The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-03-24
ASKS
JOINT DEBATES
Ex-Governor vardaman Declinss-lnter.
esting Correspondence Between Rival
Aspirants for Senatorial Honors.

| Aspirants for Senatorial Houors.
tFrom the Hazlehurst Courier, January
12, 1911
Jackson, Miss, Jan. Z, 1911.
Hon. J. X. vardaman, Jackson, Miss:
Dear Sir-My announcement rs a AN.
didate for the senate contained an open
invitation for joint debates. I learned
last summer from The Issue that you
would not engage in joint debates before
January 1, because Of engagements to
lecture, although there were numerous
occasions to which we were both invited
when such engagements would not have
prevented joint debates. I recognized
that the election was a long time of, and
lecture engagements would, to some ex.
tent, interrupt a campaign, and, besides,
It was peculiarly your personal concern
when you begin your regular campaign.
Therefore, I did not press my invita-
ton upon you. Now, however, January
! has passed, and I respectfully invite
YOU to meet me in a series of debates
covering every general division of the
state, the places and dates to be ar.
ranged by ourselves OF our friends, and
to begin at once, or when you are ready
to make your next political speech.
You are committed to the proposition
that Joint debates between Democrats in
order to settle our party's policies are
productive of good, since in your Issue
of October 2, 1909, you advocated a
joint debate between William j. Bryan
and Senator Bailey. If, as you have
said, there is danger sometimes that
such debates may result in acrimonious,
personal discussions, I submit that the
objection Is, as to me, without merit. I
have debated with my professional breth-
rem for thirty years, always aggressive
~, often unsuccessfully, but meyer un-
pleasantly. No unkind words have ever
passed between myself and opposing
counsel. I am aware of and can observe
the proprieties Of debate, and can and
will discuss measures and public and Of
fetal acts and records without invading
the field Of private life and conduct.
However, I would place no restrictions
on you in that regard.
II I were actuated by any wish to
gain reputation al an orator, I frankly
-
confess that l would not covet the op-
portunity to speak with one whose elo-
quence has won for him a conspicuous
place on the lecture platform. I am in
clined to think that you are not alto
gether unconscious of this advantage,
since you have often expressed your dis.
inclination to draw crowds for me to ad-
dress. May I venture to suggest that
unless you are lacking in confidence, eth
er to to your views or your ability to
defend them, this objection must imply
a great lack of confidence in the intelli.
gence and stability of the audience,
which, although prepossessed in your
favor, cannot be trusted by you to hear
a more obscure and less magnetic man 7
However this may be, I know that a
large majority of the people of Missis-
sippi are anxious to hear joint discus.
sions, and l think they are entitled to
them, regardless of how they may affect
personal or political fortunes. 1 do
not recall that any distinguished Missis.
sippians who have in the past sspired
to the high office of United States sen.
ator have ever Stunned political debates