Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-14
WILL, GoFF BACK DOWN AGAINI

Virginia appear to have decfdeo upon
claO-trsp campaign, regardless Of honor and
dscsney. The publication by the h'tsttI-
geacsr, with the apparent full sanction ofthe
Chairman ofthe Republican Executive Com
mittee. OF the unfinished correspondence
between that gentleman and Chairman
RILEY of the Democratic COMMITTEES, would
seem to show that the Republican leaders
have laid aside even common decency.
We debut if Chairman CowDES.
or the IateiligsRcer, can point
to an equally lssrant violation OF the
rules Of ordinary courtesy. We publish
said correspondence elsewhere precisely as
it appeared in the HalsligAeer and leave
the public tn judge Of it and the Republi-
can code of political etiquette.
GOFF challenges Judge FLEMING to q
joint discussion on the stump. Judge
FLEMING, as statesman, is Gen. GOFF's
superior, but the plain and simple reasons
for the refusal Of chairman RILEY to per
him to meet GOFF on the stump will be
found fully set forth in Mr.. RILsY's frst
letter to Chairman COwDEN.
Tni5 uudelhsndel move on the part OF
the Rspublicln Committee has its origin
in the chagrin and discontinue Of that
committee occAsionsd By the iguomiuiOus
refusal of GOFF to enter into joint dis
cussiOa when there was nothing to prevent
sueh discussion, with Hon. HENRY S.
WALEERa at Hinton, aud again at Hunt
ingtun.
GOFF has loudly p-ofessed that he was
williog to meet any champion that the
e Democrats OF West Virgiuis would send
against him. The Democrats had, some
tine sgl, selected 10 debate the issues Of
the campaign with Mr. GOFF, Hon. WILL
LIAM 1. WILSON. What could b. more
proper than Joint debate between GoFF and
WILSON? They are colleagues in Con-
gress from the same State. They entered
Coug,sss at the same time and on the floor
of Coagrsss have taken prominent parts in
the discussion OF the Issues of this cam
paigu on their respective sides. What
two men, We ask, are better fitted to fully
discuss together the issues upon which our
people are 10 vote than Gen. GOFF and Hon.
WILLIAM l.. WILSON, Such discussion
would he eminently fitting and proper.
Indeed our citiz s1s have come 10 expectit,
not only from tins frequent attempts OF the
Democrats to arrange for such . discussion,
bat also from tbs repeated assertions Of
Gen. GOFF that he WAS willing to meet
Me-. Wis N in JOINT debate at any time
and place that might be mutually agree
able. We quote from Washington dis
patch to the Iateligsaeer Of July 3lst:
Mr.. GoF rose from his seat with a copy otthe
Wheeling REGIsrER in MS hand, walking over
70 his Dem )cr ,Eic colleague, pointed our the
parazraph. sea here. Wilson" he said, IF
you are responsible Tor this, l saut 10 know IT,
don't ordinarily take much notice OF thing
oFthis >ort, blt the persistence with which the
statement Of y,ur desire has ben published
that you are anxious Tor joint debate. Now, If
you cSl,y desire 20 meet me for the discussion
OF his subject, in VII euUg now or at any future
time, sm al your service, aud will readily join
issues with you il you will give NE five days
notice in order that / nay arrange my other
engagements To conform with your wishes
Aud agaiu Ne fnd the following cores
pOad-rce from FAirmOnt 10 the IRtehigeReer
o. August l3.n. Ia conversation with the
Intejhgeaccr's correspondent on ths same
suCi-c:
NJ Gof stated with som9 emphasis that he
had never received a challenge from Mr.. Wilson
Jodeba.e the tariff i,sue with him in Wheeling.
But II Mr. " lsOU desired the meeting he only
hal % iSsue the challenge to have IL accepted
for any date that miglt be mutually agreeable.
Tus Democratic Executive Committee If
west Virginia has issued that challenge.
Will GoFF stick to his word and accept,
or will he tutn tail and fly from WH. l..
WILSON a. DO has twice already from
HENRY S. WALKER?
There IS no taking Gen. GoEF ut dis
advantage here. He has been long fore
warned Of this challenge, has had ample
time TO prepare himself to meet Mr.. Will
son if he needed it, and is on record as ex-
pgessi1g his Willingness to accept.
Tiers could be no manner OF getting at
the bottom Of The vital issues Of this cam
paign more thorough chan q joint dis
eusyiou bstSeen these two representative
aud equally experienced expouents of the
two sides OF the question.
Will GoFF ac,ept, or will he, for the
third tine, back down?