Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-01-02
The Electric Railway.

appeared card from Mr.. II. Maurice Tai
bolt in reference to an unsigned article
which was circulated by me personally In
the business section Of the town and which
ne and. everyone else in Rockville had occa
sion to know was written by me. 1t wal
therefore not anonymous" in the sense IL
which your readers are left to infer.
The circular began with the statement
we learn that the present movement tC
force the electric railroad out of Rockville
II 1t does not comply with its solemn con.
tract to build through the town, has beer
characterized by the attorney for the road
as 'laughable'" Then followed statement Of
various promises made by this attorney and
his railroad to Rockville, and notes of how
these promises had been broken and the peo
pie fooled and deprived of their rights. This
statement embraced many facts, within the
knowledge OF our citizens, which cannot be
denied, and which constitute the material
features OF the article. The particular fea.
ture denied by MIR, Talbot is wholly ina.
material to the point sought to be impressed
viz; that, Judging the future by the past, no
reliance whatever can be put upon repre-
sensations now being made in behalf of the
railroad. Mr.. Talbott's red hot denial OF
such an immaterial feature of the article is
in my humble opinion, the most "laughable'
thing of the season.
MIR. Talbotts "soft impeachment" to the
effect that the writer had taken little "po.
etic license" in defining his present position,
II true, could not, as has been shown, affect
the merits of the article so far as he or his
railroad are concerned. His dilemma sug
gests that OF the irate individual who chal.
lenged to mortal combat the editor of a"hot
blast sheet" for publishing the statement
that ha WAS mt At N ra rrU min rannl al ua
articles OF food to bear for holiday repast
The editor, however, did not care to fight
at that stage OF the proceedings, though he
was known TO possess the highest courage.
| He consented to apologize, which was
promptly done by advising his readers that
| upon further consideration he was con-
| WINGED that the gentleman in question was
a most suitable and in fact specially fitted
person to carry the aforesaid repulsive food
| to the bear or any other animal who had
the stomach to stand it.
But Mr.. Talbot is entirely mistaken in
thinking, or saying, at least, that 1--WE" had
not learned OF the "laughable" remark at
tributed TO him. AS matter of fact it was
told TO me In the presence Of Mr.. W. X.
Pumphrey, of this town, by Mr.. Frank
Welsh and supposed at the time il was town
talk and unquestionably correct. The truth
Is, as shown in detail in the article in ques
ton, that the many fairy tales to which the
people of Rockville have been treated by
these electric railroad people in the past few
years have put us in frame OF mind to be-
lleve almost anything as not being too ridic
ulous for them TO contribute for local con
sumption, as though they were 30 many
chunks OF wisdom, and in view of this well
known fact, the faithful attorney for the
road ahnnlH mi oil nj ha ha IN hl ~ in
clined toward any who may happen to get
hold of Roorback which has not been first
duly stamped as genuine railroad prOduc
ton by himself or some officer OF the COM
pany.
Mr.. Talbott's well-known amiable tenn
permanent, his wide reputation AZ u man OF
meek and iorgiving disposition, his well
known rule of life never to "hit back, but
with true Christian spirit TO turn the other
cheek for an additional smite, rather than
permit anger and spite to canker his gener
Gus soul, should cause him to be not over
quick in attrlbuting such unChristian mo-
tives to others. II he had stopped TO think,
1t would have been apparent, TO even his
mind, that the writer and many other citi-
zens of Rockville have property interests
here upon which, under existing conditions,
they could not realize 80 per cent on their
Investments; that they are taxed TO death
with few conveniences in return that the
taxable basis OF the town must be increased
by the building Of new houses before any
relief can be had that the West End ID the
only section which invites new investors /;
that the business interests of the town have
suffered greatly with the present facilities Tor
people to get TO Washington; that this can
Only be compensated for by the incidental
trade which would come with an increase
of population, and that, whether they are
correct or not in their views, the writer and
many others honestly believe that these dis
advantages can be overcome, in u measure at
least, by forcing the electric railroad to live
through representation OF this same attor-
ney, 10 the uptown people and their down.
town friends, TO the effect that the line would
be built TO the Woodlawn Hotel, as required
by the ordinance, for which they were in
duced TO vote on account Of those represen-
tations.
No, Mr.. Talbot, while spite and prejudice
are among our human weaknesses and are
still playing their part in deferring the mil
lenium, and while public sentiment Is always
inclined TO take the part OF one who Is mani
testify being prosecuted, II will not permit
the mere claim for protection on those
grounds TO blind IT. when the unanswerab9
facts adduced, prove that II is being imposed
upon. In the present case your favOrite
pleas of "persecution," "spIte" and "preju
dice" must be rejected. The article In CUES
ton, as shown in every line OF 1t, was an
appeal TO the manhood and intelligence OF
our citizens for the protection OF their prop
erty interests on this, possibly the last occa-
sion which may ever be presented for them
TO do 30. II, as the attorney for the road, you
propose TO continue TO advocate It's interests,
as you have perfect right, as lawyer, 10
do, then define your position squarely and go
head but don't try 10 make people believe
that you are working for the interest Of the
town a. one of It's citizens and property
holders, az you did at the last meeting OF
the Town Council. II you do, you cant
help laying yourself liable 10 the criticism
that your railroad interests may outweigh
your interest as citizen, and, furthermore,
you should know that nothing is 30 repug
nant 10 the ethics of the legal profession Al
an attempt on the part Of lawyer 10 rep
resent two or more opposing interests, aud
that any lawyer who attempts II is treading
on dangerous ground. When you can dis
prove the cold facts, which go to the merits
of the article In question, there will be
plenty OF time 10 talk about spite and prelu'
dice. and when IL comes 10 that, imagine
YOUR own personality with respect 10 these
unfortunate traits Of human nature will be
considered along with those Of your neigh
Dor, with little disadvantage 10 him.
w. ii. LAMAR.
A Pretty Home Wedding. the
evening of December 25th, promptly At
| o'clock A most beautiful home marriage was