Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-15
Republicans viii Debate.

ScuNy en"~H6~~ s"o "
debate during the coming campaign
The Republican chairman's accept
ance is a gem. He says;
Dear Sir: Your recent letter ad
dressed to the managers Of the Re
publican party Of Kansas has reached
me, aud reply to the same has beer
somewhat delayed owing to the fac
that the Republican party Of Kansas
has no managers. II the Republican
party we're being run merely as ar
auxiliary to some other political insti
tuition with whom it annually helC
chary contests for division Of thu
spoils, it would then, doubtless, need
some bright business manager cap
able Of driving sharp bargain. Al
it is, all we have Is a state centra
committee, for the purpose of direct
ing campaign efforts along intelli'
gent lines, and as chance to be the
chairman OF this committee, | have
been the recipient Of the letter.
note that in laying down the pre-.
Jude to your challenge, you make the
statement that the Peoples party
of Kansas believes that the actions,
even more than the platforms OF
political party are the proper criter'
ions OF its motives and intentions. II
we were to take the actions OF y0uI
party as the proper crterions OF its
motives and intentions, we would be
at gr, alter loss to know Just what
those motives and intentions OF your
party are.
It i, going to be somewhat difficult
to arrange a joint debate, owing to
the fact that IL is not possible to
Judge from the actions OF the Peoples
party OF Kansas just which side Of
the proposition you desire to take
and whether there is any assurance
that on taking a chosen position on
any OF the issues mentioned In your
letter Of challenge, you will hold to
that position until the close Of the
debate.
As soon as the Republican party
can be assured on these points, it is
already to debate. We will be glad
to enter the discussion in the spirit
OF your letter which declares that
"the Peoples party believes that q
full and free discussion Of all OF the
political issues Is essential to an in
telligent vote" We are glad to note
this progressive step In your party
policy. Time was when you believed
the discussion oiyour question should
he confined behind locked doors with
the windows 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 meeting 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 de-
cided what issues you will present to
the people.
The Republicans believe it is only
reasonable to ask you to do this be-
fore you assume to enter the field of
debate. You need have no fear that
the Republican party will change its
attitude on any of three propositions
you mention, during the few weeks
we are waiting for you to find your
principles. The attitude of the Re-
publican party on the currency ques-
ton, which you desire to debate,
will remain the same as outlined in its
party platform and further empha-
sized by the present currency legis-
lstion, and any discussions we may
have in the future upon this subject,
will doubtless call to mind the pre-
dictions made by your prophets in
1896 OF the dire calamities which
would surely follow the election Of
Mckinley on a gold standard plat
form.
In reference to the foreign policy Of
the present administration, while we
have only faint idea Of whore your
party will stand upon the theory Of
expansion--some of your best men
being in favor of IL, and some Of them
opposed to tive have only to say
that there is no division Of opinion in
The Republican party. The Republi'
,., .,.ut, ,r;li aaot..na tn ha a. ,