The advocate., 1892-07-06
ANTHONY SHARPLY ANSWERED.
Peoples Party Leaders of Elk County Re-
ply to the Republican Candidate.

HOWARD, Kan, June 28.-The follow
ing reply to the answer of ex. Governor
Anthony to the challenge sent to him by
the Peoples party leaders of this county
has been made public:
HOWARD, Kan, June 81, 1892.
Hon. Geo. r. Anthony, Railroad Commissioner
and Candidate for Congressman at Large:
SIR:-Vour communication of June 10,
published in the Topeka Capital on the
the 2Sd inst, in which you decline to
meet our fellow citizen, Mr.. @. L. Nc
Kenan (properly G. L. ,McKesson) In q
discussion Of the proposition, "Resolved,
That the business interests of the country
demand the free coinage Of both gold
and silver" has been received by our
people with profound regret. This chal-
lenge was issued In good faith In order
that our people might be able to hear
both sides of the question in which they
are deeply interested and which has
proved the most serious question all po-
lltlcal parties have had to meet upon
the opening of this campaign.
You submit as reason for declining
our challenge that the resolution con-
tains no fact or question In dispute
since in every public and private utter
ance upon this subject l you) have urged
the maintenance of a blmetallic coinage"
Let me humbly remind you OF the speech
which you made in Howard, Elk county,
in the fall campaign of 1878, in which
you declared without any qualification
for a gold standard and a gold basis. And
In compliance with your dlctum your
henohmen in this county took up the
cry, and undertook to compel the Re-
publican candidates to publicly assume
and defend that position. If you had
forgotten this, the mention of the fact
will refresh your memory, but if your
recollection should be peculiarly faulty
In this direction, let me suggest that
there are q number of men Of unques-
toned verscity in this county who do re-
member it, and who will assist in re-
ireshing your memory If It becomes
necessary. We know these facts and We
are greatly surprised that you should
5sy that you have always advocated BIZ
metallism.
This Is not all, for the following para
graph in your letter adds to our perplex-
ty. You say: "We insist that coin
money must contain an amount Of metal
which uncolned would be worth In an
open market a sum equal to the value
It assumes to measure and represent 10
Jale or exchange of property" Now we
know, and you know, that the amount
If metal uncolned" contained In the
present silver dollar which you champion
8 worth only about sixty-eight cents upon
N open market. In view OF these facts
We are unable to know where you stand |
" what you believe, and 1t is evident
hat the reason assigned by you that the
stated In our challenge touched |
10 question at issue, is not the real rea-
on why you refused to accept the same.
We judge from the sarcastic reference
n your communication TO the humble |
'osition which Mr.. McKesson occupies
publicly that 1t Is by reason Of his occu-
'ying this position that you refuse to
meet him. Mr.. McKesson is one of the !
eading representative men Of our party |
n this section Of the state, and we can
lot understand why 1t is that you should |
eel yourself 30 much above representa-