MR ISITT EAGER FOR DEBATE ON RIGHT LINES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14358, 30 October 1908, Page 5

MR ISITT EAGER FOR DEBATE ON RIGHT LINES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Mr Thomson's proposed subject is tho most extraordinary ever offered for debate—"Has no-license helped tho temperance ease in Maine—compared with New Zealand under licence?". This is. as reasonable as if one, should suggest a debate ou the question, "Does sunshine benefit the mcon—as compared with moonshine, on the earth?" Mr Thomson's method is as follows; — In every no-licimse State there are certain towns in which, owing to the appointment of liquor officials, such as the Mr Pennsll he quoted in regard to Portland, the law is not enforced, and what is practically free trade in liquor prevails. | Out of several hundred towns in .Maine Mr Thomson selects some 10 or 12 of these liquor dominated cities, and quotes figures to prove that becau.ro drunkenness abounds where corrupt officials allow free trade in liquor to prevail ß therefore: noliocnsa WHER.B ENFORCED is a failure. Ho wishes to limit me to Maine (a State about which I unfortunately possess very little detailed information) in my exposure of his mcth«ls. Now my challenge of half an hour, turn and turn about, WHILE LEAVING} Mil THOMSON! I'TiEH TO SAY •WHAT HE CHOOSES '. ABOUT .MAINE, left m« free to pelt him with facts and figures of town after town in State after State where no-liconso is in force with magnificent results. Were I foolish enough to fall into the trap that he sets for mo, directly' I produce this evidence I should be told, as lie told Mr Haslie, that nothing but Maine mustbe quoted. Mr Thomson cays that his 1 ■ figures from Maine have been verified by ■the OU'jgo Daily Times, and that lie.lias offered the No-license party to appoint their own auditors and judges and go over the oflicial reports from which they were taken. This sounds right; but luv'o tl:-3 Duncdin public forgotten (lie. facts about Mr Thomson's figures re drunkenji« in Dunodin? It is only four months since Mr Thomson published figures in your columns showing that drunkenness had decreased in this city during the past Hires years. These figures- were taken h'omi a report of tho I'olico in Wellington and were verified by Mr, James Drown, accountant. But on reference to the records in Dunodin these very figures were proved to be • It was discoverd that drunkenr.'-& bail increased, and was still increasing, in Duned.in at an alarming rate. If this juggling could be dor.? -with figures c referring to your own city, what, are the ] possibilities with reference t;> Maine? I e will not be restricted, to Maine alone until such, time has elapsed r.s will enable me- to communicate with I hat State and get posted with all the facts and figure.-. Mr Thomson says, that T have 1 challenged him on conditions most satisfactory to myself. I only make one condition. Why is this condition, satisfactory to mo. am] not to Mr Thomson? The condition 1 is that each of us shall be at liberty to prrAiM ANY EVIDENCE THAT WE POSSESS that aio-licoiife is a (success or failure. If ir, a significant fact that a condition that, should bo eminently satis- j. factory to any fair and honest debater is f . satisfactory to us but means death to Mr „ Thomson. IT DOES NOT BAR Mil THOMSON FROM ANY BENEFIT , GIVEN HIM BY LIQUOR TOWNS IN ' •MAINE. iTi-: CAN BRING! ALL HIS •IAINK EVIDENCE TO BEAR. And this is the crux of the tiling: it decs not bar me from exposing his dishonesty and showing the splendid results of no-license in scores of cities in America (including Maine), and in Clutha, Malaura, Oamaru, and Inverca:gill—places within '"«. few hours' travel of Dune!in. AGAIN I ASK, WHY DOES MR THOMSON FEAR A FAIR AMD OPEN DEBATE? ' ( I am engaged in Christchurch from Sunday on. An expensive hall has been procured for Tuesday night in that city. I will, however, induce my' committee io j abandon that fixture, travel to Dimedin, and meet Mr Thomson if he is prepared to meet me, ihe hands of neither of us being lied. If he is afraid to do this I must bo content to again allow the public to form their own opinion as to which of us is shuffling and afraid to discuss the real point at issue. I must ask for a prompt u<.vepfan« or rejection of this offer, as, if Mr Thomson ! accepts, no lime must be lost in advising 'l my commit too in Christ church of the ' t abandonment of my meeting there. ■ ~ Tile following telegram was -sent to Mr ( Thenran at Diplon last evening :—'• Will < you debate the following to-morrow or ( Tuesday night:-'DOES NO-LICEXSE 1 ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF TEMPER- 1 ANCE?' If so, I agree. Wire reply." A J copy of this k'l.fer was aisc pcslcu to him { bv last night's mail.—l am, etc., ' L, M. ISITT. | t THE FEELING OF THE MEETING i TESTED. < Mr L. M. Isitt explained the above ' to the meeting lasl evening, and asked these who approved of the position ho had taken up to hold up their hands, A. \ forest of hands went up. Ho then asked t those who thought he ought to accept a ; challenge which tied him down in all his « references to Maine. Not a single hand ' was held up. Mr Isitt said that all ho 1 wanted was freedom to talk about any place, Mr Thomson to have the, same 1 freedom. With this freedom and with ihe ! subject proposed any asp?ct coiild be debated. This, however, was"' what Mr Thomson did not want.. j MR THOMSON'S ANSWER. t At, this juncture Mr Thomson's answer arrived. If read as follows:—''You ' specifically challenged me to debate any i aspect, of the no-license question 1 choose. c You are therefore in honour bound to ac- | repi my proposition, Will gladly meet you on Tuesday. Will answer your letter r from Invereargil! when 1 receive it there : to-morrow.—Wm. Tumi?ox." j i By arrangement] [Inserted by tho TJ.T.R.C. 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