The daily critic., 1890-08-22
FUNNY LITTLE BILLY MASON.

Representative BILLY MASON, Of one
Of The Chicago Congressional districts,
Is the cutest and the funniest little poll
iician in the whole country, and he has
a faculty, developed 10 perfection, OF
taking himself 10 "the front" on every
occasion. In brief aud in fact he Is
audacious aud very obtrusive, but he Is
q good nalured mana Joking fellow;
and he tells story we'll, and laughs a.
Ifs own Jokes with heartiness that l.
refreshing
His latest i3ke-ihe furniest thing he
ever did-wus his challenge Of General
JouN NJ PALMER Democratic caudl.
date for United States Senator, to Joint
discussions on the stump. lie mailed
his challenge on the 18th instant, and
ever since then has been holding both
his sides, laughing consumedly. Aud
every body 10 Illinois has been laughing,
too not with the jolly Humply Dumpiy
Of the House, bul-at him.
II desire" be says, iocularly, ITO
maintain that the action Of the Repub-
lican party on The silver, tariff, national
election, anti uust aud pension legisla
ton has been more IN the interest Of
the people than similar legislation
offered or passed by The Democratic
party during its four years Of power"
But, billy, dear boy, the Democrats
have not been In power for many years,
don't you know Your fellows-have
you foTgotten?-were all the time OF
CLEvELAND's administration in the
majority in the Senate. The Democrats
have had no chance to legislate on any
subject.
General PALMER has refused to ac-
cept this amusing challenge, and humor-
ously says 10 Mr.. MASON that:
Understanding that the Republican lead
ere IN Illinois, in declining 10 nams any
one Of The distinguished men, yourself in
cluded, for whom they are willing TO be
responsible IN joint discussions such as you
propose, j am not able 70 see what public
sdyautsge could result from an acceptance
Of your Invitation. 10 will readily occur 70
you that our relations 10 the people Of the
state are essentially different. A very large
AAAAAAEA NA AAAE EAEAAhIH hA tue STATE ug
terminating me as a candidate for a seat in
the United states Senate, have made them
selves responsible not only for my political
opinions aud conduct, but for an the i'm
poTtant acts Of my public life, while, on
the other band the political party 10 which
you are attached have declined max
ing itself responsible, not only for
| you, but for an others Of It's pub
| lie men ] beg 10 assure you that ! enter
/ tain none but feelings Of personal friend
/ ship and respect for YOU, aud know Of no
/ gentleman in this State more capable of
/ yiudicauug, II FiudicaIiou were possible,
/ the measures 10 which you refer, aud q
/ would afford NE the greatest satisfaction II
/ The Republican party should before the
/ election accept your view Of the value Oi
I joint discussions Of public questions aud
/ Eame sou as a candidate for Uuited states
/ senator In such an event it would be ms
/ duty, upon an intimati0n Of your wishes, 10
/ accept an invitation o. engage iu such Joint
| discussions as might be arranged
The condition imposed by General
PALMER pTecludes the possibility Of a
debate between him and Mr. MASON
/ The Republicans will not nominate
Mason for the Senate They have done
many funny things buI they viii mol
Y do that.