Evening star., 1909-07-15
NEWcOMB HITS BACK
Replies to Statement by
County Treasurer Hilton.
POLITICS IN MONTGOMERY
Democratic Candidate for State Sem
ate Nomination Explains.
QUOTES LETTERS RECEIVED
Remarks That "Senator Lee Has Not
Found It Convenient to Make
Public His Views"
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
,CoooOOOCOOQ

NV
II have always voted. and always ex-
pect TO vote, for the democratic candi-
dates" Harry T. Newcomb, who is con-
testing with State Senator Blair Lee for
the democratic nomination for the state
senate in this county, declared, in re-
ply to the recent attempt Of Robert G.
Hilton, chairman of the state central
committee for the county, to impeach his
democracy. He then proceeds to indi-
cate that he was good enough democrat
to be intrusted with important work by
the democratic national committee In the
presidential campaign of 1904, to be ad-
mitted into membership in the democratic
clubs at Kensington and Bethesda, this
county; to be sent as a delegate to the
last democratic state convention, to be
asked by Senator Lee to interest him
self in his behalf in the party primaries
last summer, to contribute to democratic
campaign funds and to take the stump
in last falls campaign in behalf of Mr..
Bryan and the democratic congressional
candidate In this district
IT was a member of the Democratic
Club of Kensington. this county, while
l resided there. and contributed to Its
campaign funds" Mr. Newcomb says.
When I removed to Bethesda I became
a member of the Democratic Club there,
II.
self has acknowledged in writing the re-
ceipt of money contributed by me for
democratic campaign purposes, and he
knows that l repeatedly spoke at pub
lie meetings in behalf Of the election of
William Jennings Bryan and our candi-
years campaign.
Delegate to State Convention.
"Mr. Hilton states that the democrats
of Bethesda, where I reside, made me a
delegate to the county convention Of the
democratic party, but he omits to add
(although it is a fact) that the county
convention, dominated by him and his
close political associates. made me a
delegate to the state convention.
III Mr.. Hilton did not know that am
a democrat he might have easily learned
the truth from State Senator Blair Lee.
who. In May, 1908, solicited my support
In the democratic primaries In a letter
of which the following is an exact copy:
AS you are doubtless aware, the prima-
ries throughout the county to select dele
gates to the county convention will take
place on next Saturday afternoon at !,
o'clock at the district polling places. l
would like to go as a delegate from this
congressional district to the national
democratic convention at Denver. and as
q preliminary step 1t would be necessary
to have majority of the delegates to the
county convention who would be favor
able If you will be on hand at the
may be able to interest in this behalf and
assist In selecting five such delegates to
the county convention l would appreciate
1t very much
at Kensington. l 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. I
gave four months of my time to the work
OF the committee, remaining in New York
city for that purpose, and personally
prepared or edited every document dis
tributed from headquarters.
Complimented by Letter.
''The fact that I was so engaged was
generally known at the time. The fol-
written to me November Z. 1904, by Mr..
George F. Parker. the biographer of
President Cleveland and then one Of the
principal officers Of the democratic ma
tiOnal committees:
have been SO persistently In the field
during the past two weeks that 1t has
been impossible to find time to be polite,
even to my closest friends and associates.
cannot, however, permit the campaign
to come to a close without emphasizing
in a formal way the sense of obligation I
feel to you for the work which you have
carried through with so much industry
and intelligence. l always felt, at every
turn. however my attention may have
been taken up with the multifarious duties
which my position had thrust upon me,
could depend upon you to save both my
self and the party from anything like a
mistake in the preparation and the issue
Of it's documents. l 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 q document.
Extravagance Should Be Stopped.
Mr.. Newcomb also states In his reply
that IT became a candidate for the Office
of state senator in obedience to the desire
Of hundreds of democrats all over the
county who believe, as l do. that extrava-
gance and waste in county affairs ought
TO be stopped: that taxes ought to be re-
duced: that the school board ought to be
reduced to the former number of MEM
bers, taking the school system out Of