Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-26

Chairman Weber OF the peoples indie
pendent committee and Vice Chairman
Scott of the democratic committee have
given out for publication the following
self-explanatory communication, which
they have addressed to Chairman Lindsay
Of the republican state committee:
OMAHA, Aug. 25. 19O2-Hon. II. c. Lind
say. Chairman Republican State Commit
tee, Lincoln, Neb.-Dear Sir: The para
mount issue in the present state campaign
Is that of railroad taxation. The matter
is being very generally discussed In the
press of the state and thereby coming to
be better understood. Our committees de-
sire to have this question thoroughly pre-
verdict thereon. We declare that the as
m made by the republican state adj
ministration is entirely too low and 1t is a
Migrant injustice upon the people of this
state. Your state administration contends
that the railroads are taxed high enough.
We know of no way in which the merits
and the people have so good an oppor-
tunity to get at the truth as by a series Of
Joint debates. In. mere newspaper con-
troNersy many things may be said on
either side which overstate the facts and
would not be said in a joint debate. Where
both sides are represented the statements
are more likely to be accurate We have
entire confidence in our position and be-
leVe that we can convince the people of
the state that on this great issue alone the
republican ticket ought TO be defeated.
Of course the most acceptable way would
pc TO arrange for a series of joint debates
between oar candidate for governor, Hon.
w. II. Thompson, and your candidate for
governor, Hon. John ii. Mickey. Our in
formation, however, is that Mr.. Mickey
and that he was nominated with the un-
oerstanding that he should make a quiet
campaign, and We suppose your commit
zee would think 1t unfair to have him
pitted against so well qualified a public
speaker as Mr.. Thompson. Having this
~ ~ view we oner another suggestion. Hon.
M. r. HAFr1nEfnn UFna chairman ~ che
committee In the peoples independent con-
venlon that wrote the popullst platform
ana ne urged the nomination Of Mr..
Mr.. Harrington went before the supreme
court TO assist In compelling the railroad is
nized that he made an effective presenta-
ion or the peoples side In that case. Your
side OF the contest was led by Hon. John
Union, Pacific Railroad company, who
played the dual part of friend of the
court and acting attorney. general, con
and state officers as against the people.
IN addition to performing Mr.. Prout's
the conference wherein II was decided that
Mr.. Mickey SHOULD be nominated, and he
should, therefore, be competent to repre-
sent your side Of this controversy. We
take 1t then that no other man will typIfy
more clearly the platform upon which your
tcket asks election than Hon. John N.
Baldwin. He is an accomplished and elo-
quent orator. The debate between Mr..
Baldwin and Mr.. Harrington would be be-
tween two gentlemen who are we'll qualified
to discuss the questions and who would
discuss It from a broad and intelligent
standpoint. Each will represent the Views
OF his party In this most Important reform
ana probably no two gentlemen could be
selected In the state whose personal Views
would more clearly portray the actual
position of our respective tickets in the
matter of railroad taxation,
We propose to you then that you unite
with us In arranging a series of five Joint
debates between these gentlemen in each
congressional district. This would make
thirty meetings In all and no doubt such n
discussion would bring out the people of
the state very generally for the purpose OF
learning the right and wrong OF the matter
now uppermost in the public mind. Yours
respectfully, b. r. b. WEBER.
Chairman Peoples Independent State Cen
trail Committee.
G. d. SCOTT,
Vice Chairman Democratic State Central
Committee.