Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-05
HARRIS REFUSES
TO TAKE DEANS
PLACE IN DEBATE
CONTINUED From Page l.

Du1ldlng OF our state ana ndtiOn' IhaN
the people of Georgia may decide be-
tween US.
with the nope that you will in fu-
ture discontinue the use of PERSONAL
ties and agree to a discussion of your
record and my record before the people
that they may intelligently decide
which of US is best fitted to represent
Georgia in the United States senate, 1
again invite you to meet me in joint
debate in any twenty-five counties which
you may designate. Very truly yours,
WILLIAM SCHLEY HOWARD"
Mr. Deans Telegram
Colonel Deans telegram requesting
that his engagement to meet Mr.. How
ard Friday night be Cancelled, was re-
ceived Friday afternoon and read as fol-
lows:
physician forbids my speaking this
week, therefore request postponement
of the Atlanta debate temporarily.
herewith renew the challenge for joint
discussions throughout the state, includ-
ing Hardwick. You and 1 challenged
Hardwick in April, and he accepted
beginning in July. 1t seems incompre-
hensible that Hardwick should return
to Georgia defying the administration,
and neither you nor Harris willing to
meet him. H. H. DEAN.
Letter to Mr.. Dean
MIR. Howard replied to Colonel Dean
as follows:
Atlanta, July 2, 1918
Hon. H. H. Dean, Gainesville, Ga.
Dear Sir: Your telegram was deliv-
cred to me late this afternoon. Natur-
ally, I regret exceedingly that illness
will prevent your meeting me, as agreed
upon, before the good people of the city
oF - rid fohr
IL note yoS- suggestions regarding
Mr.. Harris and Mr.. Hardwick. The
very day that 1 announced for the Unit
ed States senate, L promptly challenged
Hon. Thomas w. Hardwick to meet me
in joint debate in every congressional
district in Georgia, and to Hon. William
j. Harris I made the same challenge.
"Mr.. Harris has not thus far replied
to my challenge, but in order that he
may have an opportunity or presenting
his cause to the largest audience that
can be gathered under one roof In Geor-
gia, | have today invited him to take
your place in the joint debate which
was to have been held on Friday night,
and I have rendered him his choice or
time and I have told him ] would glad
w reciprocate the joint debate in any
town in his congressional district or
any other congressional district he may
select.
"I would also gladly have Senator
Thomas W. Hardwick meet me in joint
debate at the auditorium with Mr.. Har-
ris on the night of Friday, July D, put
for the fact that when / challenged MI
Hardwick to meet me in joint DEBATE ne
laid down his own conditions, to-Wlt'
That he would not debate by pen OF
tongue with any man who questioned ms
motives, his integrity or his PATRIOTISM
as reflected by the votes cast by him IN
fbo senate. To that I replied that 1
could not accept such terms of debate
and suggested to him that we make
some arrangement on a different OASIS
To which | have never received any
reply. uoo.,,o-
"Hoping that you will soon recover
vour full strength and vigor, am
Very truly yours,
...-. WILLIAM SCHLEY HOWARD.
To 1Gr. Harris
In his letter to Mr. Harris, written
immediately after receiving Colonel
Deans telegram, Congressman HOWARD
invited him to participate In JOINT ols-
cussion of the campaign issues agree
inc to engage in a second debate In MI
Harris own congressional district II ue-
sired. His letter was as follows:
AlldHld, July ., A"AN'
Hon VIM ]. Harris.
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: Hon. H. II. Dean. whom
I recently met in joint debate in his
home town. and who had agreed to
meet me in return debate in the city or
Atlanta. which he designated as the
place of meeting, on the evening or Fri
day, July 5, has just notified me that
his physician has forbidden him to
hot hn Wi hQ
unable to meet me.
"As the auditorium has already been
engaged and as many out-of-town people
are coming to hear this debate, and as
the Georgia legislature is in session
here, with representatives from every
county in the state, 1 take pleasure in
inviting you to meet me on that occa-
sion. The choice of time would, of
course, be with you.
"As this is my home district, I will
be glad to reciprocate with another de-
bate in your own congressional district
at a time and place which you may
select.
''The time is short, and, therefore,
will appreciate an early reply.
Very truly yours.
''WM. SCHLEY HOWARD"
Mr.. Harris at once replied to Con-
gresham Howard, declining to enter
joint ulSCuSSiOH o. lhC OAi IIS
ground that joint debates accomplish
nothing, that such discussions could
only deal in personalities end that he
had already made another engagement
for Friday, July 5. Mr.. Harris also in
dictated that even had he no previous
engagement, he would not participate
in a joint debate. His reply to Mr. How
ard was as follows:
Atlanta, July 2, 1918.
Zion. William Schley Howard,
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: Your letter of the I'd re-
questing me to meet you in joint debate
at the auditorium in Atlanta on the eve
ming of July just received.
Replying thereto I beg to say that
prior to the receipt of your letter l
had made another engagement covering
the time designated by you. Even if /
had made no previous engagement, 1t
has been my opinion, many times pub
licly stated, that nothing could be &C
complished by joint discussions, which
could only deal in personalities. and
since your joint debate in Gainesville
on last Saturday, l am more than ever
satisfied of the correctness of my posi-
ton, and that the people Of Georgia
will approve it.
Yours very truly.
''WM. J. HARRIS"