The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-29
|REPLY. IN PERS0N|ARCHDukE SLAIN
Governor Hodges Ready to An Heir to the Austrian
swer Capper Charges. and His Wife
Executive Publisher Mis- Are Streets
represented Administration. Of Bosnia's Capital
|HE IS IN PERSONAL TOUCH SECOND ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS
Hodges Declares He Needs No First Was by
Examining Commission. Hurled 1T Him.
of Kansas Voters To Fatal Are
Jurors iq Case. Wan School Boy
Executive Says Publisher Mis-
represented Administration.
HE IS IN PERSONAL TOUCH
Hodges Declares He Needs NJ
Examining Commission.
Audience of Kansas Voters To
Be Jurors in Case.

In letter to ]. C. Gafford, chair
man of the Republican state commit
tee, Governor Hodges today renewed
his challenge for one or more joint de-
bates with Arthur Capper, Republican
gubernatorial candidate, and reiterat-
ed the provisions upon which he would
discuss state issues with the Topeka
publisher.
The letter to Chairman Gafford was
in part as follows:
MY challenge was to Mr.. Capper to
publicly discuss the record of my ad-
ministration with me. It was made
without limitations or reservations. l
have stated in public addresses, and 1
repeat here, that Mr.. Capper, through
his publications, has systematically
misrepresented not only my admins
tration of public affairs, but the work
accomplished by the legislature OF
1913. Mr.. Cappers ownership of sew
eral publications gives him avenues OF
campaign publicity which are not open
to me. OF this I do not complain.
However, his columns being closed to
the truth concerning the present state
administration, have challenged him
to meet me face to face on the plat
form, where 1 may pnblicly reply to
his misrepresentation. If he Will per-
sona1ly repeat what he has been re-
sponsible for in print.
Whatever may have been the need
of any of my predecessors for an in
vestigation by a commission, to in
form the chief executive of what has
been going on in the administration
Of the states business, the present ad-
ministratiOn needs no such investtga-
ton. 1 know what has been accom-
plished by this administration. and
am thoroughly <conversant with the
expenditures and savings of every de-
partment Of the state. The executive
office is in close touch with every ed
ucational. charitable and penal insti-
tuition, and 1 have visited personally
all Of these institutions two and some
Of them three times. I know where
the taxpayers money has been ex-
pended and where more than needed
improvements have been made; and
it Is my earnest desire that the pub
lie shall have a detailed knowledge of
every item of expenditure for which
this administration is responsible and
the results that have been accom-
plished.
Attention to Business.
"Mr. Capper may need a commits
sion to investigate and inform him as
Eighteen months of attention to the
states business has given me more
practical knowledge of the states
business than I could hope to gain
through the work of u political in
vestigation, made for campaign pur
poses. 1H6 StdtG anu SS1lS
treasurer are friends and supporters
of Mr.. Capper. They will no doubt
cooperate with you in Informing him.
''When ne has been posted, I shall
be pleased to discuss the stewardship
Of the present administration with
him, and 1 will be more than willing
that an audience of Kansas voters
shall be the jury and decide facts for
themselves.
My challenge to Mr.. Capper has no
strings to it, no conditions, no restrc-
tions. Let Mr.. Capper personally ac-
cept my challenge, unconditionally,
and meet me in a series Of joint de-
bates in which he will be at liberty to
attack my administration from any
angle he sees fit, and l will be there
to answer him.
my check for one hundred dollars
($10O) will be mailed to you, to be
given to aEy charitable institution you
may name, at the conclusion of the
joint discussion, il Mr.. Capper dis
proves a single statement make.
II understand perfectly well, Mr..
Gafford. that you are not looking for
a joint debate between Mr.. Capper and
myself. but lest 1 be mistaken 1 am
sending you this invitation, urging that
you request Mr.. Capper to meet me
and reitar ate his false newspaper
statements. that may reply in per-