Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-18
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
Senator Calls Challenge to Discuss His
Public Career Accepted.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, August 17.-Sena-
tor Call several weeks ago, in letter
published in the Times Union challenged
those persons opposing his reelection to
meet him in every county of the state and
discuss the charges which have been made
against him. The Times-Uni will pub
lish tomorrow an acceptance of this chal-
lenge by w. D. Chippley. of Pensacola,
chairman of the Democratic state COM
mittee and a we'll known business man.
The letter is as follows:
PENSACOLA, Fla. August IA, 1889.
Hon. W. Call. Washington. D. c.
Dear Sir-My attention has been at
tracted by discussion in the public press
in which you challenge your ''defamers"
to meet you and discuss the charges made
against you before the people in every
county in the state. have not favored
this discussion at this time, not that ala
not believe the charges, but because l con-
sidered the time inopportune. It is
therefore with some surprise that
L learn that you do not hes
itate in conversation to connect
my name with these newspaper assaults
and your friends repeat what you say, ana
some Of the newspapers favorable to your
re election mention my name outright.
though you have not been frank enough
to announce the names of your alleged de-
tanners in as public manner as you have
made the charge of defamation Of your
character. In view of this fact l am i'm
PEELED to say to you that l will accept your
challenge and meet you before the peo-
ple You will recall the letter l
wrote you years ago over my own sigma
ture my option of your course. have
never since then found it necessary to
mask behind any public journal on that or
any other subject. will meet you, not as
your defamer, but in the interest of truth,
the state of Florida and the prosperity OF
our people, and to show to them your ut
ter incapacity to fill. or else your willful
disregard of the duties of the high position
you hold at the hands of the people OF the
state. / respectfully propose the follow
ing conditions:
l. / will formulate charges each meet
ing in not exceeding one hour and fifteen
minutes, yov to reply in not exceeding one
hour and forty-five minutes, and to have
fifteen minutes for my rejoinder. No In
PRODUCTION to exceed eight minutes.
2. There shall be fifty meetings in the
state, not less than one in each county. at
points to be fixed later between US. These
meetings to commence on the first Tues
day in March, 1890, and continue to the
finish. 1t will be useless and senseless to
discuss the issues of next years campaign
at any earlier date. Either party who
abandons the contest before its finish will
thereby acknowledge his defeat.
8. As the discussion relates to your Off
cial course it must be understood it shall
not lead to any discord in the party whose
harmony is of far greater Importance than
any private interest; nor shall it give US
any claims upon the party organization,
but at each meeting we shall discharge all
expenses equally between us.
4 will cheerfully rejoin you in the re-
quest to the state press, to suspend discus
sion until February next, the month pre-
ceding the commencement of the proposed
discussion. l will mail you copy of this
acceptance and at the same time give it
publicity through the same medium by
which your challenge reached me, to-wit,
the state press. Respectfully,
W. d. CHIPPLEY.