The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-28

lished in his newspaper last winter,
for which publication he was convicted
Of criminal libel and is now awaiting
sentence.
He was then unable to produce any
evidence in support Of them, even
enough to acquit him Of malicious in
tent in publishing them, and Colonel
Stone promptly turned his letter over
to the district attorney Of Dauphin
county. properly holding that if the
charges were true the only effect of
public debate, with an exhibition OF
the testimony. would be to give warn
ing to the defendants In advance of ar
rest and enable them 10 escape JUS
tlce. Following is Colonel Stones let
ter:
Philadelphia, Sept. %. 1888.
Rev. S. c. Swallow:
My Dear Sir: Ny attention has been
called to a published letter dated Sept.
2l and addressed TO me in which you
challenge joint discussion upon what
you claim to be the issues in this cam
paign. 1 am not surprised that you
have omitted prohibition as an issue,
but am surprised that the Prohibition
party which nominated you apon that
issue should so soon forget the pur-
poses and objects of their organiZa-
ton and follow you in a crusade which
entirely ignores prohibition You chal-
lenge me to discuss II declarations, or
charges upon the stump. All Of your
u declarations charge crimes and mis-
demeanors which may be severely pun
lshed under the laws OF the state.
You do not name the offenders nor
the time when these crimes and mis-
demeanors were committed, but claim
to have evidence to substsntiate them.
1 have no such knowledge, except your
unsupported statements which you
have heretofore made. but have been
unable TO sustain in the courts. II
you have such knowledge of crimes
committed, and have such evidence, it
is your duty, not only as good citizen,
but as a Christian minister, to lay
the evidence before the grand jury Of
your county. The witnesses which you
propose to call in joint debate viii be
sufficient to obtain an indictment If
they are sufficient to convince an in
teIligent audience of the truth Of your
charges.
That is the proper tribunal to hear
and determine the truth of these
charges. and that is the proper course
for you to pursue, instead of under
taking on the stump to prejudice the
people against candidates whom you
do not charge with committing the
crimes or with knowledge of them.
have. therefore. taken the liberty to
refer your letter TO the district attorney
of Dauphin county, where you reside.
for such action. as he may take in
the matter, assuring you that II l am
elected governor of Pennsylvania l
will heartily cooperate in all cases TO
bring guilty parties to Justice and
punish all crimes against the state.
Truly yours.
WILLIAM A. STONE.
The care with which Mr.. Wanamaker
avoids public cross examination upon
the reckless assertions he has been
making since he missed the United
States senatorship and the guberna-
torial nomination is suceinctiy set forth
in the following report of the commit
tee which sought to arrange joint de-
bate on Saturday:
William L. Mathues. Esq, Chairman
Republican Executive Committee Of
Delaware County, Media. Pa
Dear Sir: At meeting of your exec
utive committee, held in the court
house, Media. on the evening Of the
2lst inst, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted:
Whereas, II has come to the know
ledge of this committee that an indie
pendent meeting has been advertised
To take place at the courthouse, Media.
Pa, on Saturday evening. Sept "a. at
which the Hon John Wanamaker has
been invited to speak and discuss the
issues of the campaign; and
Whereas. There are questions at Is
sue in this campaign in which all are
Interested; therefore. be it
Resolved, That the chairman ap-
point a committee of three go to confer
with the committee in charge OF said
meeting. and also with the Hon. John
wanamaker and the Hon. John p. Ell
kin, chairman of the Republican state
committee. and arrange. il possible. TO
have both gentlemen appear at said
meeting and discuss the issues of the
campaign in a joint debate, in order
that the people may have an oppor-
The undersigned were appointed in
pursuance of the above resolution as a
committee to wait upon Mr. Wana-
maker and Mr.. Ellzin and arrange for
the Joint discussion at the time stated.
On Thursday morning, the 29d inst.
your committee went to the city of
Philadelphia and called at the Office of
Mr.. Wanaraaker. He was absent and
was reportes that we could not see
him until Friday morning. On Friday
morning. at 10 o'clock, we again
called on Mr.. Wanamaker at his Of
fee We found him in and made
known to him the wishes of the Re
publicans OF Delaware county in the
matter Of havinG a joint discussion.
He then asked IL the state chairman
was willing. We informed him we
would see. We Immediately went over
to the Republican headquarters and
found the chairman at his desk. We
made known to him our desire that he
would meet Mr.. Wanamaker in joint
discussion -at the courthouse in Media,
as per the Resolution. He promptly ac-
cepted the invitation and addressed
the following letter TO your committee:
Gentlemen: I am in receipt OF your
invitation to meet the Hon. John Wan
amaker in joint discussion of the po-
litical issues OF the present campaign at
the courthouse in Media on Saturday
evening, the 2ith of September / here
by accept the invitation. II wonld af-
ford me much pleasure to meet Mr,
Wanamaker at that time or any other
time during the present campaign to re-
fute the charges that he has been max
ing against the Republican party Of
this state Very respectfully yours.
JOHN p. ELKIN.. Chairman.
Your committee then reported the ae-
ceptance Of Chairman Elkin 10 Mr..
Wanamaker at the Office Of the latter.
Mr.. Wanamaker replied that he would
not enter into discussion OF this kind
unless the committee of his friends
having in charge the mass meeting at
Media so directed. We then called up
by phone Captain Albert Magnin, OF
Darby. who was the committee ap-
pointed TO make arrangements for the
Wanamaker meeting. When told that
Chairman Elkin had accepted the In
utation to enter into the joint discus
sion with Mr.. Wanamaker and that Mr.,
Nanamaker referred the matter TO
him. Captain sfagnin refused TO make
arrangements for the Joint discussion