Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-07
RATHER WARM CONTROVERSY
Between United States senator Call and
Colonel Chlpley, Chairman of tho
Democratic State Committee.
tBy telegraph 10 the Dispaicn.I

Colonel Chipley, Chairman OF tho
Democratic state Committee.
tBy telegraph to the Dispsicn.I
JAcKsoNvILLE, Fla, September 6.-Hon.
Wilkinson Call. the senior United states
Senator from Florida. has addressed an
open letter to Colonel Chipley, chairman
of the State Democratic Executive Com
mittee. declining the latter's proposition to
meet him in joint discussion before the
people of Florida as contained IN Chipley's
acceptance OF Senator Calls challenge 70
his alleged defamers, This original chal-
lenge was embodied in long letter ad-
dressed by Senator Call to the editor of the
Times Union on July 18th, and was offered
in the following terms:
" | now give notice 70 my detamers that
I demand they shall remove their masks,
assume their own proper names, ana stanu
with me before the people in canvass OF
every county in the State before the noml-
nation of members of the Legislature shall
be made on the charges they have made
against me and the charges which shall
make against them"
On August 18th Chipley accepted the
challenge and suggested fifty public dis
cussions. to begin early IN March, lSJO.
The Times Union Will tomorrow publish
Senator Calls reply. II is n document OF
five thousand words. in which the Senator
reviews Che general challenge but declines
to accede 10 Chipley's personal proposl-
ton. He says:
II have read Your letter addressed to me
and purporting 10 accept challenge from
me to those persons who were atiacklng
me in the name of the Pensacola Nors,
Tallahassee II la. and other newspapers To
remove the masks from their faces and
meet me before the people Of Florida IN a
canvass of the State. You and all others
will be welcomed 10y me At every appoint
mmt .hall make for public discussion
and n fair proportion of time both for
opening and reply will be allowed you and
oil others"
Mr.. Call continues by reciting tb cir
cumstances in connection with the raul
road lobby present IN Tallahassee during
the last session of the Legislature ana
charges that combine was then and there
made 20 defeat his reelection as senator by
the Legislature Of 1891.
Il am pleased.' he says, ." that you.
Chipley. are ambitious 10 be the leader OF
this combine. Whatever else may be said
Of you. it cannot be said that YOU are
wanting in boldncss or in profound lgno-
rance of the people, of their good sense,
and their proper appreciation OF their own
interests. Whether your associates IN thl7
work allow you precedency, which You
calm, OF not, YOU 0hNll uhf' % A"A 'llN'
tunity at al Iny meetings"
Mr. Call then announces that at some
other time he Will make Iublic de-
tailed statement of the extent of the per-
sonal and private interests represented IN
the combine. the amount of land claimed
by them; the amount of U. l. Walls 10 per
cent Of the indemnity OF lands, the
amount of 10 per cent. of the States claim
for reimbursement from the United States
Treasury tor Indian war expenses, ana
something like 100000 for alleged lob
| bvist fees. To these he will add the eX-
! penses of the Tallahassee lobby aud con-
| claye at Tampa called for the purpose OF
| determining the ways and means % com
pass Mr.. Calls defeat as United States
| Senator.
This" saws Call. "will give directness
| to your (Chlpley's) statements that you
| wish TO appear in this canvass IN the lnte-
rest Of the State of Florida"
Continuing. Mr.. Call says 81 do not re-
| gard you as sufficiently important either III
forming or directing public oplriion 70 SIN
! gle YOU out md limit this discussion t'
| YOU. rs Won propose. In Teterenct 60 your
! statement of my unftness and incapaclty
| for the high Office which the people hay,
/ three times bestowed upoA me, you vii
/ have ample opportunity TO prove II tC
! them. Iregard yOu rs an enemy To the state
/ 10 the causeof public morals TO encourage
/ ment and protection of honest capital, and
! of the rights Of the people. Your ways
! and methods are GbhOrrent To my sense Ol
right and to my idea Of public duty
and sound public policy. l recognize
! IN you one of those persons who nave
| been chiefly instrumental in dispossess
! inc thousands of people Of their homes
and of their right 10 homes under
an attempt to revive an antlquatec
and obsolete land grant without
particle Of right or lawful authority
| 1t was 10 expose this plot, Mr.. Call says
! that he proposed 20 canvass the State, mol
10 make a personal defence # his own pub
| lie record He wished to direct public at
/ tenti0n 30 the extent. enOrnuty, anc
iniquity OF the evil practices III when
he charges that Colonel Chipley and ms
associates are engaged. He charges that
! Colonel Chipley is identical with th'
| Pensacola N,lrs; that when 1t speak-
/ Colonel Chipley SPEAKS, and that Colo
mel Chiploy inspires all its edlto
rial uttcrauccs, ana he warns Colo
mel Chipey that all the editors anC
newspapers that he can command viii moi
suffice TO save him from righteous pub
hes Indignation. Mr.. Call recOunts hi
own public record rs recipient Of the con
fdence of the people, and taunts Colone
office in the gift Of the people Of Florida
lie closes thus: You will pardon
me for SAYING that your proposition
is not only weak, and even absurd
but that it is dlsrespectful 20 the gooc
sense of the people. injurious 70 the right
which have been conferred by law on rail
road companies, and to innocent pcopl'
who have bought lands from them, and op
posed u all traditions, principles, and be
| liefs of the Democratic party. While.
! cannot accede to Your proposition To mak'
Yourself the chief figure in discussion o
allow you 10 compose the conditions o
time. place. and subject. again invite yo'
and all others Of n like opinion and rela
| lations 70 come 10 my meetings with my
assurance Of fair opportunity for discus
| sion and courteous treatment"