The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-08-15
From The Observer, Baltimore

= X
the Democrats grows deeper and
deeper. The single ray of hope is a
possible announcement from the Gov
ernor of his absoluet abandonment of
his candidacy for fourth renomina-
ton advisedly because the prospect
of his getting a fourth term is next to
nothing.
The more intelligent party men rea-
lie that every day the Governor re-
mains in the field trying to manipu-
late denomination through his APP
pointees and under job holders the
party becomes that much weaker for
the general election. The party is
becoming like an overloaded and leak
ing ship. And Richie is the excess
cargo.
Last week one of the regular Demo-
cratic papers, the Towson Jeffersoni-
an, presumably speaking for the par
ty organization in Baltimore county,
editorially demanded that the Cover
nor publicly state his position. The
only reply to this demand 50 publicly
made was report, alleged to have
come from the inner section Of the
most inner circle, to the effect that
the Governor had determined that he
had to stay in the field to save his
face and that he was counting on or
hoping for not less than II convention
votes to be dilivered to him in next
years primary by the office holders,
chiefly in the counties.
This report, of course, brought
more gloom to those Democrats who
still barvely hold the party above
mere tax eating, and the hope was
expressed that some daring Democrat
would at an early date throw his hat
in the ring and challenge the Cover
nor. To date no such man is visible
but the amount of profanity now in
the air is indicative of the bad feel
ing that has been aroused.
I am advised that early this week
the Governor called on Frank A.
Furst and made another effort to get
his Enforcement for the fourth term
adventure. There is no sign that he
got anything and the result has been
more harsh talk concerning Mr.. Furst
emanating from the Richie camp of
place holders and beneficiaries. In
deed in the last few days the verbal
g. assaults on Mr.. Furst have been fully
IS severe as those directed against
Emroy L. Coblentz, who was some
weeks ago touted as the Richie ia
vorite.
Now and then one hears the sug-
gestion that if Richie finds he cannot
make the grade he will be in posi-
ton to name the man, but this re-
minds the more intelligent of the
custom in Central American counties
where the educational average is not
high, of a dictator, faced with retire
ment, handing his office over to
favorite who at some future date may
hand it back again, thus keeping the
honor land emoluments) in the same
political group from one generation to
another.
Howard Bruce's Attitude
Subject of Inquiry
More and more frequently are the
inquiries concerning the attitude of
Howard Bruce, who is now doing most
of the running of the State Roads
Commission for the Governor. The
Roads Commission, through the So
called investigation took care to keep
the main facts from coming to the
surface, has been the main reliance
of the Governor to retain political
power.
1t should be fresh in the public
mind that the greater part of the road
work to be done by the Roads Com
mission this year and next is to be
the carrying out of the terms of a
most vicious log rolling bill put
through the Legislature by the Gov
ernor. Millions of dollars have been
apportioned for special work in
limited number of counties on a math-
ematical basis so as to capture as
many convention votes as possible.
Today the Roads Commission is eX-
pending the money in accordance with
the Richie made plans as a part of
the denomination scheme willy nilly.
Richie has seemingly put Howard
Bruce under obligation by naming his
uncle, the politically late William
Cabell Bruce to a sinecure in the Pub
lie Service Commission. This was sup
posed to hook all the Bruces for few
years at least. But the question is as
to whether Howard Bruce will stay
ooked. He hasn't been in Maryland
: .,olitics very long but he should by
this time know his way around. If
he does he sees that Richie by trying
to hold on for life is taking the party
over the edge of the presipice. And
H.