New Britain herald., 1916-03-20
0UIGLEY WILLING 10
 DEBATE WITH CURTIS
Formally Replies to CounCilman's
 Challenge for Public Encounter
 WANTS DEFINITE SUBJECTS
Objects to Distribution of Tickets Would Throw Doors OpC5i-lhfcc
 Hours Too LonG-CmrtiS Charges Mayor With Dealing in Personalities.


 Mayor George A. QuiGlcy this after room made formal reply 60 the Chal- lcngc to debate issued Saturday cNc- ring by Councilman Orsnn F, Curtis, republican candidate for mayor, and expresses his willingness to debate. The mayor, however. is rnWilLing that Mr. Curtis should namc all the con- ditions. Following the custom of affairs of honor, Mayor Quigley be- lieves that the challenged, in this ease His Honor sh Ould be allowed to name the weapons, but before he fights he wants to know what t.c fight Is to be about.
 In his own words he wants to have specified the subjects on which the debate will be contested and that five days notice shall be given thus allow ing him sufficient timo for prepora- ton.
 Asked by a Herald reporter if he really believed the debate would take place. Mayor Quigley said he would certainly meet the issue and if MT. Curtis means business he will be ready when the bell rings. He want cd it made plain, however, that he does not consider the issues of the campaign will hang on the talkfest but being the challenged party it is against his principles 10 decline the engagement His reply follows: The Mayor Accepts. New Britain, Conn.,, March 20. 1916 New Britain, Conn.,,
 March 20, 1916. MT. 0. r. Curtis,
 City.
 Dear Sir:
 l am in receipt of your favor of l the 18th in which Nou challenge me to a joint debate.
 While I cannot sec the benefit or reason for such a debate, I am will i ing to meet you in joint Gebate, if such ! l.: your desire.
 ! The wording of you" challenge is %crN ambiguous and the conditions under which you propose 70 deDat c are not arcoptable to m.'.
 First, | believe We stollId dcLatc upon certain specified @ubictts the same to be decided upon at least five days before the debate.
 Second, | object to tho distribution of tickets, throw the doors open 10 tlc public
 Third, a three hours debate is too ! long, I would venture to suggest for tN-lNc minutes of debate for each dis putant and fifteen minutes each for leDuttal limiting the debate to two hours
 The other matters you speak of. such as conduct of the meeting, pres ohce of stenographer. and the aGmis- / S'on or the representatives rf the press are matters easy of adjustment and need not concern us at this time.
 Hoping that my suggestions will not be taken by you as an indication on ! my part of a desire 10 escape this de- 1 bate and also that personalities will not be indulged in, await your reply. Very truly yours, GEO. A. QUTGLEY.
 Reply Not Challenge.
 Councilman O. F. Curtis moda reply today to Mayor Ouip1ov,e answer to his letter printed in Hartford paper in which he suggested that the two hold a public debate on municipal matters.
 That letter was not a chal1enoau u Salo W.T. curtls. Ut was merely a reply to what Mayor Ouiglev said at the Fifth Ward club rally when ba expressed regret that I was not pres tnt so we could hold a little debate T have not challenged him. have simply replied to his statement.
 Curtis Plans.
 "Nothing could be fairer than my proposition for a debate. The mayor says he would have personalities b2rrcd These would not be Der nittcd in any properly conducted de- late. My plan is to have the mayor select a man, I would select another and these two could select a third to act as chairman at the debate With the three men in charge We could not indulge in personalities as "e would be called to order
 About Personalities
 'Speoking of personalities I won der if the mayor recalls speaking at a Swedish rally in which he rakcd me 1 Iehnd my back? l am informed by l several present, among them sWedes, that he let himself loose on personali- ties on that occasion. And mind you, that Was behind my back.
 And Plotting.
 "Mayor Qugley poses as a great cx- i pcnent of publicity. Does he forget i! the secret meetings he held last sum- 1 mer with members of the party? l Does he forget the secrecy he main tained when he appointed his famous veto committee and neglected to let i any members of the council become | acquainted with the fact? Does he ] forget the secret meeting this com nlittee had without the council being, informed?
 Mayor Would Dictate.
 "In slegesting that each of us dis