Baltimore Evening Sun (10 July 1912): 6.

The Hon. William H. Anderson, tiring of walloping the wire-pullers of the Rum Demon, that horrific monster, now turns his artillery upon the Prohibitionists. Between the Prohibitionists and the local optionists, it appears, there now flourishes a dark enmity--a lamentable but instructive fact. Just how that enmity grew up I don’t know, and neither do I know its precise specifications, but that it is very bitter must be evident to any reader of the American Issue, Maryland edition, for much of the space of that gazette to devoted to the thundering of the Hon. Mr. Anderson and the counter-thundering of the Prohibitionists. On the one hand, the Hon. Mr. Anderson charges that certain Prohibitionists are tub-thumpers, liars and frauds, and on the other hand, certain Prohibitionists charge that the Hon. Mr. Anderson “betrayed the Congressional Committee of Inquiry on the Alcoholic Liquor Traffic” and “got away with $11,000 he borrowed in Illinois” and “quarreled with H. H. Russell about dividing the spoils in New York.” Both sides deny these charges, amd so the matter hangs.

Meanwhile, two observations must occupy and inflame the mind of the thoughtful man. One is the observation that the Prohibitionists are taking on a strong and scientific boy when they take on the Hon. Mr. Anderson, and had better guard their vitals. The other is the observation that the Rum Demonists of Maryland are singularly slow to turn this furious combat to account. Here is ammunition enough to load all their cannon, and yet they lie supinely in the shade and waste their time catching flies.

Ten thousand dollars cash to any person who will come forward with a single sound reason for withholding the suffrage from women. The following arguments are barred, as invalid and imbecile:

• 1.The argument that a majority of women do not want to vote.
• 2. The argument that women are unable to comprehend political problems.

The first is barred because it rests upon the assumption that voting is a form of vice or sport, instead of a solemn and disagreeable duty. The second is barred on the ground that voting, in a free republic, has nothing whatever to do with the comprehension of political problems.

Brief but instructive history of the cases against the four former sheriffs accused of pocketing fees belonging to the State, in violation of Article XV, Section 1, of the Constitution of Maryland:

• ?1909.
• January 20—State Auditor George N. Ash reports to Governor Crothers that the Sheriff of Baltimore, in 1907, gobbled fees amounting to $10,275 more than his constitutional allowance of $3,000. [Sensation.]
• January 21—Governor Crothers expresses his horror and announces that he will sue for the money. ]Applause.]
• April 15—Mr. Ash reports that the treasury has thus lost $46,755 in five years. [Groans and hisses.]
• April 16—Attorney-General Straus announces that suits will be entered against former Sheriff George W. Warfield for $5,518.79; against former Sheriff William H. Green for $26,170.38, and against former Sheriff George W. Padgett for $18,704.47. [Huzzahs.]
• June 2—Mr. Straus duly files the three suits. [Cheers.]
• June 29—The three defendants file a demand for a bill of particulars—i. e., an itemized account.
• July 14—Mr. Straus files his answer, refusing to render such an account.
• July 29—The three defendants, by their solicitors, enter exceptions to the answer.
• August 18—Mr. Straus files an additional suit against Sheriff Honest Bob Padgett, a cousin to George W., for $10,206.63.
• August 20—Bob also demands a bill of particulars.
• August 30—Mr. Straus answers as before.
• September 29—Bob joins Cousin George, Warfield and Green in entering exceptions to the answer.
• September 30—Judge Elliott takes the exceptions under advisement.
• December 31—Judge Elliott still considering them. [Impatient shuffling of feet.]

• 1910.

• January 1—No decision yet.
• April 16—First anniversary of suits. Interest amounts to $2,250. [Cheers by defendants.]
• July 29—First anniversary of exceptions. Judge still considering them. Interest crawling toward $3.000. [Guffaws by defendants.]
• November 28—Judge Elliott, after 14 months’ consideration, declares that the State need not file bills of particulars. [Cheers.]
• December 6—Court passes order allowing amendment of declaration. Trial postponed. [Painful silence.]
• December 31—Nothing doing.

• 1911.

• January 1—Nothing doing.
• February 14—Mr. Straus makes motion for judgments in all four cases, alleging obfuscations and needless delays. [Applause.]
• March 9—Court refuses motion in cases of Warfield, Green and George. Grants it in the case of Bob, save in respect to one count. [Bob grins and keeps the money.]
• March 11—Warfield appeals from the decision sustaining Mr. Straus’ refusal to file a bill of particulars. Case goes to Court of Appeals. [Cheers by lawyers.]
• June 2—Second anniversaryof first three suits. Interest passes $4,000 mark.
• August 18—Second anniversary of suit against Bob.
• September 1—Court of Appeals considering Warfield’s test appeal.
• October 1—No decision yet. Interest crosses $5,000 mark. [Huzzahs by defendants.]
• November 1—No decision yet.
• December 1—No decision yet. [Crowd begins to go home.]
• December 13—Court of Appeals decides against Warfield. Way now open for actual trial of the cases. [Ironic laughter.]
• December 10—Mr. Straus retires from office. New Attorney-General, Edgar Allen Poe, announces that he will press the suits. [Crowd comes back and cheers.]
• December 20—Mr. Poe takes office. Interest touches $6,000. [Defendants sing “Maryland, My Maryland.”]
• December 30—George Padgett and Green file general denials and ask for jury trials. [Sensation.]
• December 31—Nothing doing.

• 1911. [sic.]
• January 1—Discovery that another former sheriff, Jack Hanson, had retained $8,090.16 of excess fees. [Cheers for Jack.]
• January 2—Talk of suing Jack for the money. [Merriment.]
• January 3—New sheriff, Weis by name, announces that he will obey the Constitution and turn over all fees above $3,000 a year. [Sensation.]
• February 1—Nothing doing.
• March 1—Nothing doing.
• April 1—Nothing doing.
• May 1—Nothing doing.
• May 15—Judge Elliott, in his charge to the new grand jury, refers to the delays in the case, and urges that there be greater vigilance hereafter.
• May 25—Hearing on a motion by Bob Padgett to strike out the judgment by default on six counts entered against him on
• March 9, 1911, and on demurrer to seventh count. Warfield also demurs to seventh count.
• May 31—Warfield’s demurrer overruled.
• June 1—George Padgett and Green swear that they can’t get a fair and impartial trial in the Court of Common Pleas. Cases removed to Baltimore City Court.
• June 2—Third anniversary of the first three suits. Interest approaches $7,000. [Cheers.]
• June 5—Warfield files general denial and asks for jury trial.
• June 17—Bob Padgett’s motion and demurrer of
• May 25 overruled. Padgett files general denial, but doesn’t ask for jury trial.
• July 1—Nothing doing. Courts adjourned for summer.
• July 10—Nothing doing.