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Show DISCUSSION DECLINED. The candidate of the "Liberals" well knows that he and his co-stumpers of the Territory will have great difficulty in drawing out by their own merits or the attractiveness of their cause the more respectable portions of the populace to hear them. He therefore hit upon the expedient of making the People's candidate a cat's paw by which they could obtain a hold upon popular attention. John T. Caine, was the wrong man to be used as a tool and when he was challenged by Van Zile to a series of public discussions he very sensibly declined. Following is the correspondence between the two candidates: The Challenge. Salt Lake City, Utah October 14, 1882 Hon. [Honorable] John T. Caine. My Dear Sir:--You have today received and accepted the nomination for congress at the hands of the "People's Party," and I understand your party is anxious to make a thorough ?[canvas] of the Territory. Believing that the principles and claims of the two parties can be better understood by the voters by listening to a joint discussion, I do most respectfully challenge you to discuss with me the political issues, at public meetings to be arranged for by the two ?[crucial] territorial committees throughout the Territory. The time to be divided between us at each joint discussion as follows. The opening speaker to have forty-five minutes to open, the speaker to follow have one hour to answer. The one who opens to have fifteen minutes to close the debate. As the time is very short before election day I am anxious for an early reply, and hope to hear from you by tomorrow (Saturday) evening. Hoping you will accept this challenge I am yours. Very respectfully. Philip T. Van Zile, Nominee of the Liberal party of Utah. |
