Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-18
MRS.FUNK SEEKS
ROBINS IN DEBATE
Former Illinois Progressive Leader
Issues Challenge to Old Pro-
gTessiVe C0-WOrker.
HOLDS PEOPLE WANT LIGHT
Can't Understand How Roosevelt Sup
porter Can Consistently Join for
Election Of Hughes.

New York. Sept 18.-Raymond Rob
ms, chairman of the progressive ma
tional convention of 1916, now mem
Der OF Mr.. Hughes campaign COM
mittee, was challenged today to a ser
les of joint debates by his former CO.
worker in the progressive cause, Mrs
Antionette Funk of Chicago The
challenge is one that Mr. Robins can
not well ignore. nor can the repub-
lican campaign managers. Mrs. Funk
Chicago lawyer Of national prOmi-
hence, was one of the big four" pro-
gressiye leaders of Illinois. Few men
can equal her in debate. She has
been pitted with Mr.. Robins in pub
lie arguments against Jane Adams
and Charles T.. Merriam.
Mrs. Funk became last week
member of the associate committee of
progressiveS cooperating with the
democratic national campaign COM
mtttee. She puts her challenge to
Mr.. Robins on the high ground of pub
lie service, asking that her former
associate submit the case of Wilson VS..
Hughes TO popular juries
Mrs. Funk's letter, delivered today
TO Mr.. Robins, follows:
Dear Mr.. Robins: Four years ago
you and | were among the millions of
lieved the dawn of new political day
had come. We called ourselves pro-
gressives and we founded a new party
and named it progressive. That party
is alive in the determination of it's adj
herents that it shall not die and no one
who was really part of it can ever
subscribe to another political creed
that is not in some manner akin to it.
The bonds that were created then can
not be broken; we who were really
progressives in 1912 are progressives
now in 1915 The spirit has not
changed-only the outward covering,
the matter of name, of association or
of circumstance.
New Scene Disclosed.
so I am writing you from the van
tage point of our common faith. You.
hereditary democrat, after anxious
care and thought, have thrown your
lot with the republican party and
have advised the people of this country
that progressives should follow Mr..
Hughes, the candidate selected solely
by the men who compose that invisible
government against whose insidious
operations the progressive party itself
is a protest.
Your responsibility is enormous,
it is cOeXtensive with your great in
fluence. A leader of men with rare
gifts and high ideals, consecrated and
devoted, your judgment will be ac-
cepted and you will be followed but
since you recommend to us that we
come into the republican fold, much
water has flowed under the bridge. the
curtain has been rung up disclosing
a new scene.
I'm 1912, endorsing the progressive
party with my whole heart, l left be-
hind me a tradition of middle western
and New England republicanism and
when the end came in the Auditorium
last June l followed Theodore Roose-
welt to the door of the republican
camp with faith that the republican
party of 1916 was in somewise differ
ent from the republican party of 1912
that he and you and l condemned and
| waited for a sign that would point
the new way. 1t did not come, but
events momentous in their import
did transpire and against my
inclinations and traditions and
against my associations and preju-
dices, l was forced honestly to
myself to admit that Woodrow Will
son, greater than his party, a leader
Of his party, had in large measure kept
for the progressives their contract
affirmed by them and entered into with
the people.
II am inviting you now, Mr. Robins,
to join me in series of debates, the
question to be resolved and the ar
rangements to be made through our
respective committees; such debates
to be held during this campaign, ii
being understood that the resolution
Of the question shall comprehend all
matters properly at issue in the minds
of progressives seeking their political
affiliations for 1916.
Want Presentation of Case.
I'm the coming elections our pro-