St. Paul daily globe., 1894-10-23
kIeFeR SNEAKS' OUT.
Edward j. Darragh Offers to
! az 81 Pay the Rent Of the
Auditorium
"
FOR A JOINT DISCUSSION,
But the Colonel Finds a Loop
hole, and With a Slur
Declines.
FOR A JOINT DISCUSSION,
BUT IT WILL NOT GO DOWN
KieHer Is Evidently Afraid to
Meet Mr.. Darpagh on
the Stump.

Edward j. Darragh, the Democratic
candidate for congress for The Fourth
district. yesterday wrote Col. Kiefer the
following letter. offering TO pay the rent
of the Auditorium for Joint discussion,
than fairly in order TO bring about the
meeting the public generally is anxious
to see:
ST. PAUL. Oct. %. 1S94.-Col. A. R.
Kieter. Cily-My Dear Colonel: lr this
mornings papers l read a letter ad-
dressed to me, bearing your signature.
which presume was written by your
DISTINGUISHED secretary and press
agent, MIR. johnson, because it contains
grammatical error which 1 am certain
you would not be guilty OF. Upon the
presumption that the letter was indited
by MIR. johnson, permit me to hazard
the remark that his experience as man
ager Of the Auditorium for brief
and disastrous term should have
taught him that it is impossible
to draw fair.SiZed audience there with
only six or eight hours time in which
to advertise, no matter how excellent
the attraction offered may be. lnas-
much as Gov. McKinley's appearance at
the Auditorium was advertised four
weeks i'll advance, it seems that. to
draw big audience for your appear
ance with a modest speaker like my
self. the event should De advertised at
least one or two weeks in advance. es-
peclally so if your suggestion of an ad-
mission fee is to be adopted. In fact, it
is entirely out of the question for US to
arrange successful meeting, with or
without an admission fee, for tonight
(Monday, Oct. 22). as suggested in MIR.
JohnsOn's letter Of Monday morning.
l would be pleased to meet YOU in
jainr debate at the Auditorium any
evening between Nov. 2 and 5. l will
pay the rent and all other expenses of
the meeting. A reasonable admission
fee, say 25 cents, might be charged, and
the gross receipts turned over for the
pfau is agreed upon, will add SlO0 to
the receipts. Surely this is a fair prop.
osition. and one which l know you
will not reject. l will accept the con-
ditions you impose-not to quote from
the speeches of Mr.. Settle. Mr. Owen or
MI. WattersOn without dne credit. l
will further agree not to use any eX-
tracts from your own brilliant speeches
without giving you we'll deserved credit.
Twill go even further, and agree to
give you due credit tor the great work
you have accomplished in congress by
securing an appropriation of $1,000 for
a new rifle range at Fort Smelling. The
necessity of a new rifle range at the
fort has long been felt by the citizens of
this district, and the fact that their
representative in congress has secured
the necessary appropriation for its cOn-
structiOn ought to tighten the hearts of
the unemployed as well as the burdens
of the taxpayers Far be it from me to
deny credit where credit is due. In re-
newlng my challenge to you 10 meet me
in joint debate, | will repeat the one
condition exact, and that is that neither
speaker be allowed any manuscript Oh
the platform. await your acceptance.
Very respectfully yours.
EDWARD j. DARRAGH.
Col. Kiefer responded to Mr. Darragh's
generous offer with the following curt,
if not uncivil refusal:
ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. %, 1884,
E. J. Darragh, ST. Paul. NY Dear
Darragh: Yours of this date Just re-
ceived. Your first proposition was ac-
cepted as promptly as it was Issued. and
l offered to cancel an appointment to
comply with the terms. You now make
an entirely different proposition. which
l understand emanateS from your chief
lieutenant. Tom j. Brady. and, having
made appointments tUr every evening
during the period specified. l will be
unable to take any further part in ac-
cepting propositions from such sources.
Very truly, A. Il. KIEFER.