The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-16
Toomer Describes
L'EngIe's Democracy
as Shady and Doubtful
DECLINES JOINT DEBATE GIVES RED
HOT REBUKE TO MUD MANNERS"
IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.
Jacksonville, Fla, May IA, 1912.
Mr.. Claude L'Engle,
Jacksonville, Fla.

JdCkSOnVHe, Fld
Sir: notice in number of political advertise
ments published by you recently and containing per-
sonal criticism and abuse of me- with no reference
any matters of public political interest, that you
are anxious to meet me in series of Joint debates
before the people of Florida. You have never ad-
dressed me any invitation of the kind and I am,
therefore, tempted to doubt the sincerity of your
statement contained in and published as mere politi
cal advertisement.
Assuming however that you were in earnest
about it and that you had invited in proper way
to meet you in joint discussion beg to say that
would under circumstances consider entering into
joint debate with you and for these reasons
First: Your invitation if such it may be called
to this discussion, the only reply received to
the statement 1 made to you that you had obtained
stolen dctation from my Office and had pub
liShed forgery of my signature to unaddressed,
undelivered letter. Your failure to PRODUCE
THIS LETTER AND ACCOUNT FOR YOUR
POSSESSION of it withdraw and apologize for
uttering fragrant forgery of my name forfets for
you the right to demand this courtesy at my hands.
Second: This is Democratic Primary. have
been engaged in fair presentation to the people of
Florida of the views which | entertain upon Demo
cratic principles like the proper regulation of trusts
revision downward of the tariff the cooperation by
our general Government with the several states in
building and maintaining interstate highways; the
protection of the health of the people of Florida
against foreign Infection and questions Of equal i'm
portance desire and intend to continue this method
of campaigning, stopping only to answer such pri-
vate, personal and business abuse and SANDER of
by you may seem intolerable :.
You, upon the other hand, have IGNORED the
discussion of any questions, whatever, of public in
terest You elected to base your campaign upon
statements of your Service to the people" as
seuth and scandal scavenger and have spent the rest
of your time, bitterly attacking Judge Martin and
Capt. O'Brien, two of our former competitors, and
especially abusing and misstating my personal and
business record Your sense of propriety is perhaps
so utterly dead to prevent your realizing the
improperly of my speaking with you.
Third: We have no evidence, from any public
performance of yours, or any direct expression of
opinion upon any public question, that you are
Democrat at all. There are abundant evidences given
to those who know you real we'll, that you are a
harmless anarchist; iconoclast of very eager ca
pacty, without faith creed ideals of any kind
The only evidence of your democracy which has been
given to the people of Florida was your sworn state
ment that you were Democrat when you qualified
candidate for thas contest.
Inasmuch as you neither have nor have ex-
pressed in writing otherwise, any political princ-
pies, and because your democracy is of the most
shady and doubtful character, there is nothing for
to discuss with you except scandal and private
character and this positively will decline to engage
in | have no doubt you will make noisy and wide
spread poltlcal advertisement or my unWllllgness
which you will describe fear, to encounter your
over-powering courage and accomplishment in joint
discussion. The truth is that | perhaps under-rate
your splendid capacity in forensic fight; and have
the least fear of your wisdom or logic Or. Joint
discussion with of business and professional re-
pute, has been my business for nineteen years. and
have really enjoyed it. prefer to continue my
paign, going as [ will to the people and discussing
Democratic doctrines and Florida's future welfare
and not to interrupt you in the operation of your
mud mill" but to allow you to stagnate and
strang1e in the stencil arising from the publication
and free distribution of Dixie" the scandal-sheet
which is your only claim to fame and which you pub
lsh for the sole purpose of nurng the character of
= those who cannot adopt your methods, and many of
whom have been your benefactors and friends.