group takers and the
dreamers. Mr.. Corbett has been re-
turned to the legislature by the people
of Washington county five times or
continuously for the past ten years
And his chief work has been "trying
to prevent useless legislation" Evil
IDENTIFY he has been giving greater
satisfaction to the majority of the
people he represents than have those
who have sought records in helping
to further the multiplicity and com
plication of laws. Upon reading of
Mr.. Corbett's record last evening a
Cumberland Democrat remarked, of
/ lived in Washington county | would
vote for Gorbett every time, even if
hn