Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-10-23
HaWley Refuses
Debate PrOffer

Weatherford, the democratic-prohi-
bition candidate for congress. Mr..
Weatherford wanted to debate Haw-
ley on the brewers amendment and
Wilson policies the first debate to
be held at Ashland tonight. In turn
ing down the debate demand the re-
publicans "show up number of
features of Weatherford' candidacy
in a manner which makes interesting
reading. The debate demand letter
and the republican reply are printed
herewith:
Portland, Ore, Oct. II, 1916.
Hon. W. c. Hawley, Republican Can
didate for Congress:
In your speeches you are CRITICS
ing the legislative record of the Will
son administration. You have op-
posed and are opposing the federal
reserve banking act. You are de-
nouncing President Wilson's Mexican
policy. You have not opposed the
brewers amendment, and therefore
we assume you are in favor of it.
Hon. Mark Weatherford, the DEM
ocratic and prohibition nominee for
congress, and your opponent, is sup
nortinu tba odp, In ;et tinn ;te Loot.
lative record, its Mexican policy, and !
the federal reserve banking act, its |
peace policy, and is openly and ef-
fectively opposing the brewers
amendment
In order that the voters of the
first congressional district may he
informed regarding the above issues
of the campaign, you are challenged
to a joint debate with Hon. Mark
Weatherford at Ashland, Medford,
Grants Pass Roseburg, Eugene,
Marshfield, Coquille, Albany and
Salem, and any other cities in the
first district which you suggest
Since it seems that each of you
can begin the series at Ashland on
Monday, the 29rd, we would suggest
that the debates begin at that place
on that day and be continued from
night to night through the district.
In order that the itinerary may be
arranged, we would suggest that you
give us an early reply.
Very truly yours,
DEMOCRATIC STATE COM,
By Lester w. Humphreys, Sec.
PROHIBITION STATE CON-,
By J. P. Newell, Chairman.
Salem, Ore, Oct. IS, 1916.
Mr.. Lester W. Humphreys, Secretary
Democratic State Central Commit
tee.
Mr.. j. p Newell Secretary Prohibi-
tion State Committee
Dear Sirs Your letter of the 18th
instant is received.
Congressman w. c. Hawley, who
was nominated by the republicans
without opposition, received the
nomination of the progressive party,
and even carried three counties in
the democratic party primaries at
the primary nominating election last
May, receiving 40,S29 votes to only
1896 votes for your candidate, is
making his annual tour over the dis
trict, comforting with his constitu-
ents, Investigating rivers and har-
bors, postal service, public land ques-
tions, etc., in order to continue to
serve the people effectively in the
discharge of his public duties.
1t is noted that you suggest de-
bate between Congressman Hawley
and Mr.. NJ. V. Weatherford, the sub
jects being. ingeniously selected by
you, and one, at least, having no
bearing whatever upon the public
duties of representative in con-
gress. This committee has noted by
press reports and from letters re-
ceived that your candidate has not
been able to secure any audience ex-
cept he be billed with some other
greater light, and we appreciate his
predicament, but you should seek
other attractions than congressman
for a drawing card. Your candi-
dates deceit In pretending to espouse
prohibition in order to secure votes
will deceive no one. The criminal
court records of Linn, Benton and
Lincoln counties show that he has
been defending bootlegging cases
These cases are numerous and most
of them resulted in conviction of the
offenders. 1t would not become the
high office of congressman for Mr..
Hawley to hold any joint debate
with an aspirant who pretends one
thing on this subject when indisput-
able court records show he does just
the opposite, even though he may not
have been then running for office, or
contemplating doing so.
This committee, in conjunction
with local republican county commit
tees and Hughes Alliances, has been
utilizing Mr.. Hawley's presence in
various cities for public addresses.