Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-20
GORMAN CHALLENGED
Rayner Anxious to Meet Him
in Joint Debate.
SENSATION OF THEHOOR
REMARKABLE BREAK In MARY
LAND DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN.
Two Senators in Opposition Over the
Poe Amendment-Senior States
man Evasive in Reply.
SENSATION OF THE HOUR
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, October Ex-senator Ray
ner has again furnished the sensation of
the hour by challenging Senator German to
a joint debate with him on the question of
the Poe amendment. The junior senator
from Maryland is eager to meet the sage
of Laurel on the stump and leaves the place
and time of meeting in this city to be Sc
lected by Senator German.
Following so closely upon his impassioned
denunciation of the Poe amendment and
caustic arraignment Of the senior senator,
this announcement by Senator Rayner has
created the greatest sensation known in
years In this city and throughout the state.
1t cannot be said that the action taken by
Senator Rayner was unexpected, because in
these dispatches to The Star a month ago
your correspondent had told how the junior
senator refused to deliver an address at the
state convention, which had been planned
for a night event at the Lyric, with the ac-
compartment of torchlight parade, fire.
works and splendid array of orators on
the stage. 1t was the destinations of Sem
ator Rayner and former Gov William
Pinckney Whyte to stand under the German
banner that caused change in these plans
and finally resulted in daylight cut-and-
dried affair at Fords Opera House.
The Man of the Hour.
Even the enemies of Senator Rayner ad-
NIT that his utterances regarding the
amendment have made him the man of the
hour in Maryland, and to him is given the
credit for having fann~d into flames the re-
volt against Gormanism which had been
smoldering within the ranks of the demo-
cratic party ever since the Poe amendment
was forced through the legislature.
Many incline to the belief that Gov. War
field lost the opportunity of his official ca
reer in falling to make an attack on the
amendment as soon as the campaign opened
thereby defining his position on the
question. While ii is true that the governor
in his message to the legislature set forth
fully his reasons for antagoniZing the meas
ure, 1t was confidently expected that he
would issue open letter setting forth his
hostility to the amendment and giving his
reasons for opposing the Poe plan, even
after 1t had passed the legislature as a
caucus measure.
The friends of the governor however as
sert that at the proper time Mr.. Warfield
will clearly define his position in regard to
the amendment and that the document will
be one which will cause a sensation not
even second to that aroused by Senator
Rayner 1t is expected that the governor S
letter will be made public during the COM
ing week.
Senator Rayner's Def.
In his def to Senator German the junior
senator said: Il will debate the amendment
with Senator German in this city at any
time and any place he may select. 1 am
anxious for the fray, and If the author of
the amendment and the leader of the or
ganization is willing to meet me in an abso-
lutely orderly and respectable debate l ten
DER him my presence The argument will
be entirely impersonaI and l shall confine
myself simply to a discussion of this amend
ment. ,
IF any other gentlemen, members of the
y --r,,nr tic JAl,-
favored the amendment, or Mr.. Joshua W.
Mlles-deslrc to enter into the debate at
this meeting let them come. We could make
the following arrangement, and suggest it
with not a single idea in my mind except
20 enlighten the people of Baltimore upon
the amendment,
Let Mr.. Poe or Mr.. Miles open the de-
pate We will start at 7:3O in the evening
Let either OF them speak for an hour Then
Senator German could follow them for the
same length of time. Let me commence
not later than or $50 o'clock and give
me, say, an hour and a quarter to reply
close the debate
That is a perfectly fair proposition. It
Will be friendly and not an angry discus
SION SION ana when 1t is over the people can
render their verdict, and the great tribunal
of public justice can record its iudemant
In the natter JUG hieif'
Willing to Address Meeting.
would attend the meeting to be called at
Music Hall next week in favor of t,,e an+;ro
democratic ticket and against the amend
ment In reply the senator said:
/. Il have the matter under considera ttor
and while have said all 1 can saw against
the amendment now, yet the democrat rio
party of Baltimore, which is prettv wall
iined up against the amendment, notwith-
standing orders which have been issned ~
the company intends to support tho sn+,ro
democratic ticket, and if nv fellow, dew
crats desire me to address a public meet
a s,s INA, tnds VIII help along this purpose, / am
at their disposal because 7 an, i,,s+ III
anxious for the election OF the Who'll tso,. %
as an Tor the defeat OF the amendnant
ms meeting viii evidently not he he,d
III, ne state central committee but there
wlii De spoken from the rostrum as 49,
democratic doctrine as was evar % an,p pure
ated In this city. We do not recneniza
any uKase such as the Shah of Persia 10
sues to his satraps .
Ignore the Command.
we pay not the slightest attention n
the command that we have not the right
10 support the democratic ticket in BAL
tlmore unless we are IN favor of the
amendment. We propose to elect that
ticket and every candidate on 1t, and not
sacrifice 1T to crafty the purpose or amh-
ton of any man.
Aoco VI tSiiiHS us Inat have NOT
the right to discuss democratic principies
or the great work that is before the legis
iature next year, or the qualifications and
character OF cur candidates-that all these
questions must be ignored
Ihis is an act of tyranny unparalleled
IN any government that claims to be repuh-
mean or among any people processing to
NC iee. ]. NJ D.
German Noncommittal.
ta-
senator Gorman was seen at his home
near Laurel last night by a BaItimora
sun reporter, and was asked what would
De MS decision In reference to the chal-
lenge of Senator Rayner.
why, / havne't seen any CHALLENGE ;, =.
replied.