Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-08-11
MIR. Cummings Wius Out.

Saturday last the way was paved for thu
confirmation of ICY" Cummings, of thi
county. as a member of the District O
Columbia Excise Commission when Sena
tor Jones, of Washington, withdrew hi.
charges against the nominee and wher
the District Anti-Saloon League announced
that it would offer no objection to the con.
firmation.
Mr., Cummings appointment has beer
held up on the Senate calendar at the in.
stance of Senator Jones, who asked fol
time to sift certain charges which had
been made to him against our fellow
countian. The nature of these charges
the Senator has never disclosed. but on
Saturday he informed the Senate that upon
investigation he had found them unsup-
ported by evidence and that he would not
press them. In making this statement.
the Senator said:
"A few days ago discussed the excise
conditions in the District of Columbia.
stated that some charges had been made
against Mr.. Cummings. who had been ap-
pointed by the President as a member of
the excise board, and that If these charges
were true they we're sufficient to warrant
tigation as has been possible has been
made. and in view of the statement |
made the other day think il is but fair
that should state in the open Senate that
those making such charges have not fur
nished ample evidence of the truth of the
charges at least not sufficient evidence
has been found to warrant further opposi-
ton to his confirmation, as do not think
the Senate would reject him upon the evil
dence available.
Mr.. Cummings is not the sort of man
who think ought to have been nominated
for this position, but under the circum-
stances feel that further opposition would
not be justified. Furthermore, Mr.. Cum
mings has given every assurance that a
man could give that in the administration
of this law he will administer the spirit
and letter of it in the interest of morality
temperance and good citizenship in the
District of Columbia.
For these reasons shall not interpose
further objection to his confirmation.
hope he will make good. If he does, there
will be no opposition to his appointment.
II he doesn't make good, it will be his own
fault and if his course does not meet with
the approval of the moral forces of the
District, he alone will be to blame
A letter was received by Senator John
Walter Smith on Saturday from Andrew
Wilson, president of the District of Column
bia Anti-SalOon League. stating that his
organization had made an investigation
of the charges against Mr.. Cummings and
the results of this did not justify that body
in Offering any opposition to the confirma-
ton of tho Marylander. Neither Senator
Jones nor the local anti-salOOn league has
given the Senate any intimation as to the
nature of the charges about which there
has been so much discussion.
Mr.. Cummings appointment was con-
firmed on Tuesday last. His salary is
$4,000 year.
Speaking editorially upon the charges
made against Mr.. Cummings. the Balti-
more Sun of Monday says:
Murder of reputation by innuendo and
insinuation is one of the basest of old
political devices, but it becomes peculiarly
abhorent when it is associated with the
work of moral uplift and social regenera
ton. We trust that Senator Jones had no
intention of resorting to it in this case,
and that he did not realize the full weight
of his words. But if he did not, and il he
wants to do what every gentleman should
want to do in such case. he should make
not only retraction but should offer an
apology to the man whom he misrepre-
sented. But whether he does or not the
incident speaks for itself and illustrates
how careful the conscientious man should
be in bringing charges against others, and
how slow the public should be to credit
such charges until they have been proved
by reputable witnesses"