The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-10-06
JOINT DEBATES
ARE CALLED OFT
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE RE
FUSES CHALLENGE.
WOULD BENEFIT BREWSTER
Unable in Any Other Way to Attract
Attention, He Would Thus Get
Advantage of Major Lacey's
Popularity.

Popularity.
At meeting of the republican con-
gressional committee held in Ottum-
wa Saturday. the question of joint
debate throughout the various coun-
ties in the district, between Hon. John
F. Lacey and s. A. Brewster, candi-
dates for congress on the republican
and democratic tickets, was thorough
ly canvassed and discussed, and the
result, Of the deliberations was that
no joint debates will be held.
Chairman Ellsworth Rominger of
the committee was instructed to for
ward to Geo. F. Rinehart, chairman
of the democratic committee, at once
the following reply to the challenge
recently issued by that body to the
republican committee:
Ottumwa, Iowa, Oct. /, 1904
Hon, G.. F. Rinehart,
Chairman of the Democratic Con-
gressional Committee, Newton, Ia
My Dear Sir:-Your challenge was
duly received and after consideration
by the republican congressional COM
mittee on the above date, am author
lied to respectfully decline the same.
Very respectfully,
Ellsworth Rominger,
Chairman of the Republican Congress
sional Committee.
Rominger Interviewed.
AS to why the challenge was de-
clined, and why no joint debate was
desired, Chairman Rominger gave out
on benalf of the committee the follow
ing authorized interview:
Hon. John F. Lacey, our candidate
for congress in the Sixth congression-
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 minor
details Of the proposed arrangement,
in his letter of notification The re-
publican congressional committee met
in Ottumwa October and recogniz-
ing the eminent ability of Mr.. Lacey
as debater, legislator, statesman
and scholar and knowing him to be a
fearless exponent of republican prin-
ciples, they were Of the unanimous
opinion that joint meeting was not
desired in the respective counties in
the Sixth district. The challenge con-
tainted discourteous language but the
committee did not consider that suffi-
cient upon which to decline the chal-
lenge, but they believed that Major
Lacey will be elected by an increased
majority in the district that will ex-
coed all former years. The substan-
tial business interests, farmers, labor
trict have given him earnest assur-
ance of their support The republi
can candidate is known as one of the
ablest representatives in congress and
has earned a 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 republican
policies for the past seven years en-
pnasizes the record in behalf of an
unparalleled progress of our candi-
date for congress and we believe he
will be endorsed by great republican
victory. Fully 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
committee does not deem it 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 challeng-
ing party. The committee contem-
plating sweeping republican victory
in every county in the district and the
election of Major Lacey by an over
whelming majority and Iowa by at
least 100000 and the triumphant cleo.
ton Of Theo. Roosevelt and Cnas. w.
Fairbanks by vote that will forever
bury the discordant notes and theo-
ries of a divided democratic party in
the United States of America, there
fore. the challenge was respectfully
declined @
Brewster Still Unhappy.
Monday morning, Major Lacey re-
ceived in his mail the following let
ter from Mr.. Brewster: