Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-07-16
NEWCOMB REPLIES.
GIVES LONG RECORD OF DEMOCRATIC ACTIVITY.
HILToN Would Be DICTATOR.


To the Democrats of Montgomery County
| became candidate for the office of
State Senator in obedience to the desire of
hundreds of Democrats all over the county
who believe. as | do, that extraVagance
and waste in county affairs ought to be
stopped that taxes ought to be reduced
that the School Board ought to be reduced
to the former number of members, taking
the school system out of politics and saw
ing the unnecessary salaries that there
ought to be more business-like and nom
political control of the public roads, thus
obtaining more for the peoples money ex-
pended for road purposes that the offices
of Clerk to the County Commissioners and
County Treasurer ought not to be held by
the same person, and that the County
Treasurer ought to be elected by the vote
of the people.
WHERE HLToN's SHOE PINcHEs.
The present system is neither wise. safe.
nor Democratic. There is no real check
upon the county receipts and expenditures
and sum annually exceeding $l50,0OO
is safeguarded only so far as the person
who holds these offices is actually honest.
If the offices were separate each officer
would check the other and the danger of
loss would be as small as possible. If
am elected to the State Senate | shall, at
once, introduce a bill to separate these
offices and to provide for the election of
the County Treasurer and strive to have it
promptly passed. This purpose formally
announced some weeks ago.
In response to my announcement and
argument Mr. Robert G. Hilton, who holds
both these positions and is, also. Chairman
of our State Central Committee, CHARGES
| that | was born on January A, 1867, of
Republican parents" He also asserts that
| he thought | was not a Democrat in 1900
(nine years ago) and that he did not know
am Democrat until 1908.
HlL.ToNs RESPONSE IRRELEVANT.
Of course, all this is no answer to my
statement that the county funds Uaxpay-
ers' money! are not sufficiently protected
| by the present system.
NEWCOMERS POLITICAL RECORD.
Nevertheless, | propose to speak frankly
concerning my political affiliations.
have always voted. and always expect
| to vote for the Democratic candidates. |
was member of the Democratic club of
Kensngton, in this county, while | resided
there and contributed to its campaign
funds When | removed to Bethesda,
| became q member of the Democratic club
there and also contributor. If Mr. Hilton
| did not know these facts, at these times,
he might easily have known them. Mr..
Hilton, himself, has acknowledged in writ
ing the receipt of money contributed by
me for Democratic campaign purposes.
Mr.. Hilton knows that repeatedly spoke
at public meetings in behalf of the cleo
ton of Hon. William Jennings Bryan and
our candidate for Congress, Hon. David j.
Lewis, in last years campaign.
| Mr. Hilton states that the Democrats of
Bethesda, where reside, made me a dele
gate to the County Convention of the Dem
ocratic party but he omits to add although
it is fact) that the County Convention,
dominated by him and his close political
associates, made me delegate to the State
| Convention.
| LEE SOUGHT NEWCOMERS AID.
If Mr.. Hilton did not know that am
Democrat he might easily have learned the
| truth from Senator Blair Lee. In May
1908, Senator Lee solicited my support in
the Democratic primaries, in a letter of
which the following is an exact copy.
LEES LETTER TO NEwcoMB.
MY dear Mr.. Newcomb:
las you are doubtless aware. the pri-
maries throughout the county to select
take place next Saturday afternoon at three
O'Clock at the district polling places.
would like to 60 as a delegate from this
CONGRESSIONAL District to the National Dem
ocratic Convention at Denver and as pre-
liminary step it would be necessary to have
a majority of the delegates to the County
Convention who would be favorable
IF you will be on hand at the primary
meeting with such friends as you may be
able to interest in this behalf and assist in
selecting five such delegates to the County
Conventional would appreciate it very much
| Very truly yours
| (signed) BLAIR LEE"
In THE PARKER CAMPAIGN.
Five years ago, in 1904 when resided
at KensingtOn, was summoned to New
York City by the Chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee and asked to
take part in the work of the campaign. |
gave four months of my time to the work
of the committee, remaining in New York
City for that purpose, and personally pre-
Dared or edited every document distributed
from headquarters. The fact that | was
ENGAGED was generally known at the time.
The following letter concerning my work
was written to me on November 7, 1904,
by Mr.. George F. Parker. the bographer of
President Cleveland and then one of the
principal officers of the Democratic National
Committee
PARKER'S LETTER TO NEwcoMB.
MY dear Mr. Newcomb
II have been so persistently in the field
during the past two weeks that it has been
impossible to find time TO be polite. even
| to nv closest friends and to associates.
cannot, however, permit the campaign to
come to close without emphasizing IN
more formal way the sense OF obligation
feel 10 YOU for the work which you have
carried through with so much industry and
intelligence. always felt, at every turn.
however my attention may have been taken
I'D with the multfariOus duties winch my
position had thrust upon me, could Always
depend upon you to save both myseii ana
the party from anything like mistake III
the Incarnation and the issue of its docu-
ments, | think that we may congratulate
ourselves that, considering the late start
and the many problems which surrounded
us at the beginning of the campaign no
serious mistake was made in document.
~ \ n . y
with best wishes, remain,
"Very truly yours,
(Siened) GEORGE F. PARKER,
Chief of the Literary Department.
OFFERS TO SHOW ORIGINAL LETTERS.
The original letters from Senator Lee and
Mr. Parker are in my possession and will
GLADLY show Them on request. to any one
Interested
A CLOSE CORPORATION.
Plainly, Mr. Hilton's idea is that there
, are two classes of Democrats, one consist
, ind of those whom he regards as entitled
to hold office and the other including those
who if he can have his way, are to be al