The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-02-14

is amazed not so much at what has
been brought out as the result of a
third term but by the fact that the
Governor has been able to persuade
such prominent men as George M.
Shriver, ]. ]. Michigan, and Jona-
than K. Voshell to help wash his
dirty linen. It is doubtful that any
other Governor would have been able
to get these men to come to his res
cue, for it is to his rescue that they
have come by undertaking to serve
as an advisory" committee and bat
tie with Richard B. Tippett and his
witnesses.
With the Legislative committee at
Annapolis it is different. All those
serving there as Investigators, with
the exception of the attorneys, are
members of the Legislature and their
service on a committee is merely the
usual thing.
Of course it is too early to forecast
the reports but Judging by the tone Of
the first report OF the Michigan COM
mittee which praised the Roads Chair
man and criticized the associate men,
bers of the Commission, nothing
scathing or sensational may be eX-
pected.
There has been much comment on
e Co,,ncol I1Cl1xyi,, ~
Baetjer as reported in the papers.
Some seem to think that he feels that
as counsel to the committee he should
act as a sort of buffer. And then
there's Mr.. Voshell who startled the
spectators by innocently asking:
"What's an outlaw contractor" Ey-
erybody else except Mr.. Voshell SEEM
ed to know very we'll what an outlaw
contractor was-and as explained by
Delegate Wilmer-a contractor who
did not stand in with the powers that
be or that were at the time.
The striking thing about events at
Annapolis was the statement made on
Tuesday by States Attorney O'Conor.
This was to the effect that some OF
the worst features of the roads scan
DIAL had not been ventilated, and that
he was going ahead.
This was notice that the States At
torney would not be hampered by ad-
vice or instructions from the Governor.
1t is not yet forgotten that in the
early days of the roads investigation
the Governor frequently called the
States attorney for consultation. l
: understand that the States Attorney
elected to go his own way regardless
of the Governors proffered advice.
Road Scandal Mixes
Political Situation.
The investigation of the roads scan
dial is bringing out so much stuff that
the situation as regards the next nom-
nation for Governor by the Demo
Gratis is becoming more and more con-
fused and the same may be said in a
way regarding the Republicans, now
that one of Mayor Broening's friends
and advisers seems to be mixed in.
Candidates who a year ago were
feeling optimistic are now more OF
less in the dumps as they fear that II
they are not themselves injured the
chances of the party have been great
" lessened. Today the situation Is
even worse than it was in the closing
davs of the Frank Brown administra-
ton when there was actually no scan
dial at all, but the party was domi-
mated by ruthless bossism that played
fast and loose with candidates.
As l see it now there can be moth
ing like lineup among the Demo
Gratis until the road scandal is through
with. and this may be quite a time
The candidate who wants to get aheaG
will do well just now to lay in the tai
grass. as the late Frank Kelly usec
to saw. There is no telling who is tC
be splashed with the administrators
mud, now so plentiful.
Niggardly Rewards
For a Chief Booster
The Butler statement read at tho
Annapolis roads hearing on Wednes
day by VIM. Purnell Hall, taken to-
gether with the explanation of former
Roads Chairman Mackall and Chair
man Harold E. West of the Publ,
Service Commission in regard to al
legged gifts, convinces me that the
Richie administration was niggardly
Butler says in substance that Mack
all, as Roads Chairman, gave West
then the leading political writer OF
the Wet Blanket, fiivver and truck
Mackall and West agree that the f1iv
yer was decrepit and that the sum o:
S75, current money, was paid there
for. They also agree that the trucl
was loaned, that it, too, was enfeeblet
and this enfeeblement was so serious
that the truck remained on the Yves
plantation for three years, being un
able to leave by it's own strength
and was finally taken away by hel
per truck sent to its relief by tht
roads chairman.
take it that Messrs. Mackall an;