The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-19
Richmond Man Wants L.atter's
Platform Before Entering
Joint Debate
CHALLENGER AGAIN
TOSSES A GAUNTLET
Reiterates His Challenge and
Sends Mr.. Pollard Cop1pOf
His Views--Confidently
Expects Reply Today

Replying to John Garland Pollard'a
answer 20 his challenge TO a. joint dee
bate next week, in which Mr.. Pollard
declined to commit himself until hG
had learned his views on the issues
Of the campaign, S. Gordon Cumming
last night wired Mr.. Pollard reiter-
ating his challenge to the Richmond
candidate, declaring that his ideas
differ so essentially from those ex-
pressed IN the platform of Pollard a.
to justify joint discussion.
special delivery letter contain
ing two typewriter pages embodyinS
Mr.. Cummings declaration of pripci.
pies folio close upon the heels OF
the telegram, addressed to Mr.. Pol
lard at Roanoke, and Mr.. Cumming
also gave out his statement to the
press.
Wherein He Disagrees.
Mr.. Cumming spent the day cam
paigning in Crewe and Blackstone and
did not receive Mr. Poilards answer
until last night when he returned to
Richmond. He immediately tele-
graphed bis reply insisting on a joint
discussion and followed this with his
platform, showing that IN many par
ticulars he disagrees with Mr.. Pol
lard.
Among other things the Tidewater
candidate opposes the presidential
primary; does not believe that the
fee system should be entirely changed:
is of the opinion that the referendum
contemplated by the enabling bill
would be unconstitutional. and while
agreeing with Mr.. Pollard that the
schools should be divorced from poll
tics digs at the latter at the action
of the constitutional convention, OF
which Mr.. Pollard was a member. in
making the attorney general a MEM
Der OF the board
II hope these essential differences
OF opinion will convince Mr.. Pollard"
said Mr.. Cumming last night. that
there are issues worth joint discus
sion. 1t is up TO him now. The
terms of my original challenge stand
he is at liberty to name the time
and place and determine the rules OF
the debate. There are no conditions
beyond the fact that I want to meet
him in the Ninth district"
Mr., Cummings Challenge.
Mr.. Cummings telegram to MI.
Pollard last night follows:
Richmond, July Is. 1918.
Hon. John Garland Pollard.
Roanoke. Va. please forward.)
Absence all day has prevented
earlier reply to your telegram. That
YOU entered the primary long after
myself indicates that you for some
reason deemed II proper to oppose me
as well as the incumbent. Am CIV
ing my views to press and Will mail
to you II your platform be enacted
by the general assembly / shall try to
diligently enforce it officially. As .
citizen. however not seeking to legis-
late / differ SO essentially from your
platform ain many particulars that l
again invite a Joint discussion next
week.
(signed) S. GORDON CUMMING.
Mr. Cummings original challenge
reached Mr.. Pollard at Roanoke yes
terday morning, and the latter replied
promptly, but neither accepted nor
declined the challenge. taking the po-
sition that If both he and Mr.. Cum
ming stand together CT tfse Issues or
the day a joint discussion was un-
necessary, and after stating his own
views briefly asked for his chaileng-
er's platform. His answer TO the
challenge follows:
Mr.. Pollard Sidesteps.
Roanoke, Va, July Is, 1913.
Hon. s. Gordon Cumming,
Richmond Va
Your challenge just received. Joint
debates presuppose difference OF
Optnlous AS you lidNC nv SSEA A@ W
tell the public where you stand on
the issues Of the day. I do not know
but that you and / stand together.
/ believe in a thorough revision OF
our election laws and in making fraud
in election felony.
/ believe in preferential prest-
Dental primary. under which the peo-
pie of Virginia may express their pref
erence for president, so that our state
can never again be misrepresented a.
she was in the Norfolk and Baltimore
conventions.
4 believe that the people of Vir-
ginia are sovereign. and have a right
to decide whether they will deal with
the liquor question through local OPP
ton or statewide prohibition.
/ believe in complete change OF
the system under which your friend.
Trehy. of Norfolk, and other fee Of
ficers receive for their public services
four or five times as much as the
governor OF the State.
/ believe in thorough revision Of
the tax laws to the end that the bur-
dens of the State may be more equal
-iy borne.
believe in a complete enforcement
of public schools from politics.
Please wire me this morning your
position on each OF these propositions,
II your reply develops sufficient diff
ference OF opinion to Justify joint de-
bate. 1 shall then be glad to take
up with you the arrangements for the
meeting. which / hope will be at an
early date.
(Signed)
JOHN GARLAND POLLARD.
Spends Day Campaigning.
Mr.. Cumming divided the day be.
tween Blackstone and Crewc yesterday
getting back to Richmond In time f0e
supper. He was enthuaiastic over hio
cordial reception ut both places aaA II
says that he Is steadily GatninQ
strength. ss
He goes 70 PeterSburg - spen4 ~