The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-26
A REPUBLICAN BLUFF
Called and the Buffer Made to Eat Hum
BILE Pie.

BILE Pie.
BOSTON, Mass, Aug. 90. a re-
cent issue of the Boston Record, Con
gresham w. K. Barrett's paper, this
statement was made in an editorial:
We would suggest that as Mr.. Bry
an is not coming to Massachusetts,, his
place be taken by tho importation
of Debs, Coxey, Altgeld and Tillman;;
They will make strong team, and
the curiosity to see them and hear
them speak will justify big audiences;
The Republican State Committee will
pay their expenses.
The Bryan Sewall Williams Club
accepted the challenge at once and
sent out this letter:
w. E. Barrett, Editor of the Evening
Record:
Dear Sir-You suggested in an edi.
torial of Friday, August IA, that Mes
srs. Debs, Coxey. Altgeld and Tillman
be brought into this State to address
political meetings, and you say, with.
out qualification or condition, that
the Republican State Committee will
pay their expenses.
The Bryan-Sewall- Williams Club,
of Massachusetts,, assuming that you,
the editor of a leading Republican
newspaper. speak with authority, and
that the officers of the Republican
State Committee will support you in
the assertion you made, accepts your
offer. Two Of the men you name are
Populists and two are Democrats, and
while, perhaps, we assume authority
in speaking for the Populist represen:
tatives, we would be glad to have all
of those named appear before the peo-
pie of Massachusetts.
We are aware that hostile and un.
Just press has created false impres
sions of all these men in the minds of
many honest Massachusetts citizens,
and we deem it fair and desirable that
our people pray have an opportunity
to meet and judge them face to face.
While it is our purpose in accepting
this offer to secure a fair hearing for
maligned men, two Of whom are Gov.
ernors OF great States Of our Union.
they are but a part of the personnel of
our great cause, just as Mr.. Hanna,
of Cleveland; Mr.. Armour. of Cbica-
go; Mr.. Payne. of Milwaukee, and the
Whitneys of Boston and New York
are not the sole representatives OF the
Republican party.
1t would be at least interesting to
the people of Massachusetts to Judge
by contrast the standpoint from which
these respective gentlemen view the
interests of the people and to deter
mine for themselv which are most
concerned in the welfare and eleva-
ton of humanity.
If this can best be done by series OF
joint debates between these gentlemen
we should be glad 10 contribute our
part toward the expenses of the meet
ings in such industrial centres as Bos-
Ton, Fall River, Lowell and Law
renee. We should be pleased 10 con-
fer with the Republican State Commit
lee for the purpose OF arranging such
meeting.
For the Bryan.Sewall Williams
Club of Massa chusetts.
II. Il. SCHAEgFER, President,
JOSEPH A. DENNIsoN, Secretary.
Upon the receipt of this letter Mr..
Barrett very promptly ate humble pie
as the following extract from his let
ter of reply will show:
1t is perhaps fair to the State COM
mittee to ssy that the Record did not
consult them officially b,fore making
the suggestion. 1t ought to be easy
enough, however, 10 raise, in short
order, purse for the purpose indi-
Gated.