The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-02-07
(From The Baltimore Observer)

scandal. The Governor and his spe-
.cial advisory" committee revealing
under Legislative pressure the official
version of the use of the States mon
ey for gifts to be handed to public Of
ficials and others. Score one for Del
agate Cobourn, who wasn't an in
slider.
Then Senator Coad asks for the au-
dit made of road stealings by that
same advisory" committee. One for
Coad, who wasn't in the contracting
business.
Next Delegate Wilmer wants to
have an accounting of the more than
million dollars worth of supplies
sent the Roads Commission by the
Federal Government out Of the war
surplus. Mark one for Wilmer.
Three good, sensible moves and not
one made by a member of the Richie
crowd. So we see the Richie State
roads political machine wabbling and
we wonder whether Howard Bruce,
suddenly shedding his toga as Demo-
cratic National Committeeman and
putting on fresh business mans halo
can save it and put it in satisfactory
shape for 1880.
Silver Service Scheme
Opens Public Eyes
Somehow this silver service stuff
appeals to the public imagination and
interest. The advisory" committee
must have known about it all along
but kept still for the good of the ad-
ministration.
The bright young chairman of the
Grain highway celebation committee
thinks it fine idea to hand out some
silverware. SO he HES himself to a
first class silversmith and orders
something for the Governor, some
thing for his friend, Bob Grain, some
thing for Chairman Johnnie Mackall,
something for Republican Mayor
Broening (whose administration was
to chip in) and then a few smaller
pieces of silverware for the girls who
were to take part in the Richie glor
ification.
After this special silverware was
all engraved and fixed up Bob Grain
hears of it. He hits the ceiling.
Selling a telephone he calls up the
Governor and bawls out the whole
business. There is no doubht that
Grain, man of the world, was hot in
the collar over such an exhibition of
Stiffness. He tells the Governor he
will not participate in it. And hear
ing Grain so express himself the pedal
eXtremities of the Governor grow cold
and he comes to the conclusion that
the free silver stunt would be bad
form. He is running the celebration
and so his word goes. He vetoes the
free silver.
But the silversmiths. They have
filled the order in good faith. The
nice pretty engraving has been done
and these pieces are no longer sala-
BILE. Nobody wants to buy punch
bowl or any other thingamajig all
engraved and fixed for somebody else.
The dealer will not sidestep. The best
he can do is to allow on the bill de-
duction for the price of the gifts as
silver and not as silverware. So the
State, through its roads fund, has to
pay for this folly. It isn't the fault
of the silversmiths and it isn't the
fault of Mayor Broening.
A fine stunt has been spoiled by the
scruples of Bob Grain, who scared the
Governor into veto. But here are
the silver sets in the hands Of the
makers. Something must be done.
The set intended for Chairman Mack
all is gotten "out of hook" a few
weeks later and presented to him as a
gift from the Southern Maryland So
ciety, of which at that time he was
President. Bob Grain makes the pre-
sentation speech, not thoroughly I'M
derstanding the program. The State
paws for the silver out of the roads
funds. Later when an investigation is
under way Chairman Mackall reim-
burses the State. Later some five
mysterious men reimburse Mr.. Mack
all. The latter gets his silverware.
The silversmiths have in hand silver
marked for the late Mr.. Grain, for the
Governor, for the Mayor. Won't their
friends please come to the front and
help the silversmiths out? Otherwise
silversmiths will be unwilling to fix
up such gifts without having all the
cash in hand.
have an idea. Let the silverware
be paid for by special appropriation
by the present Legislature. Then let
it be delivered as a gift to the Balti-
more Museum Of Art. 1t can there
be exhibited as specimens of Mary
land craftsmanship and as testimonials
to the asininity of men drunk with
power.
Long, Long Road
To the Full Facts
Now that the Governor and his
members of the Legislature have de-