The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-05-30
WANTED A JOINT DEBATE
SMITHS FRIENDS ASKED HOW
ELL FOR DIVISION OF TIME.
AT His Appointment in Dawson Mon
day. No Arrangements Were
Perfected, However.

VI
Perfected, However.
When it was announced that Hon.
Clark Howell had made an appoint
ment to address the voters Of Terrell
county Messrs. w. H. Davis and j..
G. Dean, committee representing
friends of Hon. Hoke Smith, sent Mr..
Howell a letter asking that he divide
time with Mr.. Smith in Dawson on
Monday, and mentioned letter Mr..
Howell had written them in response
to an invitation to be present at Mr..
Smiths appointment here in August,
1905, their letter being as follows:
The Committees Letter.
''We notice that you will address
our people on May 18th, and are
thereby reminded Of a promise con
tanned in your letter Of July 3lst, last
to see that Dawson shall be made one
of the points of Joint debate during
the gubernatorial campaign. We
therefore feel at liberty to ask your
permission to invite Hon. HOke Smith
to meet you here on that occasion in
Joint debate. In view of the promise
referred to we feel sure you will not
deny our people the pleasure Of such
Joint discussion. Awaiting an early
reply" etc.
Mr.. HOweIl's Letter Last Year.
The letter referred to of Mr.. How
ell's under date of July 81 was as fol-
lows:
81 have your favor of the Doth inst.
inviting me to be present at a barbe-
cue to be given in your county on
August 10, at which time all candi-
dates for governor have been invited
to deliver addresses. Nothing would
give me greater pleasure than to be
with you on this occasion, but 1T Will
be impossible for me to accept just
now. 1t is my intention to take the
stump at later day, and to meet all
the candidates for governor in Joint
debate, but frankly | am of the opin-
ion that since the primary cannot take
place until after July 10th next year it
is too early now to undertake a series
of Joint debates. Later on, as the
campaign advances, and when ar
rangements are made for the joint de-
bates, | shall ask that Dawson be
designated as one of the places at
which | shall be glad to meet my OBJ
ponents. With cordial regards. " etc.
Wired for an Answer.
To the letter first printed above
reply was received from Hon. Jno. J.
Boifeuillet Mr.. HOwell's campaign
manager, saving Mr.. Howell was alb
sent from Atlanta on a campaign tour,
and that the matter would be referred
to him upon his return to the city. On
May %, some days later, this telegram
was sent to Mr.. BOifeullet by Mr..
Smiths friends:
"Will Howell meet Smith here as
requested in letter? Answer. "
To this Mr.. Boifeuillet replied by
letter under date of May % as printed
below:
Mr.. Isoifeuiuet's Reply.
81 beg to acknowledge the receipt
of your telegram asking that Hon.
Clark Howell meet Hon. HOke Smith
in Joint debate at Dawson on Monday,
May %. Mr.. Howell is absent from
Atlanta campaigning, and | have had
no opportunity to confer with hlmcon-
corning your inquiry, and the proba-
bility is | will not see him before he
goes to Dawson next Monday. lnas-
much as Mr.. Howell's appointment to
speak at Dawson was made in an &C
ceptance to an invitation extended
him by his friends there, and none of
them having suggested that he should
share time with Hon. Hoke Smith on
that occasion, / do not feel at liberty,
in Mr. Howell's absence, to authorize
on his part the said Joint debate
Furthermore, it occurs to me that as
Hon. Hoke Smith has already spoken
in Terrell and Mr.. Howell has not
made an address in your county it
would be manifestly unfair to Mr..
Howell to have a joint debate with
Mr.. Smith before the people of Terrell
at Dawson May Is. With great re-
spect," etc.