Omaha daily bee., 1892-09-13
FIELD AND BRYAN DEBATE
in the First Congressional Dis
trict Formally Opened,
ISSUES OF The DAY DISCUSSED
What Nebraska owes to tho Republican
rarty-Fricnds of the Democratic
Champion Disappointed by
HIS Remarks.

LINCOLN, Neb., Sept le-ISpecial Tele-
gram to TuE BEE. Tho congressional CAM
paigu was opened in this city this evening
by joint discussion OF the issues of the day
between Hon. Allen W. Field ana Hon. w.
J. Bryan, repu uolican aud democratic candi-
dates for congress, The event was marked
by no blazing torches or marching bands,
but the Lansing theater, III which the debate
was held, was packed 10 ovsrtiowing by tho
friends OF both candidates. Every seat in
the vast auditorium was filled and every
foot OF standing room was occupied.
Promptly at S O'Clock the speakers appeared
upon the stage aud We're greeted with hearty
applause Hon. e. A. Atkinson introduced
Judge Field who opened the discussion.
Juuge Fields address was sincere and
manly presen tation of the issues of the cam
paign. He recounled the history, the pro-
gress, the proSp pority of Nebraska, and
pointed to the influence oil republican legisla-
ZION upon the material development OF tho
state.
He CLAN ced briefly Mt the hostility of the
democratic party TO the homestead law as
proven by the defeat of the homestend bill
four times by democratic votes and vetocs.
On tho Tariff Question.
Taking up the tariff question Judge Field
then analyzed the tariff plank of the demo-
cratic platform. He denounced IL as FREQ
trade plank pure and simple and refuted tho
claim set up by the democrats that pro-
tective tariff was unconstitutional. While
dwelling upon this point Judge Field alluded
to Lhe historical fact that the democratic
party had declared unconstitutional the
homestead law, the efforts to preserve the
union, the reconstruction acts aud the re-
sumption OF specie payments. He recalled
the promises III ade by democratic candidates
two years ago that the Mckinley bill should
be repealed and then pointed to the fact that
after the people had taken them at their
word the democrats could find no vulnerable
spot In the Mckinley bill and the best they
could do was to tinker with il little.
Judge Field referred TO Commissioner
Peck's report and backed it up by an extract
from the banking commissioner OF the state of
New York showing the rapid increase in
savings bank deposits in that state in the
past two years ana tho further fact that
within the past two years The number OF
depositors in the savings banks IN the En-
pire state had increased by more than
l27, 600.
Bryan's Friends Disappointed.
After speaking an hour Judge Field gave
way TO Congressman Bryan, who was to
speak for an hour and fifteen minutes. 1t is
TO be regretted. perhaps, that Mr.. Bryan did
not rise to the spirit of the occasion in q
manner to show that he was sincere in his
desire for joint discussion of the issues for
the campaign He spoke with his usual bril-
liancy and fluency, but those who listened to
his reply" to Mckinley two weeks ago and
IL
striking similarity between the two speeches.
In other words, Mr.. Bryan simply rede!ivered
his anti-tarif speech. He made but n faint
preteuse ofreplying to the assertions of Judge
Field.
After congratuauing himself that his op.
ponent had not challenged the record made
by himself in congress he passed on gen.
erul denun citation of the principles of pro-
lection. He made no defense Of tue dccilra-
ton of his own party platform that the pro-
tective tariff was unconstitutional. He
merely glanced at Judge Fields demonstra-
| tion that the price OF cutlery had decreased
under the operation Of the Mckinley bill AID
| to the statement that American manufactur-
| ers were now able to supply the home mar
ket with cutlery for the first time in the
| history OF the country he simply replied that
| If American manufacturers were abe to pro-
| duce all the goods needed by the American
| people and sell them cheaper than the for
| eign goods could be sold, the country would
| have no means OF raising revenue.
| That binding Twine Bin.
He devoted large share of his speech to
defense of his bill to place binding twine
| on the free list. He deriued Commissioner
| Peck's report and said that no man OF sense
! would believe it, He admitted that the
| Homestead strikes were not caused by the
| protective tariff, but tickled his friends in
| the address by asserting that the strike at
| Homestead had caused protection TO tremble
] from turret TO foundation. He admitted
that protection enabled the American manu-
| faCtuferS 10 pay hlRner wages Dut Claimed
| that 1T did not compel them 10.
| Judge Field had been given fifteen min
| utes in which to reply but he hadn't been on
| his feet two minutes before he had the audi
| ence wild with enthusiasm. So hearty ana
| SO continued was the applause that he was
! compelled TO request the audience to listen
| to him in order that his time might not be
| eucroached upon.
| Brought Down the House.
| To Mr.. Bryan's assertion that the govern
| meut had paid its soldiers IN green backs
\ and its bondholders in gold, Judge Field
| brought down the house by replying that
the repu pliean party had cared for the de-
| feuders OF the union Dy liberal pensions,
and that, too, IN the face of the hostility OF
| Grover Cleveland, who had vetoed hundred
of pension bills. Referring TO Bryan's
| record, he asserted that there was nothing
| IL TO crilcse or oonnend.
| To Bryars assertion that woolen goods
| were dearer by reason of the Mckinley bill
! Judge Field read lotters from A. M. DAVIS &
| Co, Miller * Paine and Herpolshemer 6S
Co., all prominent merchants Of Lincoln, in
which they asserted thet they were selling
all grades OF carpets and woolel
goods cheaper than before the McKin-
lev law went into effect. To Mr..
Brynns assault on the tau plate industry, in
which he told of the failure OF a single mill
at Anderson, Ind, Judge Field show ed that
the great industry had developed rapidly by
reason OF the Mckinley bill and quoted OIL.
cial figures TO prove it, He proved that he
was the match for the young congressman's
, logic and earnestness IL not in eloQuencC
aud the use of specious argument, and the
meeting closed with three cheers for Judge
Field.
NAMED A STRONG TICKET.