The Washington times., 1913-07-06
MAIL BAG
From the Times Readers
A Reader Takes The TIMES to Task
For Supporting Mr.. Newman for
Commissioner.

To the Editor Of THE TINES:
Sir-Your able, sincere and manly ap-
peal to our people to drop their fight
against the confirmation Of Mr.. New
man as District Commissioner appeals
| to me in a peculiar way and enlists my
sympathy for some Of the ideas ad-
| vanced in your recent editorial, THE
Opposition to Newman
You will probably recall that In the
beginning of your fight for cheaper and
better gas in Washington / enthusiast
tically gave my support in what I am
persuaded to believe was an effective
way, IL you will pardon the immodesty
of the statement, to the work that your
Mr.. Mac Vickar and Mr.. Welliver were
doing. Since that time (winter of 1s07-S)
/ have looked upon The Times as the
only paper in Washington that could
be relied on to champion the rights Of
our entire populace.
In your present position. however.
wish to show that your paper is
biased in Mr.. Newman's favor and
that l and those of us who now
oppose Mr.. Newman. and who are
generally with you in other crusades
for the city's welfare. are just as
sincere in this fight as In the gas con-
troversy. Mr.. Newman was for some
tIme associated with you in. active
since this association has been an
active member of the newspaper fra
ternity. In your work you were likely
so intimately connected as to form
a close personal friendship and as II
seems that Mr.. Newman has so
strongly impressed President Wilson.
1t is not unlikely that his strong per
sonality has found expression in your
personal desire to see him at the head
of our government. As true friend
you could not possibly do otherwise
than champion his cause since 1t Is
human to desire the elevation of ones
friends to an hrnored and responsible
position.
In one sentence of your editorial you
advance the idea that because we can
not have direct and complete home rule
through suffrage we should not ask nor
desire any semblance of a peoples gov
ernment. Notwithstanding the law which
guarantees that our city fathers shall
be local and presumably well known
citizens. In Justification of this idea
you go to Germany for precedent,
which Is well for my argument since
it cannot be found TO exist In any other
country of the civilized world. Even
in this however you show that your
position is untenable. In parallel
column under the caption "A Reform
Needed" you say: Whom is Con-
Gressman expected to represent; his
district and its people and sentiment. or
any outside influence that may import
money and organization to elect him.
Home rules basic principle de-
mands that the contribution
from outside sources, should stop. "
1T is all wrong Wall Street
has no busin9ss electing Wisconsin Con-
Gressmen, or Kansas financing cam
paigns to elect representatives from
Manhattan Island" SuCCinCtly stated
these are the reasons the home rule
committee opposes the confirmation of
Mr.. Newman. II il Is good idea to
thrust upon us an outside man because
some one in authority may think him
capable. then why Is II not a good idea
to import an outsider to n Congressional
district and elect him to represent II
with his outside influence and senti-
ments? No. Mr.. Editor, your arguments
are not wholly in the interest of our
city, but for "A friend, and II Is to he
wider circle of friendship In the Dis
trict; then would our protest be silenced
Further. we cannot find anything in
Mr.. Newman's autobiography to jus-
tify the assertion that he is an expert
in municipal affairs. We do not be-
lieve that his equipment Is such as
to enable him to administer our gov
ernment more successfully than any
one OF the several local men who were
candidates for this office.
Whether intended or otherwise, this
appointment and your defense OF II
is such n reflection on the integrity
and competency OF the several candi-
ship that we cannot In self-respect
do less than humbly protest its ac-
ceptance by our fellow-men and the
Senate Of the. United States.
Sincerely yours.
BERNARD g.. BROWN.