Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-05-11
Mr.. ChOate Replies to Mr.. Lamar.

Mr. Editor. | do not believe the people
of Montgomery county are very much inter-
ested In any personal differences Of opinion
Mr. Lamar and may have about the merits
or dement's Of our letters on the local option
law, and do not propose In this brief reply
to his last letter TO continue discussion on
the lines he has laid down in that letter, con-
sisting as 1t does mainly of personal iusinu-
atoms, except to say few words that may
turn the point of these insinuatiOns.
want to say that, in joining together with
a large number of my fellow-citiEens In at
tempting to rid our county Of the growing
and serious evils of illegal liquor selling,
have not done so with any personal animosi-
ties to the men or their relatives who are en-
gagged in the liquor business. He may seek
to involve me In such controversy, but he
will fail, and IL looks TO me as though this
Ia the object of his last letter, for can SEQ
no other motive. lie intimates that | have
been 10 position ITO grant immunity To
some Of the whiskey sellers as are so fortu-
nate as TO find q way TO please or mollify his
highness," and that have in some mysteri-
Gus way shielded some This 10 very shrewd
in his opinion doubtless but do not pro-
pose to be involved in that kind Of a net
He paws me too great compliment, both in
the title he gives me and in the Influence
| may have had with the county officials In
the pas, three years. | had never been aware
of such power and influence. Indeed was
under the impression ! was "persona non
grata." But whatever may have been the
facts, have tried TO do only my duty as
could see 1t, and | am not aware OF having
done an unklnd act or having said an unkind
word in any merely revengeful spirit against
any man 10 the liquor business. | have had
more than one OF these men say TO me or Of
me, "Mr ChoAte Is doing his duty, we know
where he stands, aud we respec him for IT,"
And am sure can speak for every member
OF the organization with which ] am con-
necied that there are no personal animOsities
in this movement; our work 10 for better
observance of the law now on our statute
books. Mr.. Lamar can oppose this, or cry 1t
down, or seek to entangle us In personal con-
II he prefers either or all Of these
courses, but imagine ii will not seriously
affect US.
Then he goes on to ask me five categorical
questions in which he seeks in an insinuating
way to convey the impression and start the
scandal that some liquor seller has paid me
some valuable thing for the purpose Of buy
Ing me of. And he says he wants yes or
no answer This sort Of way OF trying to
scandalize Is very old and II Is sometimes
very characteristic. A man will go around
and whisper things and ask mysterious ques-
tions but when he 10 allied on for the truth
or for the facts he 10 unable 10 give them. II
what he insinuatod is true does he think one
would answer "yes2' And yet in most
innocent Tout verdant) sort Of a way he asks
me TO answer yes or no And n his insinu-
atoms should not be true and one should an
swer mo" would that answer satisfy him
So instead Of answering his questions will
Il. - NaIla kA LuAx NJ ha
things he insinuates will he produce the
proof OF them, or will he go on inslnuatingf
! have no fear or anxiety as TO the result OF
this question. A good conscience is no mans
accuser. All he needs TO do 10 establish the
sincerity Of his insinuations 10 to give the
names and facts. II he cannot do this then
! AIN sure q Just public will form ib own
conclusions.
There 10 one other Item that does not
concern Mr.. Lamar alone 30 much rs 1t does
him and other citizens. In my letter said
10 reference to visiting Annapolis, 81 venture
10 assert that the only citizens who went
there were the paid attorneys OF the liquor
men and few citizens Of our county whose
expenses were also paid by the liquor men,"
| regret exceedingly that this expression has
II meaning did not intend to give
II, and II have done any gentlemen wrong
Wy ~ hO uob htblthO W NAPhSS' w
them my sincere regrets. ! know there were
many citizens who went there whose expenses
we're not paid by the liquor men, and recog-
Dize that 1t 10 perfectly legitimate for any At
torney 10 represent the interests OF bis client
at the Legislature and be paid for bis SER
vices. Ny remark was intended not for per-
sons who went TO the Legislature for proper
purposes, that might be duty devolving
upon any Of US, and no person who thus went
should feel any sensitiveness at my remark,
but for fear II might appear TO do an injustice
or be misu nderstood ! beg to disclaim any
purpose Of rejecting upon any citizen or at
tOrney who went there in the discharge OF a
duty.
Now, Ia conclusion, I repeat what ! said
10 the first part OF this letter, that | believe
the people OF this county do not want TO be
confused with any dust throwing personali-
ties that will hide the true merits Of ans vital
question Sometimes when a mans argu-
menls are downed he gets "mad" and goes
into personalities to draw attention from the
main question. | commend to all persons the
letter Of Mr. Richards 10 the Sentinel OF April
9th and the letter Of "a. r." 10 the issue OF
May 4th. Either Of them | think is unan-
swerable and the letter Of "a. r." contains
the gist Of the whole question.
WARREN CHoATE
Paint brushes, ell sizes and grades, ~ low
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