Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-04
No JOINT DEBATE
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE MEETS IN OF
TUMWA.
After Full Consideration Decides to
Decline Challenge for Joint Debate
Between Congressional Nominees
The Challenge Declined.

The challenge for joint discussion
between the republican and democrat
ic nominees for congress in the sixth
district, recently addressed to Chair
man Ellsworth Rominger, OF the repub-
lican congressional committee, by
Chairman G. F. Rinehart, of the demo
cratic congressional committee, has
been declined. This action was taken
at meeting of the republican congress
sional committee Saturday afternoon
at which meeting Chairman Rominger
was authorized to forward the follow
ing telegram to the democratic chair
man.
Ottumwa, Iowa, Oct. 1 1904.
Hon. G. F. Rinehart,
Chairman Of the Democratic Con-
gressional Committee, Newton, Iowa.
My Dear Sir:-Your challenge was
duly received and after consideration
by the republican congressional COM
mittee on the above date, l am author
lied to respectfully decline the same.
Very respectfully,
Ellsworth Rominger,
Chairman of the Republican Congress
siolal Committee.
At the same time Chairman Romin-
ger gave out the following authorized |
interview explaining the reasons OF
the committee for taking this action.
We believe the action of the commit
tee will have the general approval of
the voters of the district.
Chairman Romneer's Interview.
Hon John F. Lacey, our candidate
for congress in the sixth COMPRESSION
al district, was busy in the campaign
in northeastern Iowa when the chal-
lenge for joint meeting was printed
in the newspapers. He at once noti-
fed the committee that he was ready
to accept the challenge and fixed the
dates and places of meeting and min
or details of the proposed arrange
ment in his letter of notification. The
republican congressional committee
met in Ottumwa October 1 and recog-
nizing the eminent ability of Mr.
Lacey as a debater, legislator, states
man and scholar and knowing him to
be fearless exponent of republican
principles, they were of the unanl-
nous opinion that a joint meeting was
not desired in the respective counties
of the sixth district. The challenge
contained discourteous language but
the committee did not consider that
sufficient upon which to decline the
challenge, but they believed that
Major Lacey will be elected by an in
creased majority in the district that
will exceed all former years. The
substantial business interests, farm
ers, laborers, mechanics and miners
of t. district have given him earnest
assurance Of their support. The repub-
lican candidat, is known as one of the
ablest representatives in congress
and has earned national reputation
by his able work for the sixth district
of Iowa and the entire country and
this year the business prosperity that
has come as the result of wise repub-
| lican policies for the last seven years
emphasizes the record in behalf of an
unparalleled progress Of our candi-
date for congress and we believe he
will be enc ID by a great republican
victory. understanding that a
joint discussion is the easiest mode of
campaigning and that the audience
and subject matter is always furnish
ed by the stronger contestant, the
( COmm1CCeo does nOC u60ul IL ADVISABLE
to engage in the discussion of demo-
cratic principles for the reason that
the platform upon which the opposing
candidate stands has caused wide
spread dissatisfaction in the ranks of
the democratic party and many demo
Gratis have publicly refused to support
the platform or the candidates named
} thereon, and they offer nothing under
present conditions that could interest
the happy, prosperous voters Of the
sixth congressional district and only a
hopeless defeat awaits the challenging
party. The commlLtee contemplating
: sweeping republican victory in every
county of the district and the election
, of Major Lacey by an overwhelming
majority and Iowa by at least 100000
.. and the triumphant election of Theo
Roosevelt and Chas. W. Fairbanks by
vote that will forever bury the dis
) cordant notes and theories of divided
democratic party in the United States
, of America, therefore, the challenge
l was respectfully declined.