Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-10-03
BEGGLMG rHR QUESTION.

Last week there was published in this
paper, challenge for debate ON the
tariff question between w. e. Afford
and Judge Loren Edwards, candidates
for probate judge. In that challenge,
it was proposed that six discussions be
held, three to be fixed by each of the
gentlemen interested. This was sug-
gested in the hope that the people
throughout the county might hear the
discussions. Now comes the reply to
the challenge, which we publish below
with the request that every fairminded
reader study the ingenuity of the docu
ment. 1t is as follows:
MEDICINE LODGE, KAs., Oct. 1, SO.
L. G. MOLLOY, ESQ. Chairman of the
Democratic Central Committee of
Barber County.
DEAR SIR: In reply to yours of Sep
TENDER 25th, relative TO joint discus
sion of the tariff question between
Judge Loren Edwards and w. &. Al
ford, L beg leave to inform you that
your proposition Is accepted for one de-
bate at the city of Medicine Lodge upon
the following stated question, VIZ:
Resolved, That the position of the
Republican party on the tariff is logical.
consistent and in harmony with the best
interest of the American people, and that
the position of the Democratic party ON
the tariff question is illogical, incOnsist-
ent, and contrary 10 the best interest of
the American people," Affirmative. one
hour TO open; negative, one hour and
half; affirmative, One-half hour TO close.
Judge Edwards. as a candidate for a
county office, has been assigned by our
committee To appointments that must
substantially ill the entire time to the
election day; and the committee Tecog-
niZing in him one of its best local speak
ers, are unwilling to confine hun, for The
| length of time proposed. to the discus
/ sion of the tariff question alone.
If the above modification of your
| proposition is acceptable to YOU. we are
at your service at any time, to confer as
to the date of the meeting and to per-
! feet such other arrangements as shall
be necessary to carry out the program.
Very Respectfully.
A. l.. NOBLE,
Chairman Republican Cen. Com.
The above is begging the question.
1t is not an acceptance of the challenge
at all. The Democrats wanted six de-
bates, and the Republicans want but
one. The challenge wanted the debate
to be in six places in the county so that
every voter could have the opportunity
of hearing the two candidates for an
important Office. The answer proposes
one talk only in a Republican strong
hold, and it proposes to allow Judge
Edwards the opening and closing of the
debate. One of these men is a lawyer,
practiced talkeI, an experienced poll
tician and the big gun" among the Re-
publican nominees. The other is a
PLAIN mechanic, a workingman, if you
please, who makes no professions to-
wards Oratory, but a common-sense,
every day man who has had little ex-
perience in public speaking. His name
is w. c. Afford.
Why the Republicans are afraid to let
their giant meet Mr.. Affords not sat
isfactOrily explained. Every Democrat
who knows both men is anxious for the
discussion, and we believe that every
reasonable man who has read the chal-
lenge and the answer, will agree that
the Republicans have begged the ques-
ton. They would have one debate in
a Republican town, where they could
run in a crowd of claquers; but they are
afraid to go before the people of the
county who would give to the debaters
a fair and impartial hearing.
We are not informed if the PROPOSE
ton of Mr.. Noble will be accepted or
not; but we believe that it viii be, as
one-sided and unfair as it is.
We candidly believe that Mr.. Afford
can beat Judge Edwards any jump in
the road.