The evening times., 1896-10-09
W|THDRAWs THE SECONDS
Davis Proposition 10 HutchinS
for Joint Debate.
HE ALSO WRITES A LETTER
Since Col. Kalbfus Cannot, in Self
Respect, Meet Mr.. Gates, Mr.. Davis
Thinks the Principals Should Take
Things Into Their Own Hands-An
Unpublished Letter.

The fifth round in he great literary quad
ruple sparring contest of Hons. Stilson Hutch
ius and Henry L. Davis, and their seconds,
Messrs. Thomas b. Kalbfus and Cyrus v.
| Gates, came off this afternoon. 1t was u
letter from Mr.. Davis TO Mr.. Hutchins.
The proposed political joint debate be-
tween these gentlemen, which in the great
| lctter-writing contest going on for several
| days. seems to have been treated rather as
means rather than an end now seems as
| sured, unless it should turn out, as some
people think, that Mr.. Hutc:,ins withdraws.
MIR. Davis, after reading the letter which
Col. Kalbfus wrote to Mr.. Gates last even
| ing. declining To meet the latter for further
conference on the subject of the joint de-
bate. this afternoon addressed colnniunca-
uon TO Mr. Hutchins. suggesting that the
| agency of seconds" be dispensed with al
together. aud making his own proposition
of the conditions of debate which he hopes
| his opponent Will accept
MADE MR. GATES wRATHY
Bright and early this morning Mr.. Cyrus
| Gates received the letter from Col. Kalb-
| fus which, in the latter's failure to find
Mr.. Gates last evening, had been slipped
| under the door of Mr.. Davis office. Mr..
Gates was not unnaturally wroth at the
| contents of the epistlc.
He Immediately dictated a letter to Mr..
Davis stenographer. addressed Ia Mr.. Kalh-
| fus, in reply. But, fearing, as he him self cN
piained to Times reporter. that it Was
rather too spicy for publication in the
newspapers, he submitted it To Mr.. Davis.
That gentleman decided promptly that it
was. indeed too spicy for publication. The
| letter is withheld.
| Local Republicans of prominence had dmuch
to say unofficially this morning concern
ing the action of Mr.. Hutchins is warning
Mr.. Davis against blows below the belt.
| One of them wondered if Mr.. Hutchins could
possibly be providing against personal as
saults, for the letter certainly seemed to
| indicate some such fear.
| The latest phase of the situation is summed
up in the following remarks:
| Il won't have any more to do with that
man Gates if there isn't any debate ut an
said Col. Kalbfus.
| No blows below the belt says Mr..
| Hutchins.
"Iwrotc Col Kalbfus n spicy letter which
We won't PUBLISH said Mr. Gates.
| We viii dispense with the seconds and
debate on any reasonable conditions" says
Mr.. Davis.
THE LATEST LETTER.
The letter of Mr. Davis to Mr.. Hutchins
| is as follows:
| "Stilson Hutchius, Esq:
| Sir: When l invited you to the now
much-talked-of debate my invitation was
ito debate the free silver question: Your
acknowledgment tof my invitation described
| it as being TO debate the gold aud silver
question IN my last communication to
you l stated as follows: i accept your
| variation of ms invitation TO discuss the
! free coinage OF silver
| In Your letter to me you introduced .hc
| feature Of the second u fact which I-aG,.
| IT ,CcsSary for me to choose representa-
tive Instead of dealing with you a had
contemplated doing from the start. As
| you know. the adoption Of this method of
coming to an understanding has not
| had a felicitiouS result, and as your
rcpre> tentative has retired and mine
has expressed to me his willing
ness to do the same. in order that the
debate may not miscarry; and as. further
you have furnished your late representative
a communication which he has ma de public
over your signature, l take it that We may
consider the representative feature climi-
nated, and therefore address you directly
when you appointed a representative with
| authority to meet one from me. and such
meeting was had, our correspondence had
! already committed you to debate the ques-
| tion of free silver. or the free coinage of
| silver, or gold and silver; which last, being
| interpretedin thelight Ofour correspondence
| could mean nothing else than that which
| characterized in my first conImu uniCatiOn to
you as the burning question now upperinost
| i'll the minds OF all
/ LIST OF QUESTIONS.
I'm your communication to Mr.. Kalbfus,
| published in the press yesterday afternoon
| and this morning, you give a list OF ques-
| tionS which you express yourself as ready
to debate. No one of these questions as
| stated by you is in the form assumed in our
| correspondence, and did l not know your
| genuine easernesS that the proposed debate
shall not miScarry, might suggest that
| your list indicated a disposition to bring
our efforts to naught.
| knowing, however, that such inference
is wholly groundless, and being inspired