Telegram-herald., 1890-10-27
II. Il. FORD DECLINES
TO Hold -Four Joint Dictates Vita
c. W. watkinA
rHEr PROBABLY WILL not xEEI
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NJ. H. Ford declined the propo-
.tlon made by c. ". Watkins.
- hold four j0int debates n TIE
di1erens counties ia tnis district "a the
foli0sng communication tfom Mr..
Ford sll shos
H5a- 3. ~ N4tkinsI
DEAs sIss / nave read your open
letter - me as published Ia tne iSLE-
aEAM-hgkALD, IA when yOu suggest =
series 0f four Joint debates between
yourself and myself. on TUESDAY,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
evenings, October =. -. 50 and 81.
have already hlAds engagements %
tpesk each evening thls week, and also
nearly every afternoon, at different
places ia tie district, and al tae ar
rangemsnts r0F the meetings have been
perfected.
Ia order for me TO accept your invi-
iaton. lL would De necessary Tor me To
tancel seven nleetings where AN NON
advertised % speak. TINS | cannot do.
I am Silllng, however, 10 set aside one
evening for that purpose.
III you will meet me AZ Hartman
Hall on Thursday evening, October 50, l
shall DC pleased % debate with you the
political issues. As l shall be out OF
town on Monday, you viii please COM
municate Win the chairman OF the
Democratic Congressional committee,
who - authorized 20 make all ncces-
s4ry arrangements.
Yours truly,
NJ. II. FoRD.
Mr.. Watkins sent the following an
swer to Mr.. Ford Through Geo. y.
Davis.
hon. N. II. Ford. City.
DEAR SIR-IOur letter % me OF this
date declining 90 discuss the political
issues Jointly with me, once IN each of
the four counties of this Congress onsl
district, has been handed me BY the
TELEGRAM-HERALD. In your letter 10
Mrs. M. Adele Hazlett, you expressed a
Willingness ~ hold a JOINT discussion
with me any time prior 10 Nov. l. IL
occurred 10 me II would be more profit
able, and come nearer being dis
oussiOn, II the people OF the different
counties IN tins district had an oppOT-
tunity TO hear presentation OF the
principles represented by each of US.
They might be better able TO Judge of
the merits Of the two parties.
You declined 10 meet ME in these
JOINT debates, but say that you will
meet me for one discussion at Hart
mAn's hsll Thursday evening. Oct. 30th.
In your letter before referred to, YOU
say ~ an ready 70 meet lam lVatktns) at
Gfy time or place prior 70 Nor. lS." In
expressing a willingness to hold several
JOINT debates With you, / indicated that
one of them should be held at Hart
mans hall, Tuesday evening, Oc-
tOber 18th. Regretting your declina-
ton 10 meet me IN four JOINT debates,
but wishing to accommodate you as
nearly as possible, | will adhere To the
''time and place" named by me for one
debate, Hsrtman's hall, Tuesday even
ing. oct. 28th, and | have so notified
Mr.. Geo. y. DAVIS, chairman of the
Democratic Congressional Committee.
Awaiting your pleasure, | am
Yours truly.
c. w. WATKISs.
George y. Davis, Chairman of the
Democratic Congressional Committee,
said last night that he did not think
Mr.. Ford would accept this last propo-
sitIOn as It would conflict with other en-
gsgements. lie could not speak au-
thorsnvely though until ne saw Mr.
Ford this morning.
The action seems 20 the unbiased
mind somewhat strange, IN view of Mr..
Ford's COMMUNICATION 10 Mrs. Haziett
IN which ne expresses himself az willing
% meet Mr.. Watkins at "auy time or
place prlOr 70 Nov l." The cOmmuni-
cation - reproduced below:
Mrs. NJ Adele Hazlett:
MADAM-Up0u any return 10 the city
late last evening. / noticed 10 the after
noon papers your invitation TO me TO
discuss with you the political issues.
It = a matter Of some surprise TO me
that the Republican County Committee
should put you forward as their repre-
sentative 10 a proposed JOINT debate,
and thus ignore their candidate for
Congress.
If the Republican County Committee
vii substitute IN your place Hon. Cnas.
". Watkins, who . occupying al equal
Is resp0nsi ole pos ton before the public
today with myself, I am ready 20 meet
h m at any time or place. prscr % No
vember L. Yours truly,
NELRorRNE II. FORD.