The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-09-27

Congressman Brick Declines Hon.
B. F. Shively's Challenge.

B. r. Shlvely's Challenge
The political issues involved in the
Thirteenth congressional district
campaign will not be the subject
of joint debates between Hon. A. L.
Brick, the Republican nominee, and
the Hon. B. F. Shively, the Demo-
cratic candidate. In letter addressed
to Mr.. Brick, written Sept. Mr.
Shively proposed a series of debates,
and in reply Wednesday Mr.. Brick
declined the proposal.
The letter written by Mr. Shively
was as follows:
South Bend, Ind, Sept 8, 1906
Hon. Abraham L. Brick, Republican
Nominee for Congress, South Bend
Dear SIR
Assured that you agree with me
as to the propriety and desirability
of full and thorough presentation
and discussion in the presence of the
voters Of the Thirteenth congress
sional district. of the issues involved
in the pending campaign, | respect
fully invite you to engage with me
in series of joint debates on such
issues at suitable points within the
district, the number, dates and places
of the joint meetings, the rules of the
debates, and other details to be ar
ranged and determined by our re-
spective congressional COMMITTEES in
joint conference, or in any other
practicable way which you may sug-
gest.
"Very respectfully yours,
"Benj.. F. Shively."
The reply to this letter, issued
Wednesday by Mr.. Brick. is as fol-
lows:
"South Bend, Ind. Sept 10, 1906.
Hon BENZ. F. Shively,
Democratic Nominee for Congress
South Bend, Ind.
my Dear Sir: Your letter dated
Sept 8, 1906, came to my hand upon
Sept IL, in which communication you
invite me to engage in a series of
joint debates upon the political issues
involved in the pending campaign.
for the purpose of informing the
voters OF the district upon issues.
and l most respectfully reply to the
same.
1. has always been my opinion
and, as believe this the commonly
accepted one, that the usefulness of
a political joint debate, if there ever
was any, has long since passed away
The questions that appeal to the
public at this time are well known
/ to everybody, in fact, the principal
material issues to be discussed are
the ones the voters themselves have
taken prominent part in making.
AT least since the Democratic and
Republican state conventions, both
ID our positions are fully defined and
we'll known But beyond all this, l
feel now just as did four years ago
when the Hon F. f. Herring pro-
osed as you have joint debate IN
the congressional campaign, that the
public is better open to full knowl-
edge and cool determination of all
the issues that can possibly arise
without the partisan feeling ard in
evitable turmoil incident to political
joint debates.
81 respectfully decline your pro-
posal, and will Immediately let the
people know of your request and of
my declination.
Sincerely yours,
"a L. Brick"
South Bend, Indiana, Sept 10. 1906.
Hon. Abraham L. Brick,
Republican Nominee for Congress,
South Bend, Ind.
Dear Sir:
Yours of even date received, de-
cl;ning my invitation to jointly de-
bate the issues of the pending cam
paign.
While fully respecting your deci-
sion, permit me to dissent from the
reasons you assign for it. The ten
dency of political debate is to relieve
controverted subjects of the extran-
eous and prevalent matters which
too frequently darSen and obscure
them, and to bring into clearer light
the real issues of both fact and pol
icy. A good cause can only be
strengthened by the searching scru-
tiny of joint discussion. The reasons
given for foregoing the custom of
popular debate would apply with
equal or greater force to parliament
tary debate. l submit that the intel
1igence and good temper of the peo-
pie of this district might safely have
been relied on to preclude the posi-
bility of the inevitable turmoil"
which you apprehend
But recognizing that it is your
right to decline the invitation as it
was mine to extend it, am, with the
kindest personal regards,
Respectfully yours,
Benz F. Shively.s