The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-11
Chairman AIbaugh Replies to
the Pop Chairman.
WILL DEBATE With HIM
Whenever Pops Select Their
ThiS-Year'S Issues.


mittee, to the challenge Of Taylor Riddle
chairman OF the Populist state centra
Committee, for a joint discussion of state
issues:
Topeka, Feb. 4, 1900
Zion. Taylor Riddle, Chairman, Marion
Kansas.
Dear Sir: Your reeent letter addressed
20 the managers Of me Republican par
~ of Kansas, has reached me, and reply
TO the same has been somewhat delayed
owing to the fact anat the Republican
party of Kansas haksno managers. Il
the Republican party were being run
merely as an auxiliary to some other po-
lltical institution with whim 1t annually
held sharp contests for a division OF the
spoiis. it would then, doubtless, need
some bright business managers capable
Of driving a sharp bargain. AS it is. all
we have is a state central committee. for
the purpose OF directing campaign efforts
@long intelligent lines. and as chance to
be the chairman of this committee, I
have been the recipient of the letter.
note that in laying down the prelude
70 your challenge, you make the statement
that the Peoples party of Kansas be
lieves that the actions, even more than
the platforms, Of a political party are
the proper criterfons of its motives and
;ntentions." # we were to take the ac-
tons Of your party as the proper critic
rions Of its motives and intentions. we
would be at a greater loss to know just
what the motives and intentions of your
party are.
It IS going TO be somewhat difficult to
arrange joint debate, owing to the fact
that it is not possible to judge from the
actions Of the Peoples party of Kansas
just which side Of abe propositions you
desire to take and whether there Is any
assurance that on taking a chosen posi-
ton on any Of the issues mentioned in
your letter Of challenge, you viii hold
TO that position until the close of the
debate.
AS soon as the Republican party can be
assured on these points, 1t is all ready to
debate We will be glad to enter the
discussion in the spirit of your letter,
which declares that 1.-The Peoples party
believes that a full and free discussion
) of all of the political issues is essential
( to an intelligent vote" We are glod to
note this progressive step in your party
+" policy Time vas when you believed the
discussion Of your questions should be
confined behind locked doors with the win
COWS darkened and that no one should
be admitted to them who possessed not
the hailing sign and the password. At
that time you discouraged open meetings
where the poison of free discussion might
be caught from Republican speakers. In
view of this progress which your party
has made. we have decided to accept
your challenge. the debate to occur any
time after you have held your next state
convention and decided what issues you
will present to the people,
The Republicans believe it is only rea-
sonable to ask you to DO this before as
Eume to enter the field of debate. You
reed have no fear that the Republican
party will change its attitude on any
Of the three propositions you mention,
during the few weeks we are waiting for
you to find your principles. The attitude
of the Republican party on the currency
question, which you desire TO debate, viii
remain the same as outlined in its party
platform and further emphasized by the
present currency legislation, and any dis
cussions we may have in the future uDon
this subject will doubtless call to mind
s the predictions made by your prophets in
1886, of the dire calamities which would
surely follow the election of Mckinley
On a gold standard platform
In reference to the foreign policy of the
present administration, while we have
only a faint idea of where your party
will stand upon the theory Of expansion
some Of your best men being in favor
ef it. and some Of them opposed to it
hos tIc~ &c 4
Eision of opinion in the Republican par
ty. The Republican party will continue
to be the coIor-bearer Of the nation. Our
troops will not he asked to abandon any
soil they have won. and there viii be no
dimunition OF the effort being put forth
70 establish the dignity Of this govern
ment on every foot Of soil over which
the flag floats Our party will pass no
platforms Of sympathy for George Wash
ington Aguinaldo. Its voice and its ex-
ample win not be lent to the encourage
ment Of the enemy.
In reference to trusts. which is the last
proposition in your challenge. we have
only to remind you that the position Of
the Republican party on the question Of
trusts IS as well known and as emphatic
as the position of your party is hszy and
uncertain. The first declaration ever
made against trusts by any party was
made ny the Republican national con-
vention In 1855 and cryStalized into Jaw
IN 1900 bv Republican congress. TIE
first antitrust law ever put upon the
statute books OF Kansas was passed by
Republican legislature. The people real
Ize shat whatever further legislation IS
needed 10 regulate and control trusts
must be passed by the Republican party.
We hope that the plan we suggest for
those Joint debates viii be entirely salts
factory to you. While these debates. II
they occurred at the present hour. might
be of some temporary benefit 10 your
9arty inShe way Of stimulating the lag
-irg interest Of your followers during the
period that you are so patiently waiting
for your principles to turn VI, the debates
win be more conclusive and intellisible
e arranged after you have decided what
position your party viii assume upon
.hese issues. which will come before the
American people. When you have held
,7our conventions and accepted your de-
claration of principles, and stand for
eomathjng as a party. the Republicans
via be glad to debate with your philoso-
-,hArs and orators and statesmen We
saeI that we are justified in making use
- .his p-ecaution. Your party has now
been Before the public for ten years.
7. has changed its issue every wear. Il
na longer pretends to hold an independent
convention Of its own and 70 come before
tse nenole upon an independent advocacy
% its owu principles.