The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-21
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FAST AND LOOSE
Republican StraddIing is
Clearly Shown.
FOXY PLAN DECLINED
Democratic State Chairman Simmons
Writes Republican State Chairman
and Expresses Surprise at
Republicans Failing
to Debate.

The challenge to the Republicans
for a joint discussion by the Demo-
cratic State Executive Committee, and
the refusal of Chairman Rollins to
have his party's nominees speak ex-
cept as each pleased, with only one
ready to do so are known.
Yesterday, having finally received
the letter of Chairman Rollins de-
clining TO enter into a joint debate
Chairman Simmons answered it, and
this is so well that the letter is given
in it's entirety. Here it is:
Hon. Thos. S. Rollins,
Chairman Republican State Executive
Committee, Asheville, n. c.
My Dear Sir: Your letter of August
/ 5th, declining the challenge for a
joint debate between the candidates
on the State tickets of our respective
parties for political offices conveyed
in my letter to you of July 9th, eX-
cept between the opposing candidates
for one of the minor places on the
ticket has BEEN received. | note that
your letter puts your declination of
my challenge upon the ground that
some of the candidates of your party
opposed a joint debate, and from the
text of your letter it appears that this
extends to all your candi-
dates on the State ticket except one.
| assume as a matter of course, that
the candidates OF your party who are
under the jurisdiction OF your con-
mittee, whatever may be their per-
sonal inclination. would obey the de-
cision of your committee as to a joint
as the candidates of my
party are ready to obey the decision
bnf ion,
and l must, therefore, accept your
refusal of my challenge as an acquies-
cence by you and your committee in
the opposition of your candidates on
the State ticket to a joint discussion.
In view of the fact that your party
held its State convention first, and
that your platform makes divers
charges against the administration of
the States affairs during the past four
years by the Democratic party, it is
to say the least, that the
nominated by your party
for executive and administrative posi-
tons in the State government should
oppose a joint discussion to the OPP
posing candidates on that ticket whose
sole duty will be to preside over the
Senate.
You refer to certain arrangements
which you say have been made be-
tween certain candidates for Congress
for a joint discussion, and to an un-
accepted challenge made by one of the
Democratic candidates for electoral
large, and express a willingness to
meet me to arrange appointments for
those discussions. Under the plan of
of my party, and / pre-
sumo the same is true of yours, the
State Executive Committee has no jur-
isdiction over appointments for Con-
gressional candidates, that power be-
ing vested in the district committee. IT
has never been the practice of our
State committee to make or. interfere
with these appointments and unsolic-
tied interference now would doubtless
give offense to these candidates and
to the district committees. Under
these circumstances there does not
seem to be any occasion for further
communication between us with refer
ence to those matters
Very truly yours,
f. M. SIMMONS
Chm. State Dem Elk Committee.