Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-04
GIVES AN ANSWER
McCaskrin Says Personal Chal.
lenge to Debate With Social.
ist Would be Accepted.
SIM0NS HAS NO CHANCE
Local Prohibition Candidate Says Chi
csgo Mans Campaign is of No
Importance Locally.

In letter today to A. NJ. Simons
of Chicago. the socialist speaker. who
through the local committee suggested
debate with the candidates of any
other party. Harry NJ McCaSkrin
whose discussion with another social
list speaker brought about the chal
lenge, replies to the challenge and
says that it is unfair, but that per-
sOnal challenge will be accepted. Mr.
McCaskrin says that the suggestion of
debate with the Chicago speaker is
an effort on the part of the local So
cialist candidate to hide his ignor-
ance and incapability.'
Attempt to Shift Burden.
In McCaskrin's letter. which is given
below in full, he says that the chal-
lenge is an attempt to shift the burden
of the local socialist campaign. The
letter follows:
Rock Island. H.. Oct. 4. 1906.
MIR. \. NJ. Simons. Chicago. H., care
Perry A Shipman, Lock Box 1877, Rock
Island. IlI.-Sir: 1t has been announc-
ed in The Rock Island Union and The
Argus, the republican and democratic
papers in this city that you issue a
challenge TO any accredited represent
alive of the prohibition, republican. or
democratic party Ito share the time
with you in debate" And in the same
statement. there is an opportunity of
fered Ito make five minutes speech
attacking. criticising or refuting the
speaker
The newspaper statement does not
outline any issue TO debate and so far
as / know there is no one who wishes
To attack. criticise or refute you as 4
speaker
AS the prohibition candidate for the
state legislature. | challenged the can
didates of other parties upon the is |
sues for the same Office. The socialist !
candidate here declined to accept my |
challenge on the ground that he was
ignOranU and incapable of meeting me
in public debate. and it is my impress
sion that he is undertaking TO shift the
burden of his campaign upon you, and
with the characteristic unfairness of
all socalled socialists. he says that
yoI will lecture on your subject and in
his same challenge gives but five min
utes for reply. This, you VIII note,
is unfair.
Il am willing to divide the time
with you and meet you in public de-
bate to refute the mind wanderings,
vagaries and purely mag
mary theories of any lecture on the
subject of sOcalled socialism Any
coming direct from you
and tending to me a fair opportunity to
meet you in a fair debate with the af-
firmative burden on your part to es
tabIish any practical or useable theory
of government, which you can prove
by sOcaIIed Socialism has been applied
on which you can prove by sOcalled
socialism is better than the govern
ment we have. viii be gladly received.
| will meet you on that issue.
Vagaries and Mind WanderinEs-
II do not intend to allow the local
candidate for the state legislature on
the socaIled socialist ticket to hide his
ignorance and incapability by your
power As an orator. | have no desire
to challenge you as a candidate for the
trustee. because the Uniyer-
sity of Illinois is my alma mater and
she has graduated enough intelligent
educated men to see to II on election
lay that no vagaries. mind wanderingS
1r untried theories shall be allowed to
hlemish her fair name You have no
show of being elected, you have no