Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-02-21

about half the Democratic members of the
Senate, including myself. on amendment:
to the Republican Tariff bill for the SIPS
rate as against $500 rate on the one
side, and a ascent rate on the other
Our action, and, indeed, the whole lumber
question was in no way commented upon
much less criticised. My vote on the lum-
Der schedule was absolutely consistent
with my vote on other amendments to the
Republican bill.
Could EASILY HAVE SACRIFICED PRINCIPLE
AND MADE POLITICAL CAPITAL.
Had wanted to play the demaeogue,
the hypocrite or the coward, could have
voted for the Davis amendment to the
Payne-Aldrich bill, which meant nothing,
and the Johnston amendment, which was
a joke, and could then have blown my own
trumpet, shouting that was pure -souled
patriot, who had voted for free lumber
Notwithstanding the fact that was in the
lumber business. 1t would have been very
easy to have done that. The possibilities
of it were. of course, obvious to me at the
time, and had the political advantages
of playing the game that way very strongly
urged upon me by both business and po-
litical friends in Maryland. could have
done that and probably made a great deal
of capital out of it. | knew, of course, free
lumber was not possible at the time and
knew, of course that even though it were
possible. it would not affect my business.
but there was great chance to make it
appear to the masses of the people that |
had risen above all selfish interests and
voted to strike at my own profits.
1t would not have hurt me anywhere
except with my own conscience, to have
played the game that way and probably
would have gotten lot of undeserved
credit from the newspapers and the public.
Also, my opponents would have been de-
prived of their principal ground for attack
ing me had | chosen that course, Yet, it
seemed to me that man would be
coward and fakir to do So felt that if
did play the hypocrite for the political
advantage it might mean to me on this
proposition, would be unworthy of the
confidence and trust and affection with
which my friends honor me.
II does not hurt me as much to be mis-
understood by some people and to be de-
nounced by the inevitable demagogue as
it would to lose my self-respect.
STOOD BY CONVICTIONS.
stood by my convictions and did what
thought right. No matter IL | am mis-
understood by some people, and have been,
and will be, denounced by the demagogue.
can stand that. 1t is not going to hurt me
in the end, and even il it did, would be
compelled by a sense of public duty under
the same circumstances to do the same
thing over again in the same way. 1t is
worth 1t every time.
This is all have to say concerning my
lumber votes. do not expect this state
ment to end the charges, nor to satisfy my
opponents. That is not what aim to do
They do not want to understand. What
! want to do is to set before you, the peo-
pie of the State, the full facts so that you
can judge my record fairly. This have
done.
THE EXPULSION Or LORlMER
Now the one other favorite charge that
is being used against me by my opponents
is my two votes against the expulsion of
Senator Lorimer
am very willing to meet this charge,
as these are two votes of which | am in
no way ashamed have not in all my life
had five minutes conversation with Sena-
tor Lorimer. have no relations with him
socially, politically or financially was
one Senator who studied the case for and
against him and | listened to all the argu-
ments on both sides. | studied the evil
dence. There was no real evidence, in my
judgment against Senator Lorimer that
directly connected him personally with
bribery or wrong.
| was told prior to both votes that to do
so would be to sign my political death
warrant. | was begged. for the sake of
my political future. by friends whose 10y
atty | have never doubted to vote the
other way. When | declined to do that
was besOught TO remain away from the
Senate on the day Of the vote, TO dodge
the final test, to get sick" or take trip.
In fact, all the pressure that was brought
to bear on me during the whole of the
Lorimer fight was brought to turn me
against Lorimer | never had human
being ask me TO vote for him
did vote for him twice. and for no other
reason than that I believed him TO be in
nocent. could not do otherwise. don't
apologize for my Lorimer votes. am
proud Of them. Lorimer was not tried in
the Senate; he was lynched, and to any
fair-minded man who doubts it all have
to say is read all the evidence.
CHARGED WITH BEING A "REACTI0sARY.
Those are the two charges upon which
my opponents most often ring the changes.
The balance Of their attack on me can be
summed up in the epithet "reactionary."
Just what is 'reactionary" and what is
a progressive" is right difficult to say.
am inclined to the view that under certain
circumstances progressive" is what you
call yourself when you are after office, and
''reactionary" what you call the man
who has the job you want have not in
the past classified myself as either, and
am pretty certain that what my opponents
call me, or what ! call myself in u cam
paign, will not alter the real situation in
the least am Democrat. | like TO call
myself Democrat and | believe ! am
one-a real one. am a tarf-for-revenue-
only Democrat. | have always been and
always expect to be. l. with all real
Democrats, abhor the principles Of a pro-
tective tariff and stand, as always have
stood with nv marty ON this brpat ntIaation