The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-16
TO TALK 1T OUT? new RECORDS UPTi
Burge Wants Public Debate at
Auditorium
To Decide Whether He or Cap
per Withdraw.

Praising the record and abilities of
Senator Curtis and in the same breath
challenging Arthur Capper to a debate
at the city Auditorium, N. B. Burge,
! candidate for the state senate from the
| Topeka district, writes a public letter
| to the Topeka publisher. Mr. Burge
says he will withdraw from the race
! for the senate if the crowd at the Audi
torium after the debate decides that
| he is the loser, otherwise Mr. Capper
to withdraw. The Burge letter was
written in answer to an editorial by
William Allen White endorsing James
| Troutman for state senator and an
Capper.
In the communication to Mr.. Capper
| Mr.. Burge says:
I'm your Daily Capital of Sunday,
July IA, you quote from William A.
White owner of paper published at
Emporia, Kan. wherein Mr.. White
presumes to tell the people of Shawnee
| county who they should employ as
state senator from this county, by
suggesting one of my opponents as the
proper person, because, he says, he
has done two important things in an
nouncing his campaign. First, he has
announced he is for Taft, and second,
he has signed statement No. 1 agree
ing to let the people of Kansas choose
their United States senator. For both
of these things, says Mr.. White, he is
to be commended; that when a man is
for Taft, it takes courage to say so,
and when he signs statement No. 1, it
indicates he is a progressive, etc.
ITO all of this, Mr.. Capper, you
give, in the same editorial, your I'M
qualified endorsement, and say that you
believe this candidate of Mr.. Whites
for state senator in Shawnee county
will be elected. etc. In other words
Mr.. Capper you are opposed to me for
koT- nd G 70
to state to the people of Shawnee
county why.
"a long while ago, told the people
of this county that was for Mr.. Taft;
told them I was for a law placing al
county officials on straight salary;
for a law making all state officials
from governor down attend strictly to
business at all times, and docking
their salaries when they were off the
lob, making it impossible for COVER
nor drawing $4,000 per year to run
around, over the country spending the
peoples money trying to make greet
statesman out of himself; told the peo-
pie of Shawnee county that saving
of $4,000 per year could be made IN
This county alone, and at least $4,000
per year in the management OF the
states business, if only the governor
of this state would exhibit the nerve in
setting the examole.
"Don't these things count for any
thing with you and Mr.. White? Is 1t
because I am for these things which
have enumerated that you are now OPP
posed to me? Are these things not pro- |
gressive? Are they not good business?
Now, Mr.. Capper. be square and can
did with me and the people of this city
and county. I have a1ved in this city |
for a quarter of a century, and have
tried to do my part in making Topeka |
and Shawnee county better place in |
which to live and do business. have
tried in my campaign for State Senator I
to be candid, straightforward, and |
honest, and let the voters know just |
where I stand on all important ques-
lions which will probably come before
the legislature.
TT is not because of these things. Mr..
Capper, for which L stand that you are
opposed to me for State Senator, but
rather because I have come out
straight from the shoulder, on-top-of-
the-table sort of way for the return 20
the United States Senate of the Hon.
Charles Curtis.
I'll submit you the following inter
esting proposition: Will secure the au-
ditoFium in Topeka at my expense and
meet you there any evening on or be-
fore July 23rd before an audience of our
friends and neighbors in this city and
county We will there discuss for two
hours all these things, and divide the
time equitably. When we have finished
the one who has failed to get a ma
jcrity of said audience by then and
there taking a vote on the same, shall
withdraw from the race you
from being a candidate for governor,
and myself for State Senator"
Subbubs-I believe Swamphurst is I'M