Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-25
W. A. CALDERHEAD AND JOHN
DAVIS IN JOINT DEBATE.
An Immense Audience Gathers to
Hear the Congressional Candidates
Handle the Questions Of the Day
Good Order, Earnest Talk and Gen.
erous Applause.
From TUESDAYS Daily.l


before the doors to the opera house
were opened the sidewalk was blocked
with good natured crowd for several
rods in all directions. When admis-
sion was allowed the opera house was
filled to the last foot Of standing room,
stage and auditorium, in few min
utes. Populists and Republicans
were present in equal numbers and
although it is doubtful II the room
ever held SO large an audience, it GER
tainly never had more a orderly or
respectful one.
On the stage in addition to local
committees were many from outside
the county. Among them were:
Major Morrill,, 4. W. Hoch, H. B.
Kelly, W. D. Vincent and W. H.
Fletcher Of Clay Center, J. N. Lime
booker and R. +. Brock Of Manhattan,
Mr.. and Mrs. W. H. Smith and Mrs.
Perry Hutchinson Of Marysville; j.
H. Long Of Belleville, Chas. $. Davis
Of Junction City.
Hon. 4. c. Little presided and in
troduced both speaker He did his
part with much tao, and ability and
to the entire satisfaction Of both
sides.
A good natured rivalry in applause
existed in the audience and both
speakers were'generously treated in
this respect. Only a synopsis Of the
addresses can be given. Mr.. Calder
head opened with an hours talk;
Davis followed with an hour and u
half; Calderhead closed in a half hour,
There was close attention from begin
ming to end.
CALDERHEAD's OPENING.
Mr.. Calderhead was received with
cheers. He said in substance: The
American citizen is sovereign. he
should exercise his sovereignty at
all times. Only in America is such
an assembly as this possible. Other
nations discuss only candidates, not
measures, and most OF them have but
a small portion Of the people en-
franchised. Voting is an American
natural right; 133 millions exercise
it. 1t is our duty to vote intelligent
| ly. There is no time when q man
can plead lack OF time to vote or
study politics. Citizenship becomes
useful only by using 1t.
Government aid Of canals, railroads
etc. were to assist commence but
never was anything owned in monop-
oily when individuals could do it. On
this principle were tariff laws--to
protect the American people from
pauper labor Of other nations. They
had the principle Of cheap foods,
hence possibility Of cheap wages.
Protective tariff was adopted to COM
pell higher wages, to protect indus
tries, levying tariff on those things
we produced. In 80 years trial it
has helped us, not harmed us.
The history Of the Republican
party is one Of honor. 1t began in a
time when the country was poor, etc.
In 1857 made half q hand in Ohio
wheatfelds at 123 cents a day. We
sold hogs at 3-4 cents per pound,
steers 81 a head. Laborers received
40 cents day. Commerce was pros
trate. He then outlined the present
elements Of national prosperity and
wealth.
Statistics Of production and the
comparatively small portion sent
abroad were quoted, The American
people, the common people, bought
the rest. No one went away to hunt
labor, laborers here saved more and
made more than anywhere. In A
counties Of Kansas not a poor house
had an inmate; England had one
pauper to every 80 Of its population
Edwin Atkinson says that factories
are earning less than 9 per cent rail-
roads less than per cent on actual
investments.
In 1862 Andrew Carnegie, the iron
millionaire, was message boy who
brought message to my regiment in
camp in an Allegheny pasture. A
man has right to get rich II he robs
no one in doing it. Better get riches
by inventive genius than inherit it.
Manufacturers became rich under
Republican legislation, but they did
IL honestly. Trusts have not made
things higher to the consumer
really cheaper. A trust reduced
sugar from 20 cents pound to 8; oil
from 50 cents a gallon to Is cents. Is
there railroad pool that raised the
average Of freight or passenger
tradicP The average has been down
ward. am not defending trusts or