Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-03

KITS IN Depate.
Des Moines, March Ex-Governor
Cumm1ns yesterday declined to join In
debate on the platform with George D.
Perkins.
Hardly had his letter reached the
Perkins headquarters when there was
delivered at the executive office. the
governor having left the city. a let
ter from Senator jackson. in which he
set forth his view of the pending
issues.
A. F. Mccall, the acting manager Of
MI. Perkins campaign, arrived in the
city Tuesday evening, but it is said
That he had no knowledge of the Jack
son letter.
cummins To Perkins.
The letter of declination of the chal-
lenge 10 joint debate sent by Governor
Cummius to Senator Jackson yesterday
follows:
'Des Moines, Ia, March %, 1906
Hon. John H. Jackson, in Charge for
Committee Managing Campaign of
Hon. Geo. D. Perkins, Observatory
Building, City.--My Dear Sir: beg
to acknowledge your of the 21st in
stant, in which you suggest a series
OF joint debates between Mr.. Perkins
and myself, to take place during the
months, 'of April and May, at one or
more points in each of the congression-
al districts Of the state. very respect
fully decline the suggestion, for many
reasons, among which are:
"First-The plan of the campaign in
my behalf has been made. It involves
all the time that can give to public
speeches, and am not willing to be
diverted from the course that have
outlined for myself.
"Sscond-Mr. Perkins has newspa-
per. the circulation Of which, as am
informed, has recently been very large.
ly Increased, and he carries on a de.
bate with me every day. He is thus
able to give his readers his views upon
my candidacy without any restraint.
"Third-Mr. Perkins and myself are
not the only candidates for governor
One other has announced his candi
dacy and may be that there will be
further announcements. 1t would be
somewhat presumptuous to assume
that the nominee must be either Mr.
Perkins or myself.
81 beg you to believe that appre.
ciate the honor you have done me, and
with my complim ents to Mr.. Perkins
remain yours very truly,
albert B. Cummins."
Jackson's Second Challenge.
The Jackson letter to the governor
supposed to have been written before
the declination of the challenge had
been received at the Perkins head
quarters, was as follows:
"Des Moines, March, 2S.-Hon. A
B. Cummins, City-Dear Sir: Hav
ing no reply to our suggestion for g
joint debate between yourself and
George D. Perkins at one or more
points in each congressional distric,
Of the state, we venture again to cal
your attention to the matter and tc
urge upon you an early and favorable
consideration of the proposition.
ut is but fair to the republicans Of
the state that they should be giver
the truth of the various matters yor
are engaged in discussing, and yor
doubtless realize that a partisan
speech is not so well calculated tt
bring out the truth as full debate.
For instance, you are reported tt
have said that Mr.. Perkins was goot
man in bad company, and you failed t.
mention the fact that in this contes
he is in the company of Preslden
Roosevelt and his cabinet, Of Senators
| Allison and Dolliver and nearly all O
our congressman.
"You say you are for a primary
law, and yet you fail to say that YOU
friends defeated the Saunders bill
which was the only fair and practica
bic measure before the senate.
You say you are for an anti-pass
bill, and yet fail to record the fac
that Mr.. Perkins for years has public
! ly favored such a measure, while vol
were soliciting and using free trans
portation for yourself and friends.
you say you are for rate legisla
ton, but you fail to say that Mr.. Per
kins has fought for such Legislation
for twenty-five years, while you were
the representative of many railroads
combines and trusts; that you were
elected to the legislature on demo
cratic ticket for the express purpose
of defeating such legislation and tina
it was through the efforts of Governo
Larrabee and Mr.. Perkins that Law
was passeu over your head controlling
railroad rates in Iowa.
"You say you prayed to your Coo
every night to be forgiven for the sin:
you committed in behalf of these cor
-porations, but you do not call attention
to the fact that Mr.. Perkins had com
mltted no sins for which forgiveness!
was needed.
"You say to the farmers that in I'm
seen ways they are being robbed, blu
you fail to make mention of the fac
that during the four years you hav'
been governor you have not advocates
a measure for their relief, while. Of
the contrary, you said to the Unite'
States senate committee on interstat,
commerce that our people go into thu
eastern markets with butter and egg
upon rate to which they are not en-
/ titlen."
/ "Ynu do not mention that for SOM