The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-12-05
TAFT TO DIRECT FIRST
ASSAULT ON RITCHIE CAMP
Verbal BOmbshell By G. o. p.
Leader Will Be Signal For
War To Death
By James A. Newell, In the Baltimore
Post


who for years has held the position
of chairman of the Republican State
Central Committee, to the admira-
ton of both friend and foe, will take
his trusty pen in hand, dip it in the
mordant fluid he uses for ink and
once more get off that famous quo
tation about
Upon what meat hath this, our
Caesar, fed,
That he has grown so great.
Then and not till then will the
real Republican assault upon the Rit-
chic battlements begin. Already the
Republican state chairman is warm
ing up, but it is only the overture, the
firing of a few range shots. The real
barrage will come later TAFT is mere
ly throwing out few hints of what
may be expected; and these few hints
are embodied in a polemic, which is
a real piece of political literature.
A Real Classic
English classes in college, after
they have worked up through Dean
Swift, may take a finishing course
in Galen TAFT, if they are interested
in satire. Lawyers, if they are in
terested in learning how to prepare
an opening statement, may peruse
with profit the Republican chairman's
recent remarks as to the issues in
the impeding campaign. Politicians
of both parties will study those ut
terances with care. Tait's statements
are classics and even the high priests
of the Ritchit cult admit that "Tait
is a smart fellow"
The state roads scandal-the Re
publicans will meet Richie on that
issue and meet him gladly. They
might have been willing to do 50,
even without the invitation so cordi-
ally extended by the Governor at the
Frederick meeting of Junior Demo-
Gratis.
"Never before" says TAFT, "has a
Governor offered as a main plank of
an election platform the thefts and
embellishments of his administration.
On this theory, the more defalcations
uncovered and culprits sent to the
penitentiary, the better chance of the
Governor or his chosen candidate to
10 elected"
Continued Rule"
A little later the Republican chair
man remarks with an irony that is
really delightful, no matter whose OK
is gored-
"The brilliant inconpetency Of the
Governors administration as applied
to the state roads will thus be a guar
antee of the continuance of his rule
in Maryland"
The significance of that word "rule"
will not be missed; the incidental al
fusion to a monarchy, to that dynasty
which Alexander Armstrong foresaw
when he ran against Richie in 1928,
that being the Governors first re-
election.
The best Republican opinion as to
who will head the Democratic ticket
next year may be CLEANED from Mr..
Tait's satirical estimate of the
chances of "the Governor or his chos-
en- candidate to be elected" 1t would
seem that either Mcintosh does not
figure much in the Republican horo-
scope or that the Republican idea is
that the Senate president might be
Richie selection.
Chairman TAFT forsees the Govern
or, having made state roads the eX-
elusive issue, trying to "hamstrlng
that issue by claiming Republi-
can vindication before the fight be-
gins.
Those Prison Stripes
"He would prefer" TAFT continues,
conjuring up a picture which must
stir righteous indignation against the
Governor, "to hide behind the striped
figures of the little fellows sent to
the penitentiary and thus claim vicar
ious atonement for the sins of omis-
sion of his executive administration"
A pathetic touch that, about the little
fellows, even though stripes may now
be outmodod for the best prison
wear.
But, TAFT perceives, Governor Rit-
chic will claim that Republicans were
on the commission which whitewashed
the wrongdoing of his administra-
tion," and the G. O. P. chairman has
tens to demolish that claim in ad-
vance. "The Republican party" he
points out, sis not responsible for
views of individual Republicans Sc
4 tied by the opposite party"
Out of The Party.
No more responsible, of course,
than the Democratic party is respon-
sible for the views Of individuals in
that party, and it has become evident
that the views expressed by Chief
Judge Dennis regarding the unplumb-
ed extent of the roads frauds are to
be exhibit A in the Republican cam
paign.
Judge Dennis is an outstanding