The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-10
ISSUES BEFORE THE PEOPLE.
The Second of the Series of Joint De-
bates Between Calkins and Gray.
Another Encounter in Which the Repuh
lican Candidate WOrsts His Willy and
AdrOit but Inscriptions Opponent.


bpocial to the Indianapolis journal
GREENsBURG, Oct. eff joint debates be-
tween opposing candidates productive of
votes for him whose speech is most pointed log
Zeal and timely, Major Calkins can reasonably
expect q decided accession of strength from this
and adjoining counties, for of the three thousand
people who heard him and Colonel Gray discuss
current political issues here this afternoon,
those whose partisanship has neither biased
their judgments nor destroyed their honesty
must admit that the Republican candidate had
decidedly the best of it. In saying this, how
ever, 1t Is not intended to convey the idea that
Mr.. Gray's speech was weak and altogether in
effective, for it was not 1t was a very skillful
and adroit presentation Of Democratic doctrines,
but it was sadly deficient in very necessary ell
smeut, e.; it signally failed to answer the per-
stinent questions put by Mr.. Calkins
or to successfully controvert the prin-
cipal assertions he had made. This
omission was ingeniously made by diverting
where it was possible the attention of the hear
ers to false issues. Mr.. Gray is crafty, and al
ways demagogue and yesterday he descended
TO certain reflections on his opponent which
were not particularly creditable, and not at all
@truthful AS in Fort Wayne, on Tuesday, he
referred 10 Mr.. Calkins's speech in favor of an
Increase In the standing army in 1877, and by
reading only one or two sentences and placing
an entirely wrong construction upon it, he man
aged to make little spurious capital, but in doing
this his differences were as unjust as they were
false. He maintained that Major Calkins had
advocated the increase in the army for the pur-
pose of forcing workingmen to cease resisting op-
preston and monopoly, and said that if his oppo-
nent should ever be elected Governor those
laborers who might strike against injustice or
reduction of wages would probably hear the roar
of musketry and see the glistening of bayonets
of the soldiers, ordered out by the execu-
tive to suppress them When it came
Major Calkins's time to answer this charge
he showed by the record, the greater part of
which Gray had purposely suppressed, that the
speech in question was in favor of the abstract
proposition of increasing the army to put down
the Indian rebellion lit was about the time
Custer was killed. and that he had then espe-
cially disclaimed any desire to interfere with
wOrkingmen in their lawful rights and priv
ieges. Mr. Grays speech was very little more
than Encouragement and abridgement of his
campaign address which he has been delivering
throughout the State. He signally failed to
define his position and that of his party in the
various political propositions which his opponent
laid before him. and when he attempted an i'm
promptu discussion of subject he was fire.
quently weak and scattering in what he said.
The crowd yesterday numbered about 5000
and was composed largely of delegations from
neghboring towns. 1t was orderly and cour-
teous in its treatment of the speakers Mr.
Calkins was clearly the favorite, after the de-
bate had proceeded although at the beginning
the sentiment seemed to be about equally divided.
Some of Mr.. Gray's reflections had slightly
reused his ire, and in his concluding remarks he
was so earnest and vigorous as to call forth very
enthusiastic demonstrations The meeting was
held in the court house yard, Mr.. John N. Wall
ingford being Mr.. Calkins's time keeper and in
PRODUCER, and John L. Dobyns and John S.
Scobey performing similar service for Mr..
Gray According to the arrangements, Mr.
Calkins spoke first, for one hour and said, in
brief: