Evening journal., 1912-02-21
Mr.. BAYARD
NOT TO DEBATE
DeclineS Challenge to Meet
Representative Of Refer
sndum League
NTIMATES QUESTION
HAS BEEN PREJUDGED

On Monday Thomas f. Bayard
lawyer and chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Committee, received a
challenge from the Referendum
League Of Delaware to debate with
one Of its representatives the sub
ject Of the Initiative, referendum and
recallThe challenge followed remarks
made a month or so ago at a Demo-
cratic meeting by Mr.. Bayard. who
IS not a champion of the initiative,
referendum and recall
Mr. Bayard today sent a reply de-
clining the Referendum Leagues in
Nitation to debate The challenge sent
to Mr.. Bayard was as follows:
Wilmington. Del. Feb. II, 1912.
Mr. Thomas +. Bayard, lis DUPONT
Building, City.
Dear Sir The Referendu um
League Of Delaware has taken note
Of your published statements regard
ing the initiative, referendum and
recall
Believing You to be wholly sincere
and honest, and at the same time
wholly wrong on every point involv-
ed, we invite you to defend in pub
lie debate your faith in the represen-
tatiye system. which has within the
last ten years multiplied the ex-
penses Of city and county government
by three. If you are in the possession
Of facts which justify your position,
and do not fear to submit your state
ments to the Judgment of your fell
low-citizens. accept our very cordial
invitation to meet a debater of our
choosing at a tine and place that
may be mutually agreed upon.
The league will cheerfully defray
ali expense incident to such a meet
ing and will use its best endeayor to
provide a representative audience to
consider the merits of our respective
views.
Trusting that We may receive
prompt and favorable reply, l have
the honor to be committee of one,
acting in this business for the Ref
erendum League of Delaware.
Respectfully,
IS. c. Singleton
Mr.. Bayard's Reply.
Mr.. Bayard today sent the follow
ing reply:
Wilmington, Del. Feb u, 1912
MIR. Stephen c. Singleton, Treasurer
Referendum League OF Delaware,
Wilmington, Del
My Dear Sir. | beg to acknowledge
your letter of the 18th inst, which
did not reach me until the 10Th inst,
and in which you, as committee Of
one, acting for the Referendum League
Of Delaware, make the following state
ments
The Referendum League Of Della
ware has taken note of your published
statements regarding the Initiative,
the Referendum and the Recall. Be
7feving you TO be wholly sincere and
honest and at the same time wholly
wrong on every point involved. we
invite you to defend in public debate
Your faith in the representative sys-
lem which has within the last fen
years multiplied the expenses of CITY
and county government by three. i'll
you arc in the possession Of facts
which Justify your position and do
not fear to submit your statements
to the Judgment Of your fellow-citi-
zens, accept our very cordial invita-
lion TO meet a debater of our choosing
az time and place that may be mutu-
ally agreed upon"
IT, as you say, the Referendum
League believes that am wholly
wrong on every point involved" il !
would he utterly useless for me 10
go before a court of your choosing and
submit a case confessedly prejudged BY
the said court.
Your implied threat that I fear to
submit my views TO my fellow-citizens
IS absolutely disproved by your own
statement that !, have already made
my views public.
!, therefore. decline to accept your
invitation.
Very truly yours,
Thomas F. Bayard.