Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-03-19
Lewiston As0tin Debate.

Hour Club, of \Sotin, at the latter
place Tuesday evening, proved to hc
II highly instructive and most enjoy
able social affair \ large delegation
of Lewiston people was present and n
representative audience OF .\sotin ciei-
zens filled the comn,odious BaumeiSter
Hall to listen to the discussion.
The meeting WA, called to order at
nine o'clock 10y Judge WEIGH, the gen.
ial auditor of ASotin county, who de-
liveret an address of welcome To the
visitors. In announcing the subject of
of debate, "Resolved that i'lleness
should be- prohibited by law, aud work
provided by the State for those who
cannot find employment for them
selves" the chairman stated that the
debate which was to follow was not
prompted 10y the spirit of rivalry but
for the mutual benefit aud pleasure to
be deriyed, and that to insure the most
perfect harmony and the better realza-
ton of that purpose, no judges would
be appointed to decide on the reslec-
tive merits of the addresses.
MIR. A. l.. Coburn was the first
speaker introduced aud he laid the
foundation OF the Affirmative. Their
contentious, he said, would he made
on three propositions, as follows: lst,
that to idleness could he traced the
root of nearly all crime: 2nd, that this
cause should be eradicated, and coer.
Give measures must necessarily be APP
piled; Bird. that in n state law. furnish.
ing industrial pursuits for the uncm-
ployed, laid the remedy lie made
several Illustration to more clearly de-
fine their position. His address was
compact and forcblc and his delivery
pleasing.
Mr.. f.. Waldlip, for the negative,
followed Mr.. Coburn. Limited time
for preparation and Il limited library,
he stated, disqualified him to properly
defend the position of the negative.
He spoke without notes, ANA a>sailed
in order the three propositions ad.
vauced by Mr.. Coburn. He claimed
thut the law which placed men of
different mental and physical capacity
on the same level, was morally wrong;
that II discrimination would neccSsar
lily follow, and any discrimination "f
citizenship rights was contrary To the
spirit ola republican form of govern.
: ment. He contendeh that under the
conditions advanced 10y the opposition
industry would n" longer Il" rewarded,
the beautiful hrnpii,~ of competition
lost, aud that socialism could but re-
SUIT. lie claimed the question con-
tanned two separate propositions, aud
that concedlng the merit oi the first
clause the remedy prescribed in the
second was too weak To sustain it,.
Mr.. WaIdrip', remarks were to The
point and his illustrations brought out
Il vigorous applause from his hearers.
Mr.. R. Nollmcr MA, the second
speaker on the Affirmative. He "prned
with spicy review of Mr.. Waldrip'~
: remarks. He argued that crime wn-
dominant, human atlliction in all it,
phases trailing in it, wake, and that
the demon, idlenc,-, generated the
great ma jority of tn" willing forces.
The need of II reform was painfully ap-
parent Human law thai permitted
these condition. was morally and sor-
tally wrong, and, though conflicting
with the rights of man ~ now defined
by the law, of all nations aud all pco-
pie, ii remedy should bc applied
Logic and reason, he sad, would bring
that conclusion. Checking idlencss
by the same strong law that Licenses ii
would work the bleS-ed reform. lie
) illustrated the :iniurie- to follow the
application of his remedy in proportion
to the benefits as one hair to the many
on IA red cows back. Mr.. Nollmer
brought out the full strength of the
affirmative in IA capable, ter-e and eN-
: ceptionaIly pleasing manner.
Mr.. Osmers was the last speaker on
the affirmative, He covered with
consistency the ground outliucd 10y his
associates and illustrated profu~ely the
t sad conditions now existing. lie
now followed that produced only sin,
1 shame, crime--degeneracy; and which
could no longer thrive If the caus.
I WAS destroyed. Any law, he said
! that would elevate mankipd and bring
: sublime peace where afliicti"n now
, reigns, could he practically applied
: without infringing nn the rights o
{ liberal citizenship. lie drew seVera
, beautiful word pictures which ~iii
adurn the wall in the northeast corner
: of the hall He closed his remark,
: with II pretty compliment to woman
r hood, concedins their support OF III,
!. position.
Mr.. Robert Patterson closed tiie Il
bate for the negative. He took hi
: position with i confident air, and slit