Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-06-25
Lee Replies To Furst.

In public speech delivered in Baltimore
city on Tuesday night last Senator Blair
Lee made the following reply to Mr.. Fursts
recent interview:
In referring to part OF what Mr.. Frank
A. Furst has said in behalf of Mr.. Har-
rlngton and against me in this campaign"
SAID Senator Lee, lit is proper to speak
with certain Difference toward Mr.. Furst,
both by reason of his age and his high
social and business standing. But when
Il comes to his political predictions and
ms advice to the Democratic voters of the
State. he must needs be answered, and, il,
in doing so. it is shown that his political
opinions are not in harmony with what we
call progressive Democracy and that his
sympathy does not 60 out to the men who
have struggled for years in this State along
that line. no personal friend of Mr.. Furst
should feel offended. but should simply
recognize his tendencies and the limta-
tons OF his political views.
Mr.. Furst says:
Il know both Of these men well, and
II is so clear to my mind that of the
two Mr.. Harrington is the better quail
fed both by experience and also by
his record that it is hard for me to
understand how those who know them
both can hesitate between them.
In order for the people to understand
what Mr.. Furst means they should know
something of the standard by which he
measures public men.
Starting in as State Senator, have
stood for many measures of general public
interest. My record there has given me
whatever reputation and political influence
] may have in State matters Among the
measures which have either initiated or
actively supported are the Primary Elec-
ton law, the Public Utilities law, the In
come Tax Amendment to the Federal Con.
stitution, the Employers Liability act, the
Telegraphers' Eight-Hour law, the Full
Crew law. etc. Will Mr.. Furst state to the
public whether he approved or gave his
moral support to the passage of any of
these measuresY Does he not know, as
matter Of fact. that his political and per-
sonal friend. Senator Smith. whom he is
now attempting to serve. was strongly
opposed to each and every one of these
measuresH
Does he not know that for years Mr..
Harrington has exerted whatever influence
he had at Annapolis with the Legislature
in support of those measures which Sena-
tor Smith favored. and to defeat those
measures which Senator Smith opposed /;
and that Mr.. Harrington has been the ac-
tive, directing head Of the Smith forces in
the Legislature for some time.
viii Mr.. Furst state whether il is not
this service of Mr.. Harrington which is so
attractive to him as to cause him to prefer
Mr.. Harrington to me in this primary.
Mr.. Furst. it is understood, is still an
active man and possesses large interests in
the Consolidated Gas Company, the United
Railways and Electric Company and many
other public service corporations, besides
being at the head Of a concern which has
derived profit from public contracts run
ming into the millions Of dollars. In ad-
vising the people how to vote in this
primary is he speaking in the capacity Of
a representative Of these various interests
or as one OF the rank and file of the people
ut will be remembered that during my
campaign for the Governorship four years
ago Mr.. Furst came out in a published
statement advising the people TO vote for
my then opponent, whom he also thought
had the better record. according to Mr..
Fursts standard. Mr.. Fursts action in
opposing me now is entirely consistent with
his action then. II Is worthy of note that
since that time the entire Public Service
Board has been changed. not one member
appointed by Governor Crothers now re-
naming. Is il possible that Mr.. Furst's
large interests in public service corpora
tons had anything to do with his desire
then and his present desire to have the
appointive power in the State in the hands
Of one whose record he likes better than
mine on corporation mattersY
Il observe he states that Mr. Harrington
is lawyer Of large general practice My
information is that Mr.. Harrington has a
good local practice and that his practice
away from home consists very largely OF
cases in which he is employed by the
branch Of the Pennsylvania Railroad run
ming through the Eastern Shore counties
and in which railroad Senator Smith is a
director. In view Of Senator Smiths rela.
tons to Mr.. Harrington, IL is only fair "a
presume that Mr.. Harrington had Senator
Smiths active cooperation in obtaining
this lucrative employment. Is il possible
that this connection Of Mr.. Harrington has
anything to do with the kindly interest
Mr.. Furst has in his promotion to the posi-
ton Of Chief Executive Of the State. whose
acts may be of much consequence to the
Pennsylvania Railroad as well as to other
great public service corporations
Il ask the Democratic voters to consider
whether II is not much better to nominate
man for Governor who has no such en-
tangling alliances and whose environment
is such that he could be perfectly fair as
between the corporations on the one hand
and the public on the other in filling vacan-
cieS on the Public Service Commission and
performing all other duties imposed upon
the Governor Of the State where corporate
Or public interests are involved.