The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-09
ROBSON WANTS JOINT DEBATE He Sends a Challenge to William J. Bryan. TO DISCUSS THE NAVY NebraSkan Refuses in Char.
 acteriStic Letter. Says He is Not Devoting as Much Time to Defending His Party as
 Alabamfan is in As-
 sailing. It.

has sent to The AdVertiser copies or interesting correspondence between William J. Bryan and himself rela. tive to the policy of American naval supremacy advocated by the naval off, ficer.
 challenge was sent by Captain Hobson to MT. Bryan for series of joint debates in the different sections of the country on the policy of increas- ing the fighting strength of the navy The challenge was not accepted py MT. Bryan, as he says, because the last na- tional convention of the Democratic Party rejected the policy and he does not approve of debates between Demo- crats as to such measures.
 The letters are characteristic of the two public men and are valuable as contemporaneous political history.
 HObson to Bryan.
 The communication from Captain Hobson to MT. Bryan was as follows:
 ''En Route, Feb. Il, 1905.
 Army and Navy Club,
 "16 w. Thirty-first Street.
 New York Hon. w. J. Bryan, Lincoln, Ne5.
 Dear MT Bryan-Today at Nevaoa' Mo. where 1 lectured last night, advo- eating American Naval Supremacy, an earnest citizen, Democrat and an ar dent admirer of yours, said to me, he accepted my conclusions, but. that he would like tc hear you present the other side, since by your teachings this policy was inconsistent With sound Democratic doctrine.
 Earnest citizens in all sections throughout the land have the same attitude of mind.
 q believe for this question. as Tor all questions, both sides should be
 
 may the better prevail in the final de- cision. Furthermore, as you know. no form of political education is more beneficial to a self governing people, than to have them sit in judgment up- on A great question and pass upon 1t after an impartial hearing of both sides. "I am sure you agree with me that the question of America's attitude to- wards the nations of the earth and her Legitimate part in world afrairs upon which naval policy rests, should nave the immediate consideration or our people. as the world is now disturbed and the future is fraught with uncer- tainty.
 q am sure you agree with me also that a great Democratic leader ought not to stand out against an urgent pol lev saddling this party with the re- sponsibility for opposition. unless he can maintain his position from the facts and the truth.
 "Therefore, I hereby challenge you to meet me in joint debate to discuss the question, Resolved. That America should Hold Naval Supremacy. And, as we are both delivering lectures, l hereby extend you a hearty invitation to be present and divide time at any or all of my engagements ana re- ouest a similar permission from you. There would probably be no difficulty in arranging with the local committees May I suggest, further, that arrange ment be made for such debates at Cbautauoua Assemblies, this summer "If it should not prove practical to make sufficient arrangement during the lecture season, I would suggest debates sometime in May. between lecture seasons. admitting the public free. the expense being shared equally between us; say for two debates in the East. three in the Middle West and two in the South.
 "For the arrangement of debates, kindly allow your secretary or man aRement to confer with s B. Hershey, Esq. President American Lyceum Union, Rochester, N. Y.
 with assurances of deep personal admiration and esteem, I remain
 sincerely ;go yours ,,o,.on
 Bryan to HObsOn.
 Nearly six weeks elapsed and then Captain Hobson received the follow ng reply: ,oo- "Captain R. r. Hobson, New fork Dear MT. Hobson-My brother has called my attention to your letter upon my return to the city.
 My dates for the summer are al- ready made, so that 1t would be im- possible to make the arrangements which you suggest, even if l thought 1t wise to do so. But to be frank with you, I hardly think that I would care to enter into a series of debates with any Democrat to determine what ought to be considered a Democratic policy. And then, too the Committee rejected a plank which embodied your idea on the navy question, and as the platform was unanimously adopted by the con vention, I hardly think that 1t Is debatable question. With more req son a gold Democrat might ask me to debate the insertion of a gold plank. or a protectionist the endorsement of the Republican position on that sub ject.
 You doubtless have abundant op- portunity to present your views an1 if. as yc-l say, the policy which you rep resent is "an important and urgent one" you do not need any one to as- sist you in bringing 1t before the pub lie. might add that l am not trying to "saddle' my party with responsi biIity for opposition as you intimate. for while I refer to the navy question whenever occasion requires. l am not devoting anything like as much time to the defense of the Democratic posi- ton as you are in assailing 1t.
 Very truly yours,
 ''W. J Bryan"
 Captain Hobson has recently de- clared that he would take Q leading part in Alabama's political campaign next year.