People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-10-14
BOTKIN CAN'T Be BLUFFED.
HE'S WILLING TO MEET ANY KANSAS
REPUBLICAN IN JOINT DEBATE.
Accepts Challenge Promulgated BY Con.
gresham Charley Curtis-Says Condi-
tons in Kansas Indicate Sweeping
Fusion Victories in Nearly All
COunties-"Prosperity" ArgI-
ment Worn Threadbare.
Special to the Kansas City Times.

Special to the Kansas City Times.
Topeka, kau., Oct. 9.-COngresS-
man j. ID. BJtkln OF KANSAS can't be
bluffed. For some time Kansas Re
puJIcau papers naYe Ueen stating,
probably Without authority, that
Congressman Charles Curtis of To-
peka was anxious TO meet either Con-
gresham Simpson or Congressman
BOGkln Ia jUlnG ueOaUe ~ discuss the
issues between what they Gail Bryan
ism and MckinleyiSm. Congressman
BULkin saw tneSe hints as challenge
fer the frsJ time today, aud b.
promptly authorized a correspondent
Tor the Zines 10 challenge Mr. Curtis
or any other public man 10 Kansas To
a JOINT debate 90 the issues stated.
Il bar no respectable Republican OF
ability" SAID Dir. Botkin
Upon what terms do you want the
challenge mdde?" was asked.
Upon the terms Of a fight to a
finish" was his reply. 81 will meet
MI. Curtis or duy other representative
Republican at any pace On the soil Of
hdn>aS, Topeka not excepted, at 9
O'Clock in the morning and debate
with him until o'clock in the after
noon, and if necessary, continue il
from day to day until either Mr.
Curtis or myself shall ask to have it
called off"
What is the object of debating all
day."
Il don't propose 20 have any child'S
play or to leave anything unsettled.
L would be willing To make it shorter
II | had any assurance that my Re
publican opponent would not Indulge
in SopniStries aud cOndne himself to
argument. My object ia facing MIN
all day is to explode both bis sophis-
tries and his argument. Ny idea is
to start in at o'clock. take one hour
for dinner and end at ) o'clock in tn
afternoon, each man to be given one
hour for argument aud reply. II Mr.
CurtiSOr any other Republican wishes
to take issue with me on these terms
l am ready, and, more than that.
am anxious. | want the conditions
such tdat We Can talk before the
representative people of Kansas and
not before any select audience"
HAS MADE A TOUR OF THE STATE
Mr.. BJtkin is taking his first rest
since September /. On that date he
started out 10 the Seventh district,
with view Of making some Speeches
IN all the districts 10 the state. He
has spoken in nearly every county ID
the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth aud Seventh
districts already, and, expects to cover
every county in the rrSt, Second and
Third before November |, at which
time be will speak at his former home
in Wellington, He has made one
speech every day since he started out
aud on many days made two speeches
at distant points in the same county.
When asked today what his ubSer-
vatlOns were with reference to pOliti.
CA conditions ia the state, he said:
"Our forces are in splendid shape
everywhere. In two counties fusion
Is not as complete as it might have
been but even then the Republicans
can not win. All of my meetings
have been very large with OILY one or
two exceptions. Many of the meet
ingS were as well attended as they
were during the heat of the campaign
last fail.
Il have never found last year
Bryan man who is sorry that he voted
for our great leader, nor one who will
not vote the same way this year.
The issues over which we fought in
Kansas last are as strong before the
people today as they have ever been.
venture to say that Bryan could get
more votes in this state next month
than he received one year ago. He is
the man for 1907
" What are the Republicans talking
abOut?"
REPUBLICANS ARE SILENT.
The Republicans are not talking
this year; they have nothing to talk
about. haven't heard Of a single place
where Republican campaign speech
has been made. If 50 | nave for
gotten it, To be sure some of them
sit on dry goods boxes on the street
corners and talk prosperity and dollar
wheat TO their idle friends. They
are wearing their prosperity out very
fast. When | first started out to
make speeches tried to discuss issues
with the opposition. but they would
not do 81. They wanted TO talk
about prosperity, and that Only.
talked with them great deal about
that and we had very pleasant time.
Last year, you remember, the Re
pubicans didn't want dign priced
wheat. because it would increase the
cost of the living of the salaried man
and the penSiOner. Well, talked tn
them about this and other things,
and it was surprising how they
twisted arguments to get out OF con-
tact with these Matters
How do the fusion forces feel
about the coming local electionS?"
Their confidence that they will
sweep the state and win everything
is dangerous. 1t will cause people Ia
stay at home and not 60 to the polls.
l am afraid that too many of our men
will say: We are sure to win without
my vote If we can make our voters
see that all the country is watching
Kansas this year to ascertain whether
the silver sentiment is dying out Oh
not, think that our vote will be
larger than it was last year. Every
Bryan POpuliSt, Democrat aud Silver
Republican 10 Kansas should aim to
have his vote cast before O'Clock on
the morning of the election"
Trouble Over a Claim Contest.
Monday afternoon the sheriff.
office received a telegram from ]. /