Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-28
GOVERNOR DORSEY
DECLINES To DEBATE
WITH HOKE SMITH
Says His Engagements for
Saturday viii Prevent
Meeting Senator in Macon,
Promises StatennentFr iday

NV CI NV Col Soy WI1I IOL dSSSPl
the invitation extended him by Sena-
tor Smith to engage in a joint debate
in the Macon auditorium Friday eve
ming.
The governor returned Friday
morning from Valdosta. where he
caught the night train after speaking
Thursday afternoon at Quitman. He
was reached at the mansion early
Friday morning and asked the ques-
ton whether he had replied to the
two direct challenges addressed to
him by William Schley Howard and
Felix Jackson, acting as Senator
Smiths arrangement committee One
of these challenges went to him
Tuesday at Americas. The second
went to him Thursday night at VAL
dosta. The second requested an an
swer to the first.
To Frame an Answer
Governor Dorsey stated, in reply to
questions, that he had not yet an
swered the challenges. He said it
was his intention to frame an an
swer during the day. He was asked
whether he would go to Macon
Friday night to meet Senator Smith.
He replied that he had engagements
to speak Saturday morning in Cedar
town and Saturday afternoon in Car
rollton, and he did not see how he
could be in Macon Friday night and
get to Cedartown Saturday morning.
He was then asked whether he would
accept the challenge for a series of
Joint debates with Senator Smith.
He said he would make his answer
during the day.
At 1 o'clock Friday afternoon the
governor was asked If he had franz
ed his reply, to the two challenges.
He replied that he had received no
direct challenge" 1t was explained
to him that the kilograms were sent
him by Messrs. Howard and Jackson
at the specific direction of Senator
Smith, who had previously appointed
the mas committee to represent
him. The governor then stated that
he had been SO busy with his mail
all morning. that he had not found
time to frame a statement or reply
on the subject of a series of joint
debates. He said he might" be abe
to get to it Friday afternoon, al
thought he wasn't sure.
Smith Headquarters Statement
Hoke Smith headquarters, when
Informed that the governor would
not accept. the invitation to meet
Senator Smith in Macon Friday
night, gave out the following:
1--WE are disappointed but not sur
met Senator Smith in Macon Friday
night. He gave out an interview
some days ago in the Constitution
that he would meet the senator. We
figured that Macon was fair place
to start series of debates, in view
sweep Bibb county. AS to railroad
schedules, it. would be quite easy for
the governor to keep his engagement
in Cedartown Saturday morning. The
Atlanta sleeper leaves Macon after
midnight and arrives in Atlanta at
$40 a. m. The Seaboard leaves toT
Cedartown at $40 a. m. This would
give the governor the necessary con-
nection. But since it is not conVen-
tent for the governor to meet the
senator in Macon Friday night, we
hope he will find it. convenient to
has been trailing the senator's itln-'
erary in south Georgia, going be-
hind him and devoting himself main
" to abuse Of the SENATOR while pay
ing slight attention to Mr.. watson.
We hope he can get his consent to
meet the senator face to face on at
least one occasion"
WAre Sent
The first challenge went to Gov
ernor Dorsey last Tuesday at Amer
icus. 1t was delivered to him Whlle
he was speaking. He later read the
He did not answer it. Newspaper
men accompanying him on his tour
could get no statement from him
concerning the challenge.
Having waited more than forty
eight hours without an answer,
Messrs. Howard and Jackson sent
a second challenge to the governor
at Vald5sta on Thursday afternoon
1t was delivered to him when he went
to Valdosta to take the night train
was as follows:
eve have not received reply to
our wire asking that you appoint
"a committee to meet with us to ar
range debates between you and Sem
ator Hoke Smith. AS the time is
1IldS VIC III sc Joo ~ ShPPoiAAS
the committee at once. so that sew
eral debates can be arranged before
the primary. We are assured from
many parts Of Georgia that the pub
lie is eagerly looking forward to
these meetings.
Is, (Signed)
p civilian sCHLEY HOWARD,
FELIX JACKSON"
The first telegram, which was sent
to the governor on Tuesday, re-
quested a series of debates and sug-
gested that the first one be held
Friday night in the Macon auditor
ium, where Senator Smith was sched-
uled to speak, and where the gov
ernor claimed to be very strong.
There has been the keenest in
terest among Macon people in the
governors answer, and his friends
of Bibb and surrounding counties
will doubtless feel great disap-
pointment that the governor de-
clined the invitation.
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