Evening star., 1934-08-22
HALE CHALLENGED
]. TO MAINE DEBATE.
Democratic Candidate for
Senate Takes Up Plan
of Lewis.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

r. Harold Dubord, Democratic cam
y didate for the Senate tn Maine, did
not let the grass grow under his teet
- when he heard the challenge OF Gen
ator Lewis Of Illinois, chairman Of the
Democratic Senatorial Committee, to
Senator Hastings Of Delaware. Re-
publican chairman, for series OF
loint debates between the Republican
and Democratic aspirants for seats
In the Upper House. He sent his own
challenge for a series of joint debates
In the State Of Maine to Senator
Frederick Hale. Republican, who is
seeking reelection.
Senator Hastings rejection for the
Republican Senatorial Campaign Com
mittee of the Democratic chairman's
plan, it is believed, will lead to a
declination of the invitation by Sena-
tor Hale. OF course. any Republican
senatorial candidate, including Mr..
Hale. may decide TO take up the gage
thrown down by the Democrats If he
81 desires. On the other hand, some OF
the Democratic candidates for the
Senate may not be anxious to expose
themselves on the platform in joint
debate with their Republican op-
ponents. However, it would be re-
freshing If two candidates for the
Senate in the same State, Democratic
and Republican. should be willing to
do what Abraham Lincoln and Ste
phen A. Douglas did in 1858 and en-
gagged In Joint debates on the ques-
tions of the day.
Text Of Dubords Telegram.
Dubord's telegram to Senator Hale
was as follows:
In the early days of the Nation
It was the custom for competitors for
public Office to debate the important
issues of the day from the same plat
form. Today there are just as many
issues Of vital importance to the State
and Nation. I agree with you that the
election of September 10 (the date
of the election In Maine) is a most
important one, and there are many
voters In Maine at the present time
who are honestly trying to make a
proper decision as to how they should
vote on election day. believe it
would be of great assistance to the
electorate If you and were to ap-
pear upon the same platform In the
State of Maine and publicly discuss
the issues. If this plan meets with
your approval, shall be prepared to
debate the issues Of the day at such
time and at such places as you care
to determine"
Quiet on Liquor Issue.
In the campaign for the election Of
Senators and members Of the House
there has been no particular emphasis
on the wet and dry issue. Indeed. the
candidates on both sides seem to
have been perfectly willing to let the
attack on the prohibition amendment
be fought out on its merits and to keep
, away from partisan politics In connec-
ton with 1t. Senator Hale, like other
public men in Maine. has been a sup
porter of the dry cause in the past.
So has Beedy, the Republican, seek
ing reelection to the House this year.
What happens to the prohibition
amendment to the State constitution
In Maine viii be followed with the
keenest interest. If the vets can
overthrow the amendment, then, in
deed. the prohibition cause will appear
to be still on the downgrade. The
vets are arguing that If prohibition Is
a repealed, the State will be able to reap
q large revenue from the licensed liquor
traffic and the tax burden will be
lightened on other activities and
classes of property.
It may be expected that other sena-
torial candidates will follow the lead
now set by Dubord In Maine and seek
to win their opponents to joint debates.
In Maine the voters are to deter
mine on election day whether they
shall amend their State constitution
so as to take the fixed prohibition
against the manufacture and sale OF
liquors out of that document. Maine
Is one Of the old prohibition States
< If it hops over to the side of licensed
liquor trade, it will be a great blow to
the prohibitionists.