The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-11
IN DEFENSE OF BRYAN.
Prof. Wright Challenges Tom Dixon to
Joint Debate.

sensational sermon at the Academy of
Music yesterday morning on "The Politi-
cal Crisis" He said many unkind things
of William Jennings Bryan, the Demo
cratic party and the free silver movement.
In doing so he managed to stir up
hornets nest and create scene in which
cheers and Kisses were about equally
mingled.
Prof. Edwin V. Wright, who founded
the Autobiography League and the
Bimetallic Association, was in the audi
ence. He was just returned from a
stamping tour for silver with George
Fred Williams through New England.
He listened quietly to Mr.. Dixon's ex-
coriation until the preacher asserted that
the Republican party stood for all that
was good and pure, while the Democratic
party was the champion of all that was
the absolute reverse. Then Prof. Wright
jumped to his feet shook his fist ut the
pastor and exclaimed:
What you say is false-ahsolutely
false. You don't know what you are
talking about"
All were dismayed for Il moment and
then shout of applause arose, followed
by storm of Kisses.
The Rev. Mr.. Dixon hadn't expected
all this and it took him several minutes
to discover his location. Then he proceed
Ell calmly with his dissertation He
complimented the Populsts and said that
the Peoples party had been much ma
ligned.
'sThe Democratic party was in HE'LL
said he, "when it pulled itself together
by tieing to the Populists in the Chicago
convention Don't you believe that all
Populists are ignorant. The leaders of
the party are men of brains and of educa-
ton. And they are fine looking men,
too. Many of them are handsomer even
than Theodore Roosevelt
This, of course scored Il laugh, and Mr.
Dixon continues:
I'm such crisis rs now confronts us,
it is the duty of every patriotic citizen to
vote the straight Republican ticket I
voted for Mr.. Cleveland, and now before
God acknowledge my sim"
II am going to vote for Bryan" some
one shouted "and-''
Here, tOo' came from another.
However, Mr.. Bryan was not taking q
straw vote, so he paid no attention to the
interruption.
1.-THE proposition of Mr. Bryan and
his party" said he, &c to pay off the
bonds of the United States, on viii, h
100 cents on the dollar were raised, in
coin only worth So cents on the dollar Is
downright rascality 1t is nothing more
or less than bunco steering"
81 won't stand this any longer" said
patriarchal looking gentleman with long
flowing beard, and he left the building.
Fully one hundred others followed. Then
Mr.. Dixon scored Mr.. Bryan for advocat
ing policy, which he said, would permit
insurance companies to pay widows and
orphans in deprecated coin. He predicted
disaster in case of Bryan's election, and
said that fully 100000 men would be
Immediately thrown out of work Every
one to whom Il dollar was due would get
only So cents.
''It is not tue" shouted James Il.
Madden. Then there were more applause
and more Kisses. Mr.. Madden went to
the speaker, gave him his card, and left
the place followed by many more.
After the discourse Prot Wright de-
clared his intentions of challenging the
reverend gentleman to debate on th e
silver question.
81 have always held Mr.. Dixon" said
Professor Wright, Sin the highest
esteem, but his talk yesterday was IRA
tional and inhuman. The only explana-
ton, to my mind, is that he has been
HannaiZed.n
James Il. Madden is lawyer, with
offices Mt No. rs Montgomery street, Jer-
sey CITY, and was ut one time n practic-
ING physician.
idea of creating scene," said he II had
read that Mr.. Dixon was to speak on the
financial question, and l decided to go.
Two friends of mine who live in Jersey
City went with me.
81 am believer in silver, but 1 want
to hear what its opponents have to say.
SAT first DR.. DiXon's arguments were
much what 1 had expected. He went
through the usual list. But after n lit
tie he became so bitter, and as it seemed
to me, so prejudiced and illogical, that
became greatly excited and when he
| said that if Bryan were elected every
man would get only SO cents for every ST
due him, jumped up and shouted:
"'It's not true
"Of course there was a great deal of
excitement. There was a great deal of
| applause, too. DR.. Dixon stopped speak
| ing, and after a moments hesitation, said
that If l would send him my card he
| would give me any satisfaction 1 might
want.
| Walking up to the platform handed
him my card and told him that I had
made careful study of the question and
| challenged him to public debate at any
time and place he might select. He made
| no reply and / left the place. Fully 100
people followed me. Among them / no.
ticed Attorney General Stockton, of New
| Jersey.
81 hope Mr. Dixon will meet me in de-
bate. have always been a Republican
and have never voted the Democratic
ticket, but shall vote for Bryan. New
York Journal.