El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-06-09
BLANTOH'S REPLY
TO CAM AIGA
LETTER Of SMITH
Challenges Congressman to
Joint Debate and Claims
an Easy Victory.

Judge Thomas L Blanton. candidate
for congress against W. r Smith. the
present incumbent in the 18th district,
issues an open letter in reply to the
recent letter of congressman Smith, in
which Judge Blanton reiterates his
challenge for a joint debate. The letter
Is in part as follows
You left Washington for Texas May
:. and on May 10 / challenged you to
Wells, Haskell. Sweetwater and Alpine,
which you have ignored Why
You deny having permitted post
masters to be appointed in certain places
in your district against the wish of the
great majority of Democrats. Every
charge ever made by me was based
upon Information from substantial,
creditable citizens, which upon demand
will be exhibited to you at any time,
but which is entirely too voluminOus
for publication. However, since your
denial, and in order 10 be absolutely
fair 10 you 1 Will for the present with
draw all such charges until We can
meet each other in joint debate, and in
your absence will in future speeches
not mention post office appOintm ents-
I could grant that you had in every
way fulfilled the wishes OF your con-
stituents in this respect, and still de-
feat you on your long, inactive tncum-
bency.
with postmasterB at every place
EratuitOusly posting your campaign
pictures over their towns. and after
sending out this year approximately
50, 900 packages Of free garden seed,
and also without postage expense send
ing to the voters Of this district the
couv of your April 18th speech under
your frank privilege, don't you feel
able TO make q successful race for your
18th and 14th years in congress with
out permitting your many friends to be
called on for campaign contributions
7 oh Wi
me in joint debate at Mineral Wells.
Haskell, SweetWater. Lubbock san
Angelo, Alpine and FL PaSO- You GER
tainly cannot be afraid TO meet me be-
fore your own constituents. You may
fix the date for any week after the
next as I shall be busy then holding
my court at Breckenridge II you VIII
meet me at the above places, VIII
then gladly meet you at any other place
or places in the entire district re
quest that you promptly accept or re-
5ect ny challenge. and that you name
dates without delay, 50 that can
arrange my business accordingly.
Don't overestimate your strength IN
Taylor county. Every one here under
stands the reason Of my opposition
have held court in the interest OF all
the people, and have refused 70 grant
special favors. In my last campaign
for reelection. my opposition here
brought out against me one OF the most
popular lawyers in Abilene, who mad re-
sided here for 30 odd years ana olon I
have an enemy. and they got over 500
voters to indorse him, and advertised
over my district that would lose
TAYLOR county by 700 TO 900 majority
With 81 lawyers on the stump SPEAK
ing All over my district against me,
carried every county in my district by
an overwhelming majority, carrying
Taylor county by 327 majority. and
Eastland county by 9s7 majority
accomplishing any kind OF reform VIII
engender opposition
Whos YFhats Wheres $50 reward
-a6Eertisemenr