Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-01-04
KIRBY REFUSES
 TO MEET CLARKE Supreme Court Judge Says That U. $. Senator Re- fused to Speak to Him.
HILL WILL NOT RUN
Clarke Invites Kirby To Confer With Him and Agree on Joint Speak.
 ing Gates.

Llttle ROCK, Afk., Jan. 3.-Unlted States Senator James P. Clarke to- day, by letter, requested Judge w. +. Kirby, hos opponent in the senatorial race, to either meet him in person or have representative of his meet Clarke representative and arrange joint caavass and speaking dates.
 Judge Kirby replied to Senator Clarke and declined to grant his re- quest. He said that he had pre- viously invited Senator Clarke to join him on his speaking tour but that the Senator did not make his appearance at his appointments. He further stated that he did not think that joint campaign would be ageeable to either party in view of the fact that Senator Clarke recent ly met him on the street and ignor- ed him. Friends of Judge Kirby will not discuss his refusal to meet Senator Clarke, but the Clarke SUD- porters declare that it is a com plete backdown.
 It was stated here tonight that Judge Kirby has never invited Senator Clarke by letter to join him in the campaign tour, but that while he was speaking in Washington and Bento counties he mailed Senator Clarke a circular containing a list of the speaking dates, with foot note that Senator Clarke was welcome to be present end divide the time with him.
 Last Friday Senator Clarke ad- dressed the following letter to Judge Kirby:
 Recalling the fact that you an nounced on the circulars giving mo- tices of the times and places at which you intended to address the voters of Washington and Benton counties that l, as your opponent for the Senatorship, was invited to OC pl CoClAC NO Pol tlSAPdtC III ci JOAIC discussion of the issues raised in this campaign, I take occasion to say to you now that the condition of the public business is such that I may devote some time to the service in dicated. I therefore take this oc- casion to ask you to indicate when it will suit your pleasure to hold a conference, personally or through your authorized representative, for the purpose of fixing the dates and places where such joint discussion may take place.
 "I quite agree with youl published statement that this is the most satisfactory method i2 which the real controversies of this contest may be clearly defined and dis distinctly presented to others. "As deem this to be matter of some present importance, trust you will make as early reply to this letter as your convenience will per- mit".
 Saturday afternoon Judge Kirby sent the following reply "Your letter of the 2d inst, ex- pressing desire to open negotiat- ions looking to joint senatorial campaign, has been handed me by your messenger.
 Having attacked your record, and made some charges, including the one that you kept Charles L. Watk- ins, manager of your street car sys- tenn in Argenta, upon the govern ment payroll and paid him $10.O56 from the government treasury while he was on the job as such manager in Arkansas,I thought it fair to have a joint discussion, and accordingly invited you to join me in Benton county. You then declined this, say ing your presence was required in Washington City, although you had been in the state for month past. Since then you have admitted, ir your statement in the Arkansas Gazette of Sunday, November 30 1913, that tht charges made against you in my announcement circular are true, and there are no issues now between us requiring a join' campaign.
 "In addition. you are personally