Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-04
v-7"A~F5 4 ss:lS.aAa y; :
Dates Are All Taken and Campaign
is Progressing Satisfactorily.


LINCOLN, Nov. 3.-(Speclal.) )-E. j. Bur-
kett, republican candidate for congress from
the First district, has sent the following
reply to James Manahan, who asked him to
name dates for joint debates on the issues
Of the campaign
Dear Sir: Your letter OF recent date, ask
ing me to participate In a series of joint
debates, is at hand. In reply permit me
to say that l have not a single open date
before election. My meetings are all ad-
vertised and halls engaged. Therefore, it
will be impossible for me to accept your
invitation.
My campaign so far has been very salts
factory to myself and l trust also to others
who are interested in my election. NV
meetings have been large and enthusiastic.
joint debate would possibly give me an
opportunity to talk to some few fusionists
that will not attend a regular republican
meeting. But l am inclined to the opinion
that a man who refuses to attend public
political meeting, except baited there by a
populist speaker, would be so unwilling
listener that little hope remains for his po-
litical redemption. I have preferred ALSO
in this campaign, to divide my time with
good republican speakers.
You challenge my position that the hands
Of President Mckinley should be upheld
Our positions are evidently antagonistic upon
this point. / do not doubt your position
upon this question. nor further do i doubt
that if elected your political association and
party loyalty would carry you even so far
as it did the opposition forces in congress
during the last session, who absolutely re-
fused to vote for necessary war measures,
except they had free silver and greenback
riders attached. So manifest was the po-
| litical antagonism that 1t called forth the
| following editorial in your national fusion
organ the Washington Times, Of June %:
"The president stands before the world to-
| day as one pursuing patriotic policy in
| the teeth of unreasoning democratic opposi-
! ton" | do not believe the people are with
you in your attitude toward the administra-
| tion. The American people are loyal and
| while differing upon some of the issues of
| the day the majority of them are enthusi-
| astic in their support OF the government
at Washington and so far they are we'll
satisfied with McKnley's administration of
| the affairs of our nation. They also believe
that he should be surrounded with men
who will not be embarrassed by party
affiliations which pledge them to hinder
rather than assist in the many important
measures arising from the recent war
| You say you declare congress to be a
CO. coordinate integral branch of government" "
AS the constitution of the United States de-
| clared this one hundred years ago, 1t would
| be unnecessary for us TO debate this ques-
tion or any other part of the constitution
| of the United States.
| In reference to the Gage bill (Which seems
to have been entirely overlooked by you in
the hustle of this campaign until George
Fred Williams of Boston called attention
to it few days ago., l would suggest that
after the monetary campaign of 1896 1t is
not strange that many congressman found
and introduced finance bills in accordance
with their ideas, but it is little ridiculous
that YOU should choose from this great num-
ber OF bills one particular bill, demand
Joint debate upon 1t and then demand that
take the affirmative. / may desire tC
draft Introduce and support a bill of my
own upon this question, If the people de-
eide that represent them as the next con
gresham from the First district. Nobody
ever asked me to champion that bill and
find nothing in the republican platform
upon which l stand requiring me TO sup
port this or any other particular bill.
am republican and am pledged to the peo
pie by republican platforms and republican
traditions to protect the peoples interests
OF this district. II elected i shall give tC
every question that arises due time ant
attention and determine my vote only aftei
mature deliberation. Now is II not better
that the people know that this bill is beiul
held up as great ghost by your speaker!
and press, Just as they cried two years age
that II the republican candidates wert
elected they would take away all the silver
money.
Again, I suggest that l am advocating
daily the principles of the republican party
as announced and set forth in its platform
and prefer TO continue to do so rather thar
to spend my time in discussing what yol
! NAV choose 10 say these PRINCIPLES are.