The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-29
BRIsT0W AT OSBORNE
Farmers Expect to Vote Heavily al
Primaries.

osborne. Kan, July 81 L. Bris-
Tow, candidate for the nomination as
Oniteo states senator on the Republi-
can ticket. was in town Tuesday and
SPOKE TO a good sized audience in the
afternoon. He visited the stores and
renewed his old acquaintance and
made many new ones. The audience
was much larger one than had been
expected for it was known that he was
coming only about forty-eight hours
before he arrived. There were farm
ers from distant parts of the county
some driving as far as fifteen miles.
me farmers composed a large part of
his hearers.
Contrary to some reports that have
been circulated, one of the farmers
prominent in the county stated that
ninety per cent Of the Republican vot-
ers Of his township would vote at the
primaries
Another stated that while the farm
ers. were very busy and were saying
very little about politics, yet he knew
OF none who intends to stay away from
the polls next Tuesday. In spite of
the great heat Of the afternoon Mr..
Brfstow held his audience easily. They
showed great interest in his discus
sion of the transportation question.
and after the meeting many shook
hands with the speaker and pledged
him their support.
In the course Of his speech Mr.. Bris-
tow referred to the campaign which
his opponent is conducting, saying:
Senator Long seems to be deter
mined that the senatorial contest
should degenerate into personal con-
troversy. He proudly announced at
the state convention and has since re-
iterated the statement that he pro-
posed to make this race upon his rec
ord, yet he refuses to discuss the
things that he stands for in Washing
ton. as shown by his votes in the SEN
ate.
AT our joint debate in Sterling, I
asked him to state whether or not he
was In favor OF limiting the capitalize
ton of public service corporations; of
authorizing the interstate commerce
commission to ascertain the value of
railroads; of empowering the COM
mission to fix rates upon its own in
itiative, as recommended by the presi-
dent; of electing United States sena-
tors by a direct vote of the people;
and of requiring publicity of cam
paign contributions and expenses.
up to this time he has persistent
Iy refused to commit himself upon
these propositions.
ION July goth, challenged him to
a series of six joint debates, stating
that held that he occupied a wrong
position on all of these questions.
asked him to show to the people of
and that I would undertake to show
that he was wrong. This challenge
he declined.
eff the senator Is running upon his
record, why does he refuse to defend
1t in joint debates? Heretofore he has
eagerly sought joint discussion. He
gained some reputation as a debater
against Jerry Simpson. He proudly
accepted the invitation to meet me at
Sterling Why does he decline now
1 do not fiatter myself that it is be-
cause he thinks 1 am an ADLER debater
than was Mr.. Simpson. Everyone in
Kansas knows that / am not. The
only apparent reason seems to be that
he does not want to defend his rec
ord. If his record is good he ought to
be proud of 1t and glad of an oppor-
tunity to discuss 1t. If II is bad then
the course that he is taking is the
natural one for him to follow. At
any rate the senator seems to prefer
to campaign alone where he can make
unchallenged statements and indulge
in personal filings and avoid commit
ting himself upon the issues before
the people, the ultimate settlement of
which is of such deep concern to the
peOD1e."