Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-04-23
lcoMMUxIcATED.
Editor ST. Mary's Beacon.

Leonardtown, Md.
crave limited amount of your VAL
uable space to reply to an article which
have read with considerable amuse-
ment, entitled: ''Riil the Vicious Bill,
published in the Maryland Independ-
emit of March q, 1914; which paper
is edited by two Charles county cele-
brities, Poseys Sire and Son.
have not at this time any intention
of entering into a discussion of the
merits of the Railroad Bill alluded to
Of which am the author. will simp-
~ set forth certain facts which have
been deliberately misstated.
Briefly to give the history of my
connection with the matter. For the
last ten years have worked unceas-
ingly to secure legislation which would
benefit Southern Maryland. To this
end have endeavored in every way
TO induce Mr.. Watson to complete the
road (of which he is the owner) now
running between Brandywine, In Prince
Georges county and Mechanicsville,
in st. Mary's county. Numerous
measures have been passed by the
Legislature through my efforts to that
end.
After untiring work on my part
succeeded in interesting certain New
York capital in the project of complet-
ing the Washington, Chesapeake 4
Potomac Railroad from Washington,
ID. c., to some point on the Patuxent
River, at or near its mouth, or some
point on the st. Mary's River. was
informed by them however, that they
would furnish the capital for this pur-
pose, amounting to 81, BOO, 900, only
upon the condition that the three in
terested counties, namely st. Mary's,
Charles and Prince George's), would
subscribe to $500, 600 worth of common
stock. IL will be remembered that this
Is what was done in Calvert and Anne
Arundel counties in reference to its
Drum Point road.
refused to accede this proposition,
asserting that St. Mary's and Charles
counties had already lost a large sum
of money on just such an arrangement.
| offered instead to enter into an ar
rangement (if agreeable to the coun-
ties) whereby they would receive per
cent. Preferred Stock or per cent.
Income Bonds at their discretion.
This proposition was accepted by the
capitalists in question, and is, as set
forth in Section IL, of the printed bill,
but was deliberately misquoted in the
Posey and Son organ, which asserted
that the securities to be received by
the counties were to bear per cent.
interest. / felt that the above provis-
ions would have fully protected the
counties, providing, of course, that the
affairs of the Railroad Company re-
main in clean hands, and, for exam
pie. were not directed by INSCRIPTIONS
politicians or men who have more re-
gard for the almighty dollar than for
the prosperity and upbuilding of their
community.
After a full discussion of this matter
with Senator Mudd and Representative
Dement,, two liberal-minded men, who
realized the good to result TO their
county, and recognizing the safety OF
entering into a ''gentlemen's agree.
mani ~ fhav oousootal e.. ;,.,...o,a,,o, 81, -,
bill in the Senate and House, and To
advance same as rapidly as possible,
owing to the short time remaining to
the session However, it was distinctly
understood between US that il there
should be no favorable sentiment to-
ward this measure among the Charles
county people the bill should be at
once withdrawn. One of the PROPOSE
tions suggested to me on the following
day when Posey and Son returned TO
Annapolis was that PoSey and Son
would support the bill, providing |
would use my influence with the Hon.
Jas. A. Dawkins to have him revive
''vicious" Road Bill for Charles
county, which the Hon. F. Stone Posey
or Posey and Son had introduced ear
ly in the session, and the same having
been slipped through the House, and
which, on Mr.. Dawkins' motion lat
the request of some reputable Charles
county citizensD was brought back to
the House and killed. Needless to say
that / preferred seeing the Railroad
Bill lost rather than besmirch myself
in deal of that kind or insult Mr..
Dawkins by such suggestion.
In passing, it may be OF interest to
mention that one of the arguments used
to demonstrate the desirability of the
railroad to Posey, ST., was that an
up-to-date railroad, giving all facili-
ties for traffic, would bring many de-
sirable white settlers to Southern
Maryland, thereby increasing the de-
velopment and prosperity of the coun-
ty. To this argument, the reply was:
''We do not want white labor; you can
work a negro 10 years and he will
never ask for new windows in his
house or white-wash on same, or re-
pairs to his garden fence, but is salts
fed to have his belly filled with food
and place to toast his feet before
fire." Poor Charles county, with such
prophets as these to lead her from the
wilderness; it viii be many a long day
before she reaches the promised land
OF progress and prosperity. In this
connection the final words of the arti-
Gle in the Posey organ will serve as u
brilliant example of the mind and
methods of the author. They exhort
you to kill the bill, "vicious or good"
and do not seem to realize that in these
words they are Offering an insult TO
the intelligence and character of every
Charles countian.
In my effort for the upbuilding of