, 1892-09-27
MILLS VS.. FORREST.
Peoples Party Reply to the Repub.
liCan Challenge.


The POPuIist Chairman Makes IA
Few Inquiries and Suggestions
About the Proposed OraIOricaI
Combat That May be of Interest.
Late yesterday afternoon the Thurston
county republican central committee
issued the following challenge to the
county central committee of the peoples
party:
We hereby challenge you to joint pub
lie debate Of the political issues of the
presidential canvass, in four precincts in
this county, of which you shall name two
and we shall name twO-yOur speakers to
have the opening and closing in the pre-
cincts you select our speakers to have the
opening and closing in the precincts we
select.
The dates, places of meeting and other
details to be arranged by agreement of the
officers of the two county committees, re-
spectively, within one week from this date,
if this challenge is accepted.
THURsTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL
COMMITTEE.
By GEO. G. MILLS, Chairman.
OLYMPIA, Wash, September 27, 1892
Today Chairman Forrest issued the fol-
lowing reply TO the foregoing challenge:
OLYMPIA, Sept. 27, 1892.
HON. GEO. G. MILLS,
Chairman Co. Cen Com. Rep. Party
DEAR SIR: I notice with pleasure your
desire to arrange discussion between the
representatives of your party and the
peoples party con the issues of the presi-
Dental campaign" But why do you
wish to conhne it to the presidential
campaign2" Why not include the state
and local issues as well2 And why do you
wish to cOnfine it to just four precincts in
the county? Why not extend this discus
sion to the entire country, so that all of
our citizens can have the benefit of it ?
And why do you ignore the democratic
party entirely in your challenged Would
1t not be right to extend the invitation TO
them as we'll, and arrange for a three
cOInered discussion, and let them be heard
in their own defense2 Surely you are not
going to admit that there is nothing be-
tween YOU and the democratic party To
discuss We are hattered to think how
ever that you should pass the democratic
party by in selecting us as a foeman
worthy of your steel; especially when
your political orators and editors are in
sisting that there are only two political
parties; the democratic and republican.
You do not say whether this discussion
is to be confined to the speakers of our
own county or whether it is intended to
import" orators from abroad. For in
stance, it would suit us first-rate to pit one
county candidate against another; say
Mr.. Miller. our candidate for the state SEN
ate against Mr.. Horr. or any member ofou
legislative or judicial ticket against any
member of yours How does this strike
your As it has been suggested that you,
as the chairman of the republican county
central committee, and / as the peoples
party chairman take a tilt at each other
for the benefit of our respective parties and
the amusement of the public, l will say
right here that while am not occupying a
salaried office at the hands of my party,
which is usually strong stimulus toward
furnishing party enthusiasm, I have my
principles sufficiently at heart to do what
ever duty in this direction that the people
impose upon me, that is within my ability
to perform. l am perfectly willing to saw,
Lay on McDuff, and damned be he who
first cries "Hold EnoughP'
Hoping that we may be able to arrange
the "details" soon
am Respectfully,
II. l.. FORREST
Chairman County Central COMMITTEE,
Peoples Party Of Thurston county.