The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-14
TWO REPLIES MADE
TO MILLER SPEECH
King Challenges Opponent
to Joint Debate
HUDDLESTON'S CARD
Says He Favors Leaving Suffrage
Question for Each State
to Solve in Its
Own Way
HUDDLESTON'S CARD

The speech of Nathan l. Miller can
d,date for Congress, made at oneonta
Thursday brought replies and conf
ments from two of his opponents yes
terday, Jere c. King and George Hud
dleston.
Mr. King challenged Mr.. Miller to
Joint debate in the district while Mr.
Buddleston asserted his belief that each
state should settle its suffrage prob
lens in its own way.
IN his formal statement Mr.. TIuddles-
rcn says:
The congressional campaign shows
a tendency to descend to a competi-
ton in personalities and unfair crit.
icism. I greatly deplore this. had
hoped at the outset that the contest
might be conducted upon high plane
in keeping with the dignity of the Of
flee involved
AS for myself, | wish TO say that
| desire to be chosen as congfessman
from this district upon my own mer-
its and not because those who oppose
ME are without merit. | ask of my
opponents only common justice and q
square deal. | shall refrain from talk
ing part in campaign of slander and
back biting.
referring to the speech reported
py Mr. Miller at Oneonta, | wish to
make a statement in my own defense.
My views on woman suffrage have
been publicly stated and should be
Weu known. The federal government
should not NEEDLE with this question.
1t should be left to each state to fix
the qualifications of voters in that
state. In the national Congress | shall
oppose all efforts in that BODY, either
by congressional amendment or other
wise, to confer the right to vote on
" omen.
No Place for Race Prejudice
II deplore the persistent efforts of
two of my opponents to inject race
prejudice into this campaign. 1t has
no proper place here. | am as much
opposed to putting the negro back into
politics as any other southern man
could be-
My speech before the State Bar asso-
citation at Montgomery has been indus
triously circulated by my opponents and
grossly misconstrued. 1t consisted OF only
"a few sentences and was no attempt to
adequately explain my views on the sub
ject of suffrage. 1t was wholly cNtempor-
aneous and hence not so clear as might be
desired 1t was intended as a protest
against the cumulative poll tax, which has
olsfranchsed nearly half the white men
in Alabama The sentence referring to
negroes was intended as a plea for the
honest enforcement OF our suffrage laws.
l then believed. as | do now, that negro
possessing the legal qualifications re-
quired by our laws should be honestly
registered, and that we of a superior race
should set an example of law-abiding to
the black man.
persistent efforts have been made to
line me up behind one of the senatorial
candidates / have not lined up, but am
asking election on my own merits | de-
cline to lay hold of the coat-tails of either
OF the candidates ] desire that my mt
ness for Congress shall not be judged by
my support of an aspiratn for any other
office. IL elected | shall be the con-
gresham and will submit to the dicta-
ton of no man, whether great or small.
II beg of all who may be interested in
the race for Congress that back biting
and misleading criticism be not resorted
to. While at the end of the race, three
of the candidates must submit to disap-
pontment let us so conduct ourselves
that we shall at least be able to respect
each other as gentlemen.
Mr.. Kings Challenge
Following criticism directed at him
by Mr. Miller at Oneonta Thursday,
challenge for joint debate was issued last
night by Mr.. King. He announced that
he would debate the issues with Mr.. MIL
Ter at Centreville next Monday II MI
Miller pleased or he would debate the
questions at any place in the district at
anv time MIR. Miller proposed.
Mr. Miller criticised me severely TOT
working for Greater Birmingham, salo
Mr.. King. ''He selected city In Blount
county for that criticism. | will be giad
to discuss that with him along with ms
senate record in Birmingham at any TIME
or in any city town or hamlet ol tne
district at any time Mr. Miller proposes.
| am very anxious for MI Miller to meet
me face to face before the people where
we both may fearlessly and honestly pre-
sent our claims as successor to oscar "
Underwood as congressman from TINS