Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-06-23
BERRY SUlIIMA UNI
Tells Gov. Davis He VIII
Do Things in His Own
Way and Time.
SAYS TITS TOO EARLY TO OPEN
A CAMPAIGN. AND PEo.
PIE AGREE.
Designates Governors Language as
Very ImpoIite, and Most People
Would Consider 1t Insulting.
SENATOR BERRY'S LETTEF

Senator James II. Berry has made
public his reply to the last letter Of
Gov. jeff Davis on the subject of the
opening of the senatorial campaign.
1t is in the nature CT an ultimatum
He opens by saying that he considers
the language used by the governor
as very impolite, and considered by
most people insulting" However, he
declares that he is unwilling tc at
tempt competition with him Gin the
use of insulting. improper and dis
agreeable words" He resents the gov
ernor having applied the term "sub
terfuge" to his first letter, and says
there are various other statements
mot in accord with the facts He re-
iterates his former position that he
will engage in no joint canvass un-
less dates and places are mutually
agreed upon, and says that July is
too early anyway to open the cam
paign. The people are tired of the
constant political turmoil and want
a rest. He declines to answer the
questions propounded by the governor
in regard to his position on the "blan-
ket" primary plan, since the ques-
tions carry with them an imputation
en- his faith and confidence in the
people.
His letter to Gov. Davis Is as fol-
lows:
Bentonville. Ark, June 20, 1906
Gov. jeff Davis, l. tile Rock, Ark:
Dear Sir-I have received your let
ter CT the 18th. in which you say
among other things, that you consid-
er my letter of the 11th "subterfuge
and a dodge" Your language is very
impolite and considered by mcst peo
pie as insulting. But I will not fol-
low your example in this regard.
am not willing to undertake to com-
pete with you in the use OF insulting
improper, or disagreeable words. No
man can engage in a contest of that
kind without great loss Of self-respect
You are the first man who ever used
the word subterfuge in connection
with my name, and I am certain that
there is nothing in my past life CIR
in nv letter to you to justify 1t.
There are other statements in your
letter not in accord with the facts,
but all CT them, except one. relate 10
vour excuse for not comforting with
me. as you said you would, before
you announced the opening OF the
canvass. I do not regard them as I'M
nortant. and do not think the pubic
especially interested in them, and
will pass them by.
There was no necessity for you to
again invite me to meet you at Con
way I had said in public letter
over nv own signature, that | wouio
not engage in a joint canvass, either
at Conway or elsewhere, until we had
agreed upon the times, places anu
manner of conducting the canvass
and having said this, I will, as a mat
ter of course, keep my word. But ou'
side of this, and in order that thi'
letter may be the end OF the CORE
spondence upon my part, Will sa!
here that will not agree to en1e
into a Joint canvass at any place a
early as the Fourth Of July. 1t seems
70 me that 1t would be inexcusable u
begin a Joint debate at time whe'
the people are most busy with tnel
crons ana to continue for perio'
of nine months, when the primary VII
be held.
For FIVE years the people have beer
kent in constant excitement and tuf
mo;l by candidates going from plac'
to place in a purely personal canvass
and some of them using the mcst ao'
sive yituperative and insulting lar
guase that it is possible to CONCEIVE
All this has resulted in stirring u
friend against friend and nelghpo