Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-11-16
Professor Moore Replies To The
Democratic State Central
Committee.

gomery County whom personally know
to be honorable men that do not believe
thatthey knowingly published the mislead.
ing statement about my political affiliations
that appeared over the signature of the
committee in the county Democratic papers
last week, too late for me to answer before
the election. have stood well out in the
open during the campaign, and have pub
lished my views so far in advance of the
election that any who wished might have
ample opportunity to meet and oppose
them. considered this only fair to my
opponent and to the voters of the county.
| believe that the same fairness that one
practices in his business and professional
life should guide his actions in political
contests. and that no advantage should be
sought by "befuddling" the voters at the
eleventh hour.
In substance. am charged with being
disloyal to Roosevelt and Taft. with having
"befuddled" Grover Cleveland. and with
having changed my political affiliations
three times in as many years, and with
having aspired to Cabinet position.
The facts are When | came to the
county in 1907 l registered and voted the
Republican ticket. as l. always had done
before, up to the second campaign of Mr..
Taft. then openly supported Mr.. Wilson.
and no exception was taken to my action
by the then President. Like many other
Republicans at that time, was dissatisfied
with the Roosevelt-Taft quarrel and with
the tariff bill just passed by Republican
Congress. was in no way disloyal to
Roosevelt or Taft Neither had appointed
me and neither had any claim upon my
political convictions. never have worn
any mans collar and shall not do so in
the future. 1t is ridiculous to attempt to
impeach my integrity Of purpose with the
intimation that possibly had "befuddled"
Grover Cleveland concerning my political
faith, He appointed me Chief of the
Weather Bureau and an Assistant to the
Secretary Of Agriculture because. the year
before, had won professorship in the
Bureau as the result Of competitive ex-
animation which his Administration held
for the purpose Of finding the most expert
forecasters and meteoroloeists in the Blu
reau and out of it. not only did not be
fuddle" him, but 1t was specifically stated
in all the papers Of the country at the time
that the President had ignored politics
and had appointed Republican who had
won out under the rigid tests that had
been applied by Democratic Administra-
ton. Mr.. Cleveland was difficult man
to "befnddle." 1t would tax the shrewd-
ness Of one more astute than l. or than
any member of the Democratic State
Central Committee Of Montgomery County.
| did not make any change in my politi-
cal affiliations until several months after
had been removed from Office by the
present Administration. Then. and only
then, did affiliate with the Democrats.
1t is therefore untrue that changed my
affiliations three times in as many years.
| simply changed over and back once. And
| went back to the faith Of my fathers
i
had voted, admitted flood of Canadian
wheat and depressed the price of our own
wheat below the cost Of production. and
because the transfer to the other side Of
the water of many Of the things that we
had been manufacturing closed large num-
bers of our mills and factories. My scien-
tific theories about a low tariff we're ex-
ploded by the most stubborn facts. There
is nothing in this record Of which am
ashamed. notwithstanding the interpreta.
ton placed upon it by the Democratic
State Central Committee of Montgomery
| County.
1t is true that openly aspred to 90 to
the head of the Agricultural Department.
Why should have not The Administra-
ton selected three members of its Cabinet
from among the prominent officials Of the
preceding Republican Administration. and
they proved to be the three ablest men Of
the Wilson acknowledgement Lane and
Lansing. did not believe that the Sec
rotary Of Agriculture should be a pOliti-
clan, but rather man specially trained
to serve the American farmer without re-
gard to politics.
Notwithstanding the unfair methods of
the person or persons who wrote the attack
| signed by the Democratic State Central
Committee Of Montgomery County in the
effort to cast odium upon me, fair-minded
nj ha fpia
visit me at my farm. among whom within
the past two years, may be mentioned
a cabinet officer. three assistant cabinet
officers. many bureau chiefs and Demo-
cratic Senators and their wives. | pre-
sumo ii may be assumed that these
persons are as punctiious with regard to
a mans personal and political integrity as
are those who now become my accusers.
! have kept personalities out Of my cam
paien. ! believe it was practice at one
time for a lawyer when he had poor
case to distract the minds OF the jury with
personal abuse Of the other mans attor-
ney. The Democrats have not dared TO
meet me In debate Of the important issues
Of the day. hence they endeavored to dis
tract attention Of the voters by personal
abuse Of the Republican who headed the
county ticket. and such methods have
succeeded.
WILLIS MOORE
Nov. 6, 1917.
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The Work or Mrs. Means Praised.