The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-20
.DEv|NE REFUSES.
TO A JOINT !
DEBATE
Chairman of County Central
Commute Calls His
Bluff.

Special to The Evening Times.
Minot, N. D., June 2O-The follow
ing appeared in yesterdays Grand
Forks Herald:
Special to the Herald:
Minot, June 16-This afternoon at
Bowbells occurred one of the greatest
campaign meetings of the season. Gov
ernor Devine and L. j. Palda were the
principal speakers. They had issued
challenge to the machine leaders,
who have been doing the mud throw
ing to come out like men and meet
them on the square in debate and
make their cowardly accusations open
ly and above board, and then let them
defend their position If they can. Ex-
Governor Devine made the same chal-
lenge at Sawyer, but the gang men are
not used to defending their position
in their infamous campaign, so at the
last moment they got cold feet and
declared that they knew there was
nothing to the charges and that If
ex-governor Devine would let them
of they would not say more about
their imaginary charges.
After the meeting at Bowbells this
afternoon Devine and Palda went to
Portal and spoke tonight, and next
Monday night the grand final meeting
of the campaign will be held in Minot,
when Mr.. Devine will again give his
accusers an opportunity to come out in
the open and debate the matter.
The following challenge was issued
by the county central committee today:
Minot, N. D., June IS, 1906.
To the Chairman of Good Government
League, Minot, N. D.,
Dear Sir.-We are advised that you
purpose to hold public meeting at
the opera house tonight We re-
specially extend challenge to you
to meet the speakers of our committee
in joint debate at that meeting. An
early reply will oblige,
Republican County Central Com.
By Alfred Blaisdell, Sec.
Ex-Governor Devine refused to ac-
cept the challenge
The Herald article is a tissue of lies
from beginning to end. The facts are
as follows: At the opening of the
campaign Devine stated that he would
"annihilate" the charges made against
him If given an opportunity to do SO.
Attorney WIN. Crane Of this city, went
to Sawyer on Saturday, June eth, the
day of the Old Settlers picnic, for the
express purpose of holding joint dis
cussion with Devine.
The committee having the celebra-
ton in charge decided that It would
not be advisable to have a political
discussion owing to the fact that the
program Of sports would not be nm
ished until late in the evening. Both
Gov. Devine and Mr.. Crane were noti-
Ned and they both agreed to postpone
their discussion until the meeting at
Bowbells. Devine was told that It
would, be impossible for Crane to get
to the BOwbells meeting until the ar
rival of the afternoon train from
Minot, owing to the fact that Mr..
Crane was billed to speak at Ryder on
Friday evening and would be unable
to get back to Minot until Saturday
noon. Devine agreed to wait until Mr..
Cranes arrival at B0wbells. and i'm
mediately upon the latter's appearance
at Bowbells on Saturday afternoon
Devine took the train for Flaxton
where he held q meeting in the even
ing. However, His friend Judge Palda
remained In BOwbelIs and engaged In
3 discussion with Mr.. Crane in the
evening before . large audience. Crane
had the best Of It all the way through
and showed conclusively that the
charges made against Devine are true
in every particular. The fact of the
matter ID that Devine II afraid to dig
cuss the matter In joint debate because
no knows that Attorney Crane has the
documents to prove Ill Of the allie
gations made. Devine admits that he
drew salaries 90 governor and lieu-j
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