The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-25
LET Them MEET.
Let Us Have the Proposed Joint
Debate
Between Charles Curtis and
Stephen NJ. Scott.
DON'T BE COWARDLY.
Scott Wants the Debate and
Curtis is Willing,
But an Old Fogy Committee
Stands in the Way.
The STATE JOURNAL is in receipt of
the following letter from S. NJ. Scott:

To the Editor of the STATE JOURNAL:
"EMPoRIA. Kans., Sept. 20. 1894.
DEAR SIR: In your issue OF the 2lst inst
Charles Curtis and ). VI. Scott meet in JOINT de-
bate: Both are young men both Well informed
on political subjects. both good takers ana DOth
together would De sure OF immense audiences.
BY all means let us have the joint deb ite.'
Il desire to extend thanks to .he STATE
JOURNAL for the compliments extenGe 1. There
Is no necessity. however. for "A joint discussion
for the purpose of securing immense audiences.
Our county rallies have been attended
tii5s three toe to nve thousand people. elIf.
The voters of this congressional dis
sion between Mr.. curtis and myself. Many pc
titions have been received by our committee
making this request. 1 feel it my dnty to com
ply with the request of these petitioners regard
by .ertain. l am gratIted to know that our
congressional committee enterttIns the same
Il FULLY realize the ability and personal worth
of Hon. Char.es Curtis. He is worthy OF any
man 5 slee lie no douDt realizes tnat he IS d
servant OF the people. and he Will no doubt COM
ply with the request OF h4s constituency regard
less OF the decision OF an committee Ihe de-
sire of the p-ople is OF Lore importance than
Mr. Curtis viii agree wIch me upon this point
least. Trusting thaI you Will continue in your
am yours truly, ). NJ. SCOTT"
Notwithstanding the desire of many
voters, regardless of party. that Mr.
Curtis and Mr.. Scott shall meet in joint
debate, the Republican congressional
committee has decided that there shall
be no joint debate.
Petitions have been received from Re-
publicans and Populists from all over
the district asking for joint debate be-
tween the two candidates and it is un-
derstOod that Mr Curtis as we'll as Mr..
Scott, is anxious that the debate shall
take place. and 1t is only the persistence
of the Republican committee which pre-
vents the meeting.
Howell jones, chairman of the Repub-
lican cong gressiOnaf committee. has writ
ten the following letter to Chairman
Harvey Of the PoDulist committee, refus-
ing to agree to the debate:
TOPEKA. September %, 1894.
Further an swering your letter of the goth re-
laring to the joint debate between Congress-
That the cOngre ssionai committee directs its
chairman 10 inform you that a.. dates and places
tor MI Curtis 10 speak. from the pre- 'ent time
until the ectiOn. fixed. and with best
arrangements and requiring Mr. Curtis to travel
more than once we are unable to cover his dis
trcs or TO fin all the applications made for INN
70 speak thereon; ana further. that MT Scott
had been engaged canvasslng this district
gress and the return Of Mr Curtis from Wash
ington. and if during al thdE time. with his
to reach the voters OF this district. then this
committees can see no reason why they should
furnish hIm with any facilities for addressing
the people. Therefore the committee find thai
it viii be impossible to have the JOINT debate
proposed HOWEI. JONES.
Now, in fact, there is no good reason
why 4Iessrs- scott and Curtis should not
meet in joint debate. They are very
nearly, if not quite, equally matched If
Mr.. Curtis is not bound to too narrow
lines he has the advantage, because the
record of the Populists who have been in
office is vulnerable in the extreme
For the Republican committee to re-
fuse to engage Scott in debate will ap-
pear cowardly to most of the
voters. Republicans have en-
tire confidence in Mr.. Curtis. If they
did not, they wouldn't be supporting him
as earnestly as they are. The committee
has no business to put Mr.. Curtis in a
bad light in the way they have. Let the
debate 60 on. 1t won't hurt the Repub-
licans and it won't help the Populists.
We have had so much of this lodging
policy this campaign Now let us have
a fair, square fight and one in which
Curtis will undoubtedly come out with
ayinp cOlOrs