The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1920-04-16
AYRES CHALLENGES
NORBECK TO DEBATE
Now that Thomas Ayers, Nonparli-

Now that Thomas Ayers, Nonparli-
san cndidate for the Senate has c.ial-
1enged his Republican opponent, Pet
er Norbeck. to debate, it is up.to Nor
beck to accept or admit that he is a.
fraid. Norbeck has the distinction
s OF being South Dokota's literary gov.
Nh ernor." Whether he would be g
Il 81 match for MIR. Ayers i'm debate is not
known. Norbeck has harped to TIE
ss limit OH how great the present state
SSSla administration has been during his
h n Term of office. This was good dope
Bfor the boys who would not listen to
the other side. But to face a man
SNs like Ayers in debate will be new
~ story. The primary law does no.;
81 require any but the candidates for the
;sgpresidency and for governor to engage
SIN these debates, but-it seems thst
'Ss3sate are morally obligated to present
|HE their own arguments in way that
sSs& will give the voters the faircst meth
a Sod of Judging the merits of both.
" Mr.. Ayers challenge asks that they
N appear in every county seat ~
Il the state. The challenge was sent
Il to the press throughout the state.
4 and to Gov. Norbeck by registered,
/ mail.
/. The following is Mr. Ayers letter
to Gov. Norbeck:
"Hon. Peter Norbeck,
Pierre, So. .Dak..
Dear Sir:
You are the choice of your party
as a candidate for the office of Uni
ted States senator for South Dakota.
The policy of this state has been
fixed in respect to the manner in
+ which public issues are to be present
ed to the people through joint discus
siOns. To be sure, candidates sol
Congress are not obligated by law to
meet their opponents in open discus
sion, but the moral obligation extends
Il to them equally with the candidates
for governor and president
:. Heretofore you have had the field
to yourself in the discussion of the
issues before the people. You have.
spoken in nearly every hamlet i'll the
State during the last two years, and
IN every instance, SO far as l can
learn, you have misrepresented the
Nonpartisan League and it's leaders.
Opportunity is now offered you to go
to these same people and either re-
tract what you have said or prove the
truth of your statements.
! challenge you to a discussion Of
these matters. where both sides can
y be presented You must either fur
nish proof for what you have said or
Il place yourself IN position where the
q truth can be proved in spite of YOU.
u AS a candidate for the office of
\ United States Senator. there are
Il many things your constituents are en-
-sNlSlCO w NNOW, dlnOIE tlcIN UClu6 JAc
\ following:
M Do you apporve of giving to cor
porations and individuals vast stores
of natural resources, to be monOpo-
1ized and exploited for private profit
1 instead of the public benefit?
Do you approve Of the railroad bill
PASSED by the Republican congress,
(Which validates eight billions of wa
Itered railroad stock. and gives ths
HSsSailroads guarantee of six per cent
sapf this fictitious valuation?
III Do you approve Of the sedition la VS.
how before congress. the certain ef-
1ect of which viii be to stife public
ssdiscussi0n and place a gag in the
sEmouths OF the American people?
v Do you approve of universal mill
Itary training in times of peace, when
the country is without an enemy and
ell the nations which might be our
enemies, are broken and starving?
DO you approve of the prodigal use
y0f money in political campaigns, fur