Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-04-19
Lewis For Second Term.

| ANSPASoShsoh'O DdNlu u LCWlSS VI thhc
Congressional district. has filed his certi6-
Gates of nomination with the supervisors
of elections in the Western Maryland coun-
ties, and at the same time formally an
nounced his candidacy for Congress-.
Mr.. Lewis said:
In going before the people. who have
treated me with suclrexceptional kindness
in the past, wish to make the frankest
declaration of my purposes. No man ought
to enter public life who has not real and
distinct program; for if he does, he will
only waste invaluable public opportunity
and bring no honor or satisfaction to HIM
self or his friends. Such program ought
to be specific and not mere collection of
platitudes, and he can have such a pro-
gram without trespassing on the national
platforms My experience in the House
has developed such program for me.
First, something real ought to be done
to reduce the cost of living. My studies
convince me and have convinced many
members of Congress that for the table
necessares this can be done by taking
over the express companies at their honest
value and coupling them up with the rural
delivery to reach the farms. In this way
such necessaries can be taken direct from
the farm to the kitchen with reduction
of from one-third to one-half in the price
to the workman, and fresher in the bargain.
Express rates are shown to be about three
times as high as where there are no express
companies, and the postal system. it has
also been shown, could reduce them about
one-half, in which case the postal express
would carry our small shipments at about
one-tenth the rate proposed by the parcel
post bills, giving the local merchants better
service than they have now. My work on
this subject has received the kindly atten-
ton of Congress and the country. l feel
that ought to remain in Congress to fight
it out and rid the country of the burden
some express companies, which have prov
ed themselves mere obstacles to commerce
and business.
Second, compensation to the victims Of
accidents on the railways. Now about
to 10 only of those affected by the acct
dents to employees killed or crippled on the
railways receives compensation through
the courts. Under the principles of the
bill have presented to Congress. which
have received the approval of the House
and Senate committees. all of these VIC
tins will receive compensation for injury
and death on the railways without going
to court at all, just as they do now in all
the countries of Europe. 1t is the scandal
of our country that this legislation was not
passed generation ago.
There are several subjects of local
nature on which have already done the
initiatory work.
"(a) The Frederick war claim, one of the
most meritorious claims ever presented to
Congress. This claim will be paid finally
and only requires the persistent efforts of
people and representative.
"(b) The protection of the farming dairy
interests of the District, which are now be-
ing ruthlessly and uselessly destroyed by
ill-considered and partial regulations of
the District of Columbia. The bill making
compensation to the COW owners is now
being considered by the House Committee.
"(c) The Lincoln Memorial Highway
not following marble. but a monument
useful in design, ever as fresh and green
as we would wish to preserve the memory
of the Great Emancipator. This. the Bor-
land bill, stands in fair way of passage,
and the highway will connect Washington
via Montgomery. Frederick and Washing
ton counties, with Gettysburg.
Besides the renewal of the Boonsboro
monument to General Washington, other
District measures, which one session of
Congress does not give me adequate time
and opportunity to carry through. deserve
attention.
''lf the people of the Sixth district think
my energies and capacity of value to them
to promote the above measures. and de-
eide to retain me to carry them through,
give them the assurance of the very best
efforts in my power"