The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-05-05
MT, LAKE PARK. Nav 1st. 1888

n recent number of the REPUBLI.
CAN contained a letter from Mr..
George W. Wilson, of our late la
nieh'ed Legislature, relative to the
receipt and presentation of certain
pe'i'lons against the repeal of the
Local Option law in Garrett county,
ND. 10 it he stated that the SUBJ
scrioef charged him, by "implica.
tioh'" at least, with failure in perfor-
nance OF his duty as our representa-
tlye' In regard to this very important
measure. and he complained because
OF the publication of his letter an
nouhclng the result, which he had
considered as "strictly confidential"
in public circular.
Inc reason he gives for not pre-
sentlng our petitions more promptly,
and, In fact, until, as he wrote. it was
"too late to do any good" is that he
did not know of their being in the
postofice. The law requires an i'm
mediate notice of the receipt of reg
istered letter to be sent to the person
to whom il is directed at delivery
Office and the postmaster at Annapo-
lis wrote methat such a notice had
been sent hsAmediately by the hands
ophe me(tsSger employed to carry
4 .S ,sssss aAle House of Delegates,
ut0nNe 18th of March, the day it
was recsved, but Mr.. Wilson writes
that he knew nothing Of them till
April End, indthe fact in the case is
that Mr.. Vils0n was absent from
Annapolis abutthat time, for reas-
ons known bst by himself.
AS regards he publication of the
letter which ne Considered "confi.
dential," it cando no harm to him
now to repeat iiso tbatall can Judge
Gifts character themselves
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, April Sd, 1888.
MR.. HI. II. VAE METER Dear Sir:
The bill to repea Local Option Law
in Garrett county is deader than Ju-
Illus Caesar.
Came back last night from Confer.
ence Committee. and when put on its
passage as amended, received only a
votes, with 20 against.
l send you greeting.
Yours truly,
GEO. w. WILSON.
Having written to Mr. Wilson re-
questing him to send me full particu-
lars concerning bill, and also any
statement he might see fit, to straigh.
ten his standing among the temper
aDce people of our community, and
receiving this message in reply. l
took it to be frank, friendly report
of affairs in response to my request,
and published it as a public matter
from a public man.
Sturdy the citizens of Garrett county
had Alright to know through their
repres ntatives the result of this con-
test. hd as 1 simply correspondent
WitkNr. Wilson as our representa-
i've, elected mainly by "Local OPP
tom votes. and as he had "appealed
for moral support" in this matter,
and had sent him several hundreds
of signatures to Local Option petit
tions" in response, l did not then,
nor do | now, consider said commu-
nicati0n confidential.
My main motive for putting it at
the head of the circular was, aside
from informing the public, a desire
to dea! fairly with Mr.. Wilson in the
matter, and as I stated the facts re-
garding his failure to present petit
tons promptly in the body of the
circular, / felt it to be but just to pub
fish what l took to be manly mani
festation of friendly feeling for the
cause, and cOngratulation
over our complete victory for right.
1t is a disappointment to many
friends of the temperance cause who
have felt favorable toward Mr.. Will
son to think that they may have mis-
Interpreted his motives in sending
said message, and it certainly is
strange if the publication of his letter
has misrepresented his position upon
this subject before the public. as his
exclamation seems to indicate, but
however that may be, it is time for
the respectable citizens of Garrett
10 know whom they can or cannot
rely upon.
The bench and the bar might both
be true. but if our Legislators are al
WAYS to tamper with this law the
turmoil will be interminable and
,..0c2 embittered.
~ II. III, VAN METER.
SWantOn.