The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-31

de Grace bridge. If the Governor
can at stroke of the pen open the
States strong box what mightn't he
be able to do next? If he can use
the roads money for ballyhoo why
| can't he use some of it to help pay
Johnnie Rascob's campaign deficit, I
would like to know.
/ Debate at Annapolis
| May Lead to Some Light
Now that Delegate Wilmer, the Re-
publican floor leader, has broken loose
and let the administration know what
he thinks of the proposed legislative
inquiry into the roads department,
there is prospect of something being
done even though the committee to
take charge of the investigation is
more or less packed. Mr.. Wilmer lets
| it be known that one of the men,
/ bers Of the committee, Senator Nit
chell of Charles, an adherent of the
Brooke Lee group of Democrats, has
been more or less interested in road
contracts, while the Democrats have
retorted that a certain Republican
politician in Baltimore City got big
favors in the way of gifts or loans
: from the roads department. All this
helps to let in the light and in the
meanwhile Lawyer Richard B. Tip
petit says he is ready to help the Mel
ligan committee in finding out some
thing about the letting Of contracts.
My view is that if some of the
members of the Legislature will get
real mad there will be real action.
And if there is real action we shall
hear a deal about what was really
done with some of the hullabaloo
money, appropriated apparently to
help along a chronic office-seeker.
Dan Joseph Continues
| Annoying the Jaypees
Matador Dan Joseph has been con-
tinuing his activities as collector of
overdue fines held by magistrates,
and he has found that thousands of
dollars are due from these officials in
the counties. Mention of that fact
was made in these columns last week.
Of course the Governor cannot posi-
| bly, have a personal acquaintance
with all the men he appoints to these
places. He takes them on faith from
the county leaders. So it is not sur
prising that many Of them, though
probably honest, are slow in settling
their accounts. There should be
better system in getting this money
into the State Treasury, everyone
can now see. The pity is that it re-
quired a serious ruckus in the Dem
ocratic party to bring out the facts.
And now that some facts are coming
out it must be evident to the average
citizen that the State government
still needs a deal of mending.
Weller Preparing
For the Next Battle
Former Senator Weller and Mrs.
| Weller have gone on a trip to the
Caribbean and Central America and
will be away about six weeks, l am
told. When he returns Mr.. Weller
may be expected to take off his coat
and plunge into tn political game as
| understand that he considers the
situation very favorable.
There appears to be in the Re-
publican party just now no one to
match wits with the ex-senator in
fight for control Of the State Central
Committee and there is no doubt
that he is still strong in the counties.
AS for Mayor Broening he has not
yet developed any city leader to do
battle with the Weller forces. l see
no one developing. So that with Wei
Ter again ready to battle the G. O. P.
should deserve more newspaper
speace.
Baughman Lucky
To Be Retained.
Having sufficient worry to keep
him occupied for months, the Gov
ernor took time by the forelock in
announcing his intention of reap
pointing E. Austin Baughman to the
Automobile post. This will disap-
point many and especially the back
ers of Thomas G. Young of this city.
Mr.. Young may well feel gratified
at the strong Endorsement already
received and under the circumstances
he will be in line two years hence if
the State is again captured by the
Democratic party.
While Mr.. Baughman is to be con-
graduated on his great luck he has
had my sympathy ever since l have
beheld the dinky headquarters the
State built for him out Guilford
Avenue way. If the department is
worth anything it is worth better
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