The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-25
THAT JOINT DEBATE.

The days for joint debates on the
stump are passed. Only the very best
of equipped speakers and with their
own audience in full sympathy with
them, can longer hold their own with
the newspaper in campaign. That
man must be very bright and unusually
wise in these times who can offer any
new thought or use any taking illustra-
ton not already suggested and employ
ed by the press. The joint debate OF
Lincoln and Douglas will never be
duplicated for absorbing interest and
far-reaching consequences in this
country again. There are still maybe
like chances in the British Isles, more
especially in England and in Ireland,
but the American has universally be-
come an omnivorous reader and public
political shouting is losing its charm as
well as effect. 1t is not Bryan's speak
ing which draws his crowds. 1t IS
curiosity to see the man. The sug-
gestion, made by the Pop leaders that
Mckinley and Bryan meet in joint de-
bate could only have come from the
Pop element of this country.
Long and Simpson are holding a
series of joint debates. We do not
know who is responsible for them, but
doubtless the challenge came from the
Pop committee. There is nothing to 1t
nor can be. No votes will be made or
lost worth mentioning by these joint
efforts. Long and Simpson are totally
unlike in their mentality and in their
methods. One is a lawyer, trained to
logical reasoning; the other man who
talks for talks sake; talks the sent-
ments OF his Pop crowds, and the sus-
gestions of the moment. One is deeply
in earnest over what he feels to be very
serious and far-reaching truths; the
other at all times is cooked and primed
for any possible fun, chance joke
being his supreme delight. 1t is said
that Long got the best of Simpson at
Hutchinson. There could hardly be
any doubt of that, but what OF It:
(Which licked:'' is all the interest at
taching to such demonstrations. OF
the Hutchinson debate we take the eStl-
mate Of two outside papers, both Of
whom had reporters present. The
Kansas City Journals account says:
1.-The Populists, while sullenly claim
ing that Simpson won, show their ex-
pressions of woe and the celebrity with
which they start for their homes that
they feel the disaster which has met
their champion in the first round"
while the Kansas City Times makes
this comment: ''The. voters OF the
Seventh congressional district have not
had such a treat since Prince Halls
silk hose gave Simpson the opportunity
to make himself famous. After the
walloping was over today everybody
felt sorry for Long, just as they DID Tor
Hallowell some six years ago."
According to these two Missouri pa
Ders both sides won and both sides lost
the day. That neither estimate is cor
rect goes without saying. There is but
one advantage for the Republicans that
we can see in this joint debate and
that is the advantage that will come
of comparison Of the two men, 1t
is said that Simpson abandoned his old
stump style and really attempted a
serious argument 1t is not his forte,
his STYLE or his role and he had Better
for his own sake stick TO his jests and
hyperbole. Chester Long being an
earnest student Knows more tacFs If
history, more of economic laws and
more of the financial legislation of this
country in a minute than Simpson will
ever know. He can ask more peril
nent political questions in an hour,
which he himself can correctly answer
in the same limited time than Jerry
Simpson could answer between now
and the converting of congress.