The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-09-05
Hon. Carter Lee Bowie,
Mitchellvilie, Md.

A'1S'
Dear SIR
Yonr letter of the 18th inst. refusing
my challenge of August the 18th re-
ceived.
While l am disappointed that you
refuse to discuss the issue with me
before the people, | can't help but
admire your frankness when you con-
cede that such a series. of debates
would bolster up my cause. That is
the exact view | took, when l issued
the challenge, hence my disappoint-
ment.
While it is true that 1 supported the
Hon. Champ Clark in the primaries, it
is equally true, that l supported Mr..
Wilson in the general election, as ably
and as conscientiously as could have
supported MIR. Champ Clark, and | am
today in as hearty accord with Mr..
Wilson's progressive policies as you or
any other man.
i have fought for progressive move
ments long before the word was coined
into political significance and fought
against, and pleaded with the old or
ganization, which today is promoting
your candidacy, to compel them to
give the people of this County direct
primaries, when they had the power to
do so. They refused, aud stuck to the
old convention system and you was the
chairman of the convention.
We did not get direct primaries until
Senator Blair Lees law went into eff
feet l have always supported and
been in sympathy with Senator Lee
and if you are so very progressive,
why were you supporting Senator
German and not Senator Lee, in the
I'd
supporting Mr.. German at that time,
why did you, hesitate and finally refuse,
to preside at the meeting held in his
behalf at Upper Marlboro during that
campaign? Ii you are progressive
man, when did you become one? Did
you support Mr.. Clark in the primaries
of 1911, as is currently reported? Why
is it that the Registration books show
that you did mot vote at all in that
primary? Why is it that the same
books show that you did not register
in YOUR own county until you were
past twenty-four years of age?
If.your,' best efforts have,always been
given to the success of the Democratic
party, why were you not voting In
Prince Georges County in 1893, and
5?
The sketch in the Independent of
August the %, says that you were
studying law during those three years
in the Office of the late Alex. Pres
ton of Baltimore. 1t is possible that
Won were voting in Baltimore during
that period?
| cannot see why supporting Mr..
German, remaining away from the
primaries while Mr.. Wilson was a scan-
didate and opposing direct primaries,
should give you any monopoly on the
word Progressive as it is today APP
piled politically.
If l. who have shown such indepen-
dence toward ''forces" and elements
asyou term them, during the past five
wears, should now be embarrassed, then
your present stand in view of your past
actions. is not to be envied, to say the
least.
opposed the Wells Road Law when
it was before the Legislature, not only
because considered it inefficient. but
on account of the motives behind it.
| stand ready, if elected, to remedy
what defects | know to exist, chief
among them is the office of Road
Engineer | stand to abolish that office
absolutely, and objected to that feature
when it was introduced. You will no
doubt agree with me now, when So, 900
has already been spent for that pur-
pose alone, with no results visible, but
a delapidated motor cyle and some
slightly worn surveyors instruments.
As to the methods that brought about
our candidates.. We know that there
were conferences held by the forces be
hind you and that among those who were
urged by them to enter the contest
against me were Messrs. Jackson H.
Ralston, George W. Hardy, T. Van
Clagett and Elk Mayor Gilbert of Laurel
and that you failed to announce your
self until after these gentlemen had de-
clined.
An attempt was made to keep your
meeting secret, while the one meeting
that conserved my announcement was
given to a reporter, in all its details,
Immediately after the close of the meet
ing and no attempt made to suppress
the proceedings.
There is much l would like to say on
this subject but this could best be
brought out on the stump.
Very truly yours,
VIM. F. Holmead