The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-23
JERRY is WORSTED
MEETS HIS YOUNG FELLoW-T0WNS-
MAN IN DEBATE

Auditorium at Hutchinson Is the Arena In
which is Waced the First Contest OF
I'll. Series of six Joint Debates-Simpson
PI.vs Finding-Out Game, But Finds
Out Only That There Are no weak
snots in Longs Armor to Find Out
Falls Down SO That His Followers ApoI
osize for Him.
Hutchinson. Kan, Sept 22-OToday
sas been a beg one in the history OF
Hutchinson. Early this morning ehe
crowds began to assemble and IN facI
spanv people came in last night Inc
one-expected. much-taIked-of debate be
.w.en Congressman Chester Long and
x-Consressman Jerry Simpson was TO
eake place. For four years these Two
champions of their respective parties
ave been opposing candidates Num-
.ro1,s efforts have been made to get
hem together in public discussion but
I'D to this year all had failed.
The challenge sent by Mr.. Simpsons
committee TO Mr.. Longs committee was
nhounptly accepted, and all through thu
arrangements both sides have been so
,nx7.Ils to get at each other that there
was no difficulty in fixing the details
The meeting today was the first OF a
SERIES of six. one each at Hutchinson.
Newton, Wellington, Harper, McPner-
SON and Wichita At the meeting TO-DAY
simpson opened and closed. This ad-
gaDtage will alternate during the cam
paigu. long having the last say at
Wichita.
Last night O W. Hendee, representing
rhe Populist committee, and Sheridan
Ploug.he, the Republican committee.
sgreed without trouble on the prealnl-
narfes. Judge Frank L. Martin was
selected TO preside. No Kissing or other
manifestations Of disapproral was al
bowed. No questions permitted nom
The floor or stage.
The Populists had made every effort
10 get a big crowd here and they surely
succeeded Large delegations came from
sill parts of Reno and adjoining counties.
They wore silver badges with a picture
Of Simpson and the legend, Simpson
and silver. 16 to l." The Republicans
were not behind. Their men poured in
On every road and the admirers of Long
and the devotees of Simpson crowded
each other in friendly fashion and set
Tied the money question in noisy de-
bates The pop corn man, the hot candy
render, the street fakirs made the streets
this morning look like a county fair.
It WAS probably the biggest crowd that
has been IN Hutchinson since the Nc
Kir1ey meeting Of 1894 That record
still stands.
Long before the hour for the debate
TO open the Auditorium was filed to
overlooking and every inch Of standing
room was taken up. The crowd was
pretty near equally divided politically,
IL anything the followers of Long pre-
dominating. When Mr.. Simpson opened
the debate he was received with cheers
by his followers, who also cheered ev-
erything ne said that struck their fancy.
When Mr.. Long came forward to ans
wer Mr.. Simpson the cheering was so
loud and 1ong that for fully five min
utes the I sent and next congressman
could not make himself heard When at
hast the enthusiastic Republicans sub
sided he began his speech and preceded
to answer Mr.. Simpson in a way that
had a telling effect upon the audience.
and it is safe TO say that Simpson has
gained no votes by today's meeting and
that Long has madef riends,
The Republicans have no doubt what
ever that Mr.. Long got the better of the
datIate and neither have the Democrats.
for they are all saying tonight that
JerTy's sickness some time ago greatly
impaired his condition for the days
contest If a man gets the best of a
contest or is even in 1t. it is not likely
that his friends viii apologize for him
Ind throw the blame on his health for
not doing better. Many people who
were in doubt and hence not prejudiced
either way do not hesitate to say that
Long did I'D his opponent in fine shape.
A great many Populists also admit that
Simpson was badly worsted in foday's
debate but they think that Jerry was
simply on a fishing expedition for the
purpose of thoroughly informing him
self Of longs line of argument so as 10
attack him in the weak spots in the flu
ture meetings. In other words, that
Jerry was indulging IN his stump tricks
The fact Of THE matter is Mr.. Long has
no weak spots in his argument and
hence Mr.. Simpsons fishing expedition
Will do him no good