St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-13

proper issue for the congressional caInpalg11
If you wish the joint Sepates 10 pc 4e,u'
inst, which is but one week prior to the date
of the first proposed debate. Very Respect
fully Yours FRANK L. RANDALL.
The letter of Judge Wilson, referred
to in Mr.. Randall's letter, is as follows:
Houston, Mimi, Oct. IL, 1s89.--Frauk
L. Randall, Esq, Chairman Democratic Con-
gressional Committee, Winona, Mimi. Dear
Sir: l have before me the letter Of Mr.. Bir-
kett, chairman the Republican congress
ional committee, dated Oct. 8, in which he
still makes it condition Of there being
joint debate between Mr.. Dunnell ana my
self, that nothing shall be said about the
public record of either of us. Mr.. Birkett
says the discussion shall be wholly confined
to national issues and q canvass or the ad-
ministration of President Cleveland. The
past public career of candidate and his Mt
ness for the.office towhich he asks election is
an impo. tant and principal question TO be con-
sidered by the voters. Farther, both Mr..
Dunnell and myself have, in our speeches
throughout the district in this campaign, re-
ferred to each others official record and acts.
What have said of Mr. Dunnell's record has
been founded largely upon the Journals OF
congress, of which body he was member
for twelve years. aud i'll every instance am
prepared TO substantiate my statements and
it will be my pleasure to repeat them in Mr..
Dunnell's presence and let Mr.. Dunnell deny
them if he can. Is Mr.. Dunnell unwilling
to agree to this? And, on the other hand,
long before l came home or made a speech
some of his partisans began to
charge many things against me.
Is MIR. Dunnell not ready to say, in my pres
ence. what he does say of me in my absence,
and is he unwilling TO meet my denials of
his charges, or my answers to themf Mr..
Dunnell and his aides have continued to re-
peat i'll public speeches against me, that in
congress voted against the interests of the
state and with the Southern brigadler. BY
reference 10 the record, / have shown that
this is wholly and ineXcusably untrue. They
have also attempted TO make the people be-
lieve that the Mills bill. which | favored, is
sectional and a free trade bill. l have by the
bill itself shown that it is neither but that Its
purpose and effect are to prevent a few IA
vOred classes from acquiring princely fort
uneS by the unnecessarily high and unjust
taxation of the people generally. They have
charged that have not been a friend TO the
soldiers, and have proven that have uni
formly been their friend. They have charged
thatthe Canadian retaliation bill, so called,
was in the interest of certain railroad com
panies and opposed to the interests of our
state. By reference to the bill itself, have
proven that that charge was not only false,
but Inexcusable and malicious; that the
bill was in the interest of our state,
and so far as it at all affected the
lines of railroad management referred to, it
was against their interest They have i'm
piled and insinuated that l have favored
Southern war claims. | have shown by the
record that my votes and acts have been
against such claims and against the lobby
that is urging them, and that Mr. Dunnell's
votes and acts have not been against them.
1t is true that 1t might be unpleasant for Mr..
Dunnell to be compelled to listen and assent
to the proof that these charges made against
me are utterly untrue, but | submit that he
should have thought of this before he made
or countenanced them, else he should come
out and admit their falsity. But while these
charges are being reiterated and until they
are publicly retracted L shall eX-
These are important issues in the
campaign, questions that will govern
the electors largely i'll their vote for member
of congress. 1t is absurd for Mr.. Dunnell to
insist that no reference must be made to his
record for the purpose of showing by his acts
in the past what may be expected from him
in the future. And it is no less absurd and
unjust TO insist that in our joint discussion l
shall not be permitted to refer to the records
to show that the charges and insinuations
against me are utterly false. If Mr. Dunnell
Will agree that in our joint debate we may
discuss before the people not only the record
of President Cleveland, as he says he pro-
poses. but also the public acts and record of
himself and myself. candidates for congress-
for the purpose of showing which of us has
been more true to the interests of our people
and which of us has voted and acted with
the Southern brigadiers and in
the lIIeIesL VI IODDy dSeuIS, uOuOpOIlSlS
and treasury plunderers. will meet him at
the times and places named by Mr. Birkett.
These are their OWL dates and arrangements
should have been glad TO have Mr.. Dunnell
hold joint debates with me as you proposed
to Mr.. BIrkett in every county i'll the district
Though that has been refused, will assent to
all the terms demanded by Mr.. Rirkett, eX
ceDt that | must insist that the public acts,
official votes and record of both Mr.. Dunnell
and myself shall not be excluded from the
joint discussion before the people who are to
choose between us. If Mr.. Dunnell will not
agree to this cannot consent to take week
out of my campaign 10 discuss abstract ques-
tons that will have very little influence with
the electors in their voting for member of
congress. You will please write Mr.. Birkett
at once i'll accordance with this letter.
Yours Truly, THOMAS WILSON.