The Mena weekly star., 1908-07-23
WHY NATIONAL ISSUES?
GeOrge Legate Makes Reply to John P. Logan and Suggests State and Local
 Issues are More Important.

NNhS lOlth tue pOSlklOn that in your opinion it would seem best 10 place before the vot- CTS of this Sena torial district the opportunity to decide whom they want to represent them in the state senate for tie coming four years is received. Permit ms 10 state that your idea that you, a Democrat, and l, a Republican, mould go before the voters of the district in public discussion of tue National political issues for the purpose of informing them seems ludicrous in the extreme and a reflection on their intel- ligence.
 Since the Hon. Thomas San. ford, your erstwhile Democratic opponent in the primary, attempt ed, by all tue strategy and diplo- macy that he could muster to en- gage you in public discussion of tue merits of your Senatorial fight, 1t would seem but idle ver- biage for me to attempt to make a similar date with you. Nv infot. nation Is that you told MT. San. ford that you were not making any dates for public speaking, and when by strategy he found letters where you had made dates for public speaking, and did on two three occasions succeed in catching up with you to get a diysion of time at these public meetings, you there refused to de- bate with him the issues then pending, can only conclude that you consider that state issues are of minor importance and would treat matter in similar manner were l to make a date for joint debate with you, and 1t seems that you consider National issues of more importance than state is- sues, notwithstanding they have nothing to do with the case in point.
 But 1 d, sire to say 10 you frank ly, that should you attend any of the meetings where am to speak 1 shall be pleased to divide time with you, and that there and then I shall discuss bills and measures that the people of this Senatorial district may decide between John P. Logsn and Geo. Legate, which, in their judgment, Is the best qualified to represent their inter- ests in the state legislature.
 Since the Hon. William H.. Taft has not seen fit to challauge Ihe Hon. William Jennings Bryan 10 a discussion of the National issues of the day 1 can see no good reason why the Hon. John P. Logan should challenge me to set the example for men of such national repute.
 When, during the session of 1903, there was bill which pro- vided for the completion of the state capitol, why did you not then push Senate bill 166, and thus save the state the odium of having to prosecute members of tue Senate of which you were a mem ber.
 Again, in your letter, you refer to another bill aud ask why l did not do so and so, when in fact the Journal does not show what you claim, nor in any way substanti- ate your statement. At least you say I did not vote for or against the measure and since you have asked me my position, let me ask you, kind sir, why you voted mo" on Senate bill l62, which provided for the Better Protection of Farmers" also bill los. which was to Prevent the Fraudulent Issue of Poll Tax Receipts;" also House bill POS, which provided for dismembering Scott county, when you took away from that county S16S DOC worth of railroad. taxable proper tv and six townships, or approxi- mately 13S, 240 acres of Scott county's good land, and added tbis onto a county which had the benefits of water rates and rail. road facilities far surpassing that of Scott county? The tax from this railroad and this enormous body of land would have provided more schools for Scott county, built more miles macadamized road. would have leSsened the county tax and been of more last ing benefit than all tbe depository bills that could possibly have been introduced
 Since your letter was writer with the intention of publication | I shall ask that my letter be pub l lished. and desire 10 call youl attention to the fact that l con ducted my own campaign ioul years ago aud was successful, ant do not desire to be dictated to al to how shall conduct my cam oa;ar this year. which 1 have