The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-11
Challenge IomIinSon and Roun-
 tree In Open Letter
MORE SPEAKERS ARE NAMED
Colonel Tomlinson, When Informed of Letter to Him, Expresses Surprise That Such Letter Should Have
 Been Written.

The fight is on in earnest. Beginning
 today the Johnson speakers will SCOUT the state, the Bryan clubs in each coun- ty will put up their bulwarks of defense, and the democrats of Alabama will settle their differences among themselves.
 It is probable that joint debates will
 be arranged, giving the voters both view
 points from the same platform. The Johnson headquarters yesterday addressed
 a letter to John w. Tomlinson, chal- lenging him and J. Asa Rountree, 'as the recognized leaders of the Bryan forces" to a joint debate. It is known
 that the Bryan state executive commit
 tee at the consultation last week ap-
 pointed committee to arrange speakers
 for joint debate. Both sides seem will
 ing and it is probable that the debate
 can be arranged. Here Is the letter; Letter to TomIinson. | Birmingham, Ala, May 10 1908. Hon. John W. Tomlinson, President Ala bama Bryan Club, Birmingham, Ala. Dear Sir:-Numbers of democrats in this state, with unbrol1en records for party loyalty, desirous that there should
 be a full discussion of the question in- | volved in the contest between Gov. John | A. Johnson of Minnesota and MT. Bryan, 1 for the democratic nomination, have ex-
 pressed the wish that there should be
 arranged a series of joint debates be-
 tween yourself and MT. J. Asa Rountree, representing MT. Bryan, and two demo- crats espousing the cause of John A. l Johnson to be held during the coming
 week upon the question of the respective availability of Governor Johnson and MT.
 Bryan for the democratic nomination.
 We recognize you and MT. Rountree as
 the acknowledged leaders of the Bryan 1 forces in Alabama, chosen, as we are
 informed, by Mr. Bryan himself, to se-
 lect the personnel of the delegation to Denver in his interest, and as the highest executive officers of MT. Bryan's organ | ization in this state; and inasmuch as
 you and MT. Rountree are candidates for delegate-at-large and eector, re- spectively, in the approaching primary, in the interest of Mir Bryan, we feel assured that you are desirous of dis
 cussing this paramount question upon the decision of which, in our opinion the vic- tory of our party in November is de- | pendent
 We are pleased to note that you have expressed satisfaction at the fact that Governor Johnson's name has been pre- scented to the voters of Alabama in order.
 as it is reported, that it may be shown
 to the democracy of the nation that the party in Alabama considers MT. Bryan
 
 standing his two previous defeats. We take it for granted that you are willing
 to meet us in friendly discussions as to
 his ability to win if given third nomi-
 nation.
 l An early acceptance of this invitation ] by yourself and MT. Rountree, or either, will be appreciated, as it is highly de- | sirabe that the meetings be thoroughly advertised series of friendly meet ings of this nature will be of great ben | eft to the party in stirring up that &C., l tivity in our ranks which is indispensable to success in a national election. 1 Awaiting your reply l am, with high regards for yourself and MT. Rountree, yours very truly, A. G. SMITH, Chairman. Colonel Tomlinson Expresses Surprise. | Colonel Tomlinson was called up last 1 night and the letter read to him over the telephone. His only comment was | that he was surprised that MT. A. c. | Smith, chairman, would write him let | ter of that kind He declined to make any ! further comment
 | Those favoring the Johnson candidacy | are determined to carry Jefferson county. 1 According to the rules of the state com- mittee the names of any candidate could have been put on the ticket. The names | of Bryan and Johnson were placed there by petition of several thousand voters, and the people will now have the oppor
 tunity of deciding which candidate they favor.
 If the Johnson candidacy is indorscd Alabama, the first state on the roll call. will have a great influence in the con
 vention. If the Bryan forces win it would
 have strong effect in returning the coun try's confidence to the Nebraslsan. The only new appointments for speak ings made by the Johnson chairman yes- terday were those to be made by J. N. Miller at Camden Tuesday, Selma We'd | nesday, Monroeviie Thursday, Brewton Friday Andalusia Saturday. noon at Troy | end that night at Montgomery. J. T. Kirk of Tuscumbia will speak today at Russellville and Saturday at Wolf 1 Springs. The others have already been announced.
 TROOP D DANCE. Cavalry Branch Has Decided to Build