Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-20
MARTIN THROWS
DOWN GAUNTLET
CHALLENGES PHIL STANTON
TO DEBATE
OFFERS OPPONENT RIGHT TO
OPEN AND CLOSE
Democratic Assembly Candidate in
Seventy-first District Puts Issues
SquareIy Up to Former
Legislator

George c. Martin, the Democratic
nominee for the assembly from the
Seventy-frst district, has challenged
his opponent, p. A. Stanton, to a joint
debate, the subject being "Resolved,
election to the assembly from the Sew
enty-first district"
Mr.. Martin in his letter offers Mr..
Stanton every advantage possible, in
cluding the right to open and close, and
unless Stanton accepts the challenge it
will carry conviction to many of the
voters in his district that he Is lacking
in courage to defend his own record.
Mr.. Martin says:
II read an interview with Stanton.
published in Friday evening paper, in
which he makes lame attempt to side
step his action In introducing the bill
comforting power on boards of super
visors, councils, etc, to grant fran
chises to street railway companies for
carrying freight on city streets.
Stantons Excuse
"His excuse is that the bill was sent
to him by the city attorney with the
request that 1t be introduced.
1.-THE point in this matter Is that the
bill was apparently part of scheme
to turn the regulation of trafhc on
railway commissioners.
"It is very possible that the city
council or the city attorney was inno-
cent parties to the transaction, for 1t
was not a part of their business to
keep track of all bills introduced in the
legislature, but that was part of Stan
toms duty as a legislator; and when he
proposed the street railway bill, No. 997.
he must have known that assembly bill
5S4, enlarging the authority of the state
board of railway commissioners to in
elude street railways, had already been
presented before the house.
"Mr. Stantons vote against reconsid-
Grafton of the last named bill, after its
purpose had been exposed, shows his
attitude in relation to the whole mat
ter.
Must Plead Ignorance
"These two bills must be read to-
gether in order to understand the force
which was behind them, and it seems
very clear that the only excuse Stanton
can offer is such an ignorance or
lack of interest in the public welfare
as should disqualify him for the i'm
portant duties of an assemblyman.
'These considerations become of alb
sorbing interest at this time, when 1t
seems certain that an attempt Will De
made in the next legislature to put our
harbor interests into the hands OF q
board to be appointed by the COVER
nor"
Mr.. Martins challenge to Mr.. Stanton
is as follows:
The Challenge
"P. A. stanton, Los Angeles, CAL
Dear Sir: l read with interest the In
terview published in an evening paper
in which you declare your intention TO
make live, open campaign for cleo
ton to the assembly from the Seventy
first district between now and election
day.
nation, as believe the district is enti-
tied to hear both sides of our claims
/ believe that IL you and / might meet
for a joint debate in a public place we
would be able to put our case peLore
the public in the clearest and compiet-
est manner possible
ITO that end, therefore, I challenge
you to a joint depate, in which sug-
gest you take the positive and L the
negative of the following: Resolved,
That p. A. Stanton is entitled to re-
election to the assembly from the Sew
enty-first assembly district
Il will, leave it to you to choose
public place for the debate, unless you
prefer to have me provide such place.
If I do not have the honor of hearing
from you by the end of the week whlch
closes Saturday, October "a, Will oIer
hall for such 9 debate.
ut will be very easy for us to ar
range terms on which we might express
our views. 1 suggest that very good
method would be for each OF us 10
make half a dozen ten-minute talks;
the opener having the right to close.
Trusting that I NAV have a re-
sponse from you to this communica-
tion I beg to remain, respectfully yours,
s'GEO. c. MARTIN,
Democratic and Independent Candi-
date for the Assembly from the Sew
enty-frst District "