The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-09-08

for the purpose of making campaign
speeches, on account of former con-
troversy | claimed the privilege of
joint debate on the political issues.
Another campaign being now pres
ent and Mr.. Roosevelt having an
nounced his intention to speak in our
state, you ask if l will renew the
challenge of two years ago and also
my views of his present platform and
contentious.
In answer to this | will say that
tive years ago | occupied position of
responsibility to the democratic party
of Oklahoma, which made it my duty
to defend the party against any of its
opponents and | believed that Mr..
Roosevelt's ideas and policies of gov
ernment at that time were at war
with the ideas of the Oklahoma dem
ocracy. At the present time, how
ever. / am simply one of the demo-
cratic rank and file and others who
| believe, are able to represent the
democratic party and should do so,
and are responsible to the party for
leadership and defense have first right
to speark for the party.
Mr.. Roosevelts present platform
and contentious seem to be so much
along the line of Jeffersonian democ-
racv and the demands of the common
people, that there would be little
ground for debate between us. The
people of the United States are so
much in need of the services of ca
no propriety in controversy unless
there is a substantial difference on
public questions. | have no thought
of the past, but live in the present
and for the future of our country,
and have had no time nor opportu-
nifty to analyze carefully Mr.. Roose-
velts present policies and conten-
tions, hence | have no right to deny
or critcise his present policies, and
have seen enough of this world to
know that criticism is not just un-
less it is founded upon substantial
evidence.
1--WE also realize that every ue-
fender of the rights of the common
people, especially those who are Wig
orous and determined in the battle
for good government, are constantly
subjected to vicious criticism with
ont justice or proper intent. 1t is
well known fact that the special in
terest elements of cur country that
grow fat and domineering by their
robbery Of the producing class, are
mass of the people to listen to or
follow after, and the mere fact that
a leading plutocrat should assaii
either a prominent democrat or a
prominent republican, is to my mind
more of compliment to the man
who is criticised than it is in any
way to his discredit.
The fact that Mr. Archbold did
say that such a prominent man was
a bad man proves nothing to me eX-
1. ,e, epn, hnir co F.
ish viewpoint, and | never invite a
Joint debate unless feel that there
are substantial differences to be dis
cussed, and ! never criticise man
of any party unless | have substantial
proof of the truth of what | intend
to say and the proof must come from
a better source than the Standard Oil
company.
Fully realizing that while theorists
may devise and advocate policies of
government, l also realize that there
are few men with the genius, vigor
and courage to fearlessly meet the
organized opposition of honest gov
ernment and enforce the laws. No
public official whose duty to the peo-
pie is we'll performed will ever es-
cape the vicious assaults and SLAM
derous attacks which the agencies
of corruption will heap upon those
that they cannot control.
&c. n. HASKELL"