The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-10-15

The discussion between MesSrs. G.. j.
Curtis, Republican, and E. IL. Autenrieth
Democrat. at the Court House on Monday
eveing, was largely attended. Mr.. Auteu-
! rieth opened the discussion. and succeeded
in filling his time by prancing across the
platform. stopping every few moments to
take drink. then again doubling himself
mp like jacknife while apparently scam
ming something on the table behind him,
grirumaciDg and cavorting between spells
like circus clown, seemingly III an effort
to make himself and party as ridiculous
and fantastic as possible. He male lots of
fun. which the boys seemed to enjoy huge
!. ly. and, as he himself acknowledged, done
no good and no particular harm. He at
tempted to make but two points in his
speech, to-wit {: He asserted that the
Homestead Law was passed Under Polk's
administration, and therefore was Demo.
cratic and not Republican measure, as
claimed by speakers of the Republican, par
| ty. But when Mr.. Curtis explained that
| it was the donation act, passed solely in
behalf of Oregon and Washington.
! inducement to settle these countries on the
| western verge, measure passed by Con-
gress without dissenting voice. and not
that great measure known rs the Home
stead Law which was championed and
passed through Congress by the Repub!i-
can party. although fought at every step
by the Democracy. the wind was knocked
clear out of the Democratic argument
1t is tlue, however, to Mr.. Autenrieth, to
say that in his concluding remarks of
twenty minutes" " het explained that, in
the confusion caused BY some side remarks
in tile audience, he inadvertently said
Homestead when he meant Donation
and then he dropped it as if it had burnt
his fingers. His second '.noint" was his
abuse of Judge Williams. t''laundhulet'
Williams as he was pleased to designate
HIM. in which he even attempted to outtlo
the Democrat, working himself up into a
perfect frenzy while he heaped epithets
upon the name of themam whom M-. Au-
tenrieth can never hope to approach in
honesty, truthfllness, towering ability,
gcntlemanly instincts and every attribute
of manhood. Here where Judge Williams
is so well known and so universally respect
, ed for his ability aud uprightness OF char
acter, such biqckgnartlism only harmed the
man guilty of such low vnigarity and the
party OF which he is the mouthpiece
| During Autenrieth's first remarks, when
he asserted that The Homestead Law was Il
Democratic measure, passed long before
: the Republican party came into existence
!, an old time bedrock Democrat in the autli
n ence, who we believe was the first Sheriff
i of Linn county, took occasion to call tht
speaker '.Iiar.'' The fiutter created by
> this interruption was soon quieted, and rl,'
speaker sat down to cool off.
Mr.. Curtis was Then introduced, ant
c proceeded to make an excellent. well
! timed, argumentatiye speech. in which h,
presented the is$.ies now before the country
IN mastery manner. Mr.. Curtis is
> young man. but in ability and common
! sense he was more than master of his op
g ponent. showing him and the Democrat
J. party up in such ridiculoas light as t.
4 convulse his audience with fervent an,
hearty bursts cf laughter. 1t was a wei
considered aud well delivered speech il
: fact his ''hits" right from the sI,oultle
u were so lusty, continuous and so well plant
l- ed. that quite number of the nnterrifie
Il got away from the house in haste. and di
% not return until Mr.. Curtis had filled hi
allotted time.
Autenrieth then waltzed in with larg
- appeals to the water pitcher. acknowledge
s. his mistake between the Donation and til
|. HOMESTEAD laws !; said he tlidn't supHos
:. these discussions amounted to anytllin
anyway that the Central Committee la
: sent himself and others out TO langh an
= he laughed at. and he WIS satisfied wiz
O the evenings performance, as ne believe
le his part of the audience made the mo
a racket anyhow.
I'll And Mr.. A. was permitted to steal ava
: to some other point and make iun for ii
boys.
V city Council.