The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-19
BAKER, he WANTS TO DEBATE
CHALLENGES HIS OPPONENT TO
HAGGLE OYER FREE PASSES.

That's the COngressman's Particular Per-
sonal Piatform--Caider Is Perplexed
at Proposition to Hire Four Carts OF
Halls and Fight Out NOn-issues
The Hon. Robert Radical Anti-pass Baker
Democratic Representative in Congress
from the Sixth Brooklyn district, has reached
the challenging stage in his campaign for
reelection His Republican opponent Ia
william NJ. Calder, who was Superintendent
OF Buildings in Brooklyn In the Low admins
tration. Mr.. Calder Is successful builder
Mr.. Baker is talker, either long or short
distance, and when In action moves with
tho power and facility OF self citing phono-
graph. He can talk equally well with or
without notes, blindfolded or eyes open,
mouth open or closed. He can talk as well
as he can write an autobiography, and in
Congress he is regarded as the most success
full autobiographer in either branch Of the
national legislature.
And so 1t happens that Mr.. Baker has
challenged Mr.. Calder to talk. Now II
happens that Mr.. Calder isn't long on talk
He can make fairly good speech, but he
can build better buildings than he can
speeches. Furthermore, when he makes
campaign speeches he likes to talk on the
issues Of the canvass. Mr.. Baker isn't
particular about that. He can talk just
as well about non-issues as issues, and II
is the former, according to Mr.. Calder. that
he wants to discuss in joint debate from
the tail Of cart or from the platform OF
a hired hall.
In letter which Mr.. Baker addressed
to Mr.. Calder on Monday, the proposition
is made that the two engage in Joint de-
bate of the question, Ought Representa-
tives in Congress to accept railroad passes,
and il they ought should they ride on more
than one at the same timer"
This question isvery near to the seat Of
the Hon. Robert Radical Anti-pass Baker q
affections, and has been for m any years.
He knows not how it is with Mr.. Calder.
but as for himself, he wouldn't ride or sit
on even a little piece Of pass. He insists
that this question is the paramount issue
of the Baker Calder campaign. Mr..
Baker is a great admirer OF William j.
Bryan, and every Bryan man must have
a paramount issue in every campaign.
Mr.. Baker is very cordial person, a
regular sweetness and light" candidate,
and his invitation to MIR. Calder is most
cordial He will be glad to have Mr.. Baker
speak at the carttail meetings which
am now starting, in turn to speak at similar
meetings which you are holding, or, which
might be more satisfactory to the electorate.
we could jointly hire hall in each Of the
four Assembly districts, you to have one
half Of the time and the remainder. Or
should be glad to entertain some alternative
proposition.
Mr.. Calder, in the brief time he has had
since receiving Mr. Bakers letter, has
sought to learn from the electorate just
which one of the Baker propositions would
be the most satisfactory to them. Up to
a late hour last evening the returns seemed
to indicate that the electors would be most
pleased if four halls were hired and ar
rangement made by which Mr.. Baker would
speak In all four at the same time.
The Republican candidate fears that
such an arrangement would be impracticable
and, therefore, as an alternative PROPOSE
ton" he has about concluded to propose to
the Hon. Anti Pass that he distribute himslf
over four cart tails in the four Assembly
districts and discuss both sides OF the ques-
ton the same evening. For q man with
Calder believes that such plan would be
no great task and that it would afford the
electorate a rare and diversified evenings
Mr.. Baker is now serving his first term
According to his autobiography, than
which there is none more comprehensive
in the Congressional Directory, the gentle
man is to be known politically as Radical
Democrat. In fact, he was one Of the
organizers Of the Radical Democracy in
Brooklyn.
In the sketch Of himself, the Hon. Anti
Pass says that he -ardently supported
Grover Cleveland in 1884; viewed with dis
may the candidacy Of Henry George for
Mayor two years later; in 1887 determined
to thoroughly investigate the whole sub
art nf IN Eanrv (yeOFpE9
works; and soon after was chosen secretary
Of the Albany Single Tax Club"
Having. gone over to Henry George,
body and brooches, Mr.: Baker tackled
his way. or that he could reach out for.
He's ag'in all tariffs, trusts, railroad re-
bates and-this is the worst Of the whole
bunch-the railroad pass system.
II congressman didn't ride on passes,
according to Mr.. Baker, it wouldn't be
from the railroads, and II there were no
secret rebates there wouldn't be any trusts;
If there weren't any trusts everybody
would be happy, and II everybody was
tn en- there'd be the millennium, when nobody
would want any passes because everybody
would have the price.
Shortly after Mr.. Baker began his term
in Congress he received pass over the
lines Of one Of the railroads, Then there
were spcttHen dHu uit Vi TIC
new member from Brooklyn would like to
have made speech to the railroad COM
pany, but that wasn't handy. So he took
his pen in hand, wrote a letter to the COR
panys president, returning the pass, and
saying very lnpolte things to the corporate
corruption Of the morals Of young Con-
yressmen. The letter reached the news
papers as soon or before it reached the
person to whom it was addressed, and in
hat way the Hon. Anti-Pass got his name
N print and became faro Gus.
The probabilities are that the proposed
debate will not take place, but Mr. Calder
Jays that II anybody wants to know how
ne stands, on the general subject Of passes
he has this to say: He never held but one
public Office and therefore never had
,hance to have many passes for anything
offered to him. A few did come his way.
however, while he was superintendent OF
and these he returned but he
lidn't think the matter of sufficient public
to tell the newspapers about it,
YERRERT PARSONS GETS RT-SY