The age-herald., 1898-03-22
MT. Powell's Challenge

MT. Charles A. Senn, Birmingham Ala
 Dear Sr-In the beginning of this cam paign you took the position that the finan. cial question should not be an issue I realize that you, I, nor any other candi- date could prevent the people from dividing on this issue as they have done in every election since they have come to a realiz- ation of the widespread distress and mis- cry caused by the single gold standard.' Later, you and your friends seemed also to realize that the money question was, as usual, live one in this campaign, and circular letter has been freely circulated over the county by your friends, in which it is claimed that you have always be- lieved in and contended for the well-estab- lished democratic doctrine of the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver, as set forth in the last great declaration or democratic principles made at Chicago in 1S96.''
 Quite recently, in an interview published in The Age-Herald, your friend, MT. Henry B. Gray late gold standard candidate for chairman of the democratic executive com mittee, vouched for your devotion to the cause of "bimetalism,' yet, I take 1t that the free silver votes of the county are not quite prepared to accept such claim with out question, on the mere statement of gold standard advocate.
 I assume that the printed circular was inspired by you and that MT. Grays inter view was published with your approval. You have in this manner rendered an issue as to whether you have 'always believed in and contended for the doctrine of the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver" I accept the issue and now offer to discuss it with you publicly anywhere in Jefferson county and at any time. l con- tend that when at the last democratic pri- mary election in 1896, the very year in which the last democratic platform was adopted, you voted for the nomination of gold standard candidates for the legisla- ture and state senate, some of whom were nominated and elected, and cast their votes for gold standard candidate for the United States senate; that you did not thereby "contend for the well established democratic doctrine of the free and un- limited coinage of gold and silver, as set forth in the last great declarations Of democratic principles made at Chicago but that by said votes you contended for the nomination and election of gold standard United States senator. You took the ground, at a meeting of the voters of Pratt City, on the 9th day of February. 1898, in the city hall, before whom you ap- peared with other candidates, including myself. that it was a violation of demo- cratic custom for candidates for judicial offices to make public speeches. do not agree with you either as to the existence or propriety of such custom, and so ex- pressed myself at said meeting. Certainly YOU cannot now decline TOT that reason, aI- ter having insisted the issue through the medium of circular letters, and the published interview of your friend, alluded to.
 It is also claimed for you in this circular letter that you are entitled to the support of the people of Jefferson county on ac- count of your services to the party as chairman of the campaign committee of the democratic party at the August elec- ton of 1S96 I do not wish to detract from the honor and credit due you for these services, but I do insist that you have been amply rewarded in the position you now hold of clerk and register of the chancery court. a position in which you have been able to earn from $2,500 to $40OO year, and which you have held for eleven years out of the thirteen that you have been resident of Alabama and for which posi- tion you are indebted to the democratic party.
 I wish to express to you my personal es- teem and friendship. and the hope that you will accept my offer to discuss the is- sue publicly. which you have made
 Yours very respectfully,
 CHARLES B. POWELL.