Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-09-17
The DEMOCRATS
ARE AT IT AGAIN
They Are Trying Some Of Their Old
Tricks to Gain Political AdTan-
taSe In the Ninth.


didate for Congress, was advertised to
speak to the Bryan, Kern and Byars
Club at this place last night. About
eight O'Clock, when the Democrats had
filled all the seats in the courthouse.
they conceived the idea of working one
of their old time tricks. They sent a
challenge to Mr.. Slemp at $50 O'Clock
for a joint debate with Mr.. Byars. That
challenge was as follows:
Tazewell, Gle, 1908.
Hon. c. B. Slemp,
Dear Sr-Mr. Byars has been adver-
tised to speak here tonight, but he
would be glad to have joint discussion
with you upon the usual terms.
Henry Roberts, Sec'y.
AS soon as Mr.. Slemp could consult
with few of his friends the following
reply was sent to the challenger,
Mr.. Henry Roberts, Sec'y,
Dear Sir
Mr.. Bysrs has been advertised all day
to speak to a Democratic Club. Mr..
Slemp arrived at 2 O'Clock p. m, giving
Mr.. Byars and his friends ample time
to have asked for a joint discussion,
when the people could have been noti-
fled that Mr.. Slemp would speak. You
did not ask for joint discussion until
$50 p. m, after the most Of the people
had left town. You evidently did not
want joint disc 1ssion, and the asking
for 1t was mere pretext to obtain DO
litical advantage. and we consider it
beneath the dignity Of fair politics.
If Mr.. Byars really wants to have
joint discussion here with Mr.. Slemp,
let him fix q time which does not con-
fiict with any previous engagements,
and we will be glad to give him such
meeting. And we ask that this CORE
spondence be published
Respectfully,
John T. Barns, Co. Ch'm'n.
VIM. c. Pendleton, Sec'y.
This reply was conveyed to the court
house by Hon. A. P. Gillespie, who was
accompanied by few friends. Upon
his arrival he found that Mr.. Byars had
begun to speak, and, interrupting him,
announced that he came with the reply,
and read it to the speaker and audience.
Thereupon, Mr.. Byars announced that
he was ready and willing to meet Mr..
Slemp anywhere and everywhere. But
Mr.. Gillespie suggested that what we
wanted Mr.. Byars to do was to fix a
specific time for engaging in joint de-
bate with Mr.. Slemp at TazeweN. At
ter considerable confusion the friends
OF Mr.. Byars declared they would an
swer the suggestion this (1nursday)
morning.
The circumstances surrounding the
whole affair make it the most remark
able that has ever been known in this
field of politics; and it can be construed
in no other way by fair-minde6, intelh-
gent men than as very awkward at
tempt at cheap politics. Who ever
heard before of candidate for high
office challenging his opponent for a
joint debate at meeting of political
club of his own party, and after the
members of that club, with the ladies'
and children of their families and their
visiting friends from far and near had
gathered in the club room, and had filed
every available seattle challenge not
being sent until after the hour for the
speaking had arrived?
This is like one man with deadly in
tent challenging an adversary to enter
his house unarmed, while the man and
his own retinue are armed to the teeth,
with proposition to the visitor to en-
gage in fair and honorable combat.
This challenge was not only unfair
but it was stamped with the veriest
political cowardice.
Such unfair methods as these will
not be countenanced any more by the
fair-minded Democrats than they will
be by Republicans.
Since the above was written the fol-
lowing correspondence has passed IN
reference to joint debate at future
date;
Mr.. John T. Barns, Chairman,
Dear rSir:-Referring to the commu-
nication which was read by Mr.. Giles
pie at the speaking last night, and to
the verbal challenge then and there
given by Mr.. Byars, desire to state,
in writing, that Mr.. Byars will be glad
to have a joint discussion with Mr..
Slemp this afternoon at such hour and
place as you may designate. If some
other time is preferred, we shall be
pleased to agree upon later date to be
suggested by you.
A prompt reply will be appreciated.
Yours very truly,
HENRY ROBERTS, Secretary.
Mr.. Henry Roberts, Sect'y.,
Dear Sir:-Replying to your commu-