The herald., 1898-12-10
He Wants a Debate

He Wants a Debate
To the Editor of The Los Angeles Herald;
Since the unexpected discovery that an adj
vertisement in your columns of my personal
egotism even when mildly expressed finds
itself duplicated free of cost in that most
precious of space the editorial columns OF
the Times, am tempted to essay another
trial on a more pronounced scale.
Municipal charter building is not the only
profession in which l lay ca,m to be an ex.
pert There are other questions upon which
| am au fait.
Now, this is, theoretically at least, a
country where the majority decide who's
right.
Notwithstanding l am in radical disa.
greement with Republicans, Democrats and
Populists upon their pet theories, | contend
that l can carry my points in any public
Joint debate that may be arranged in this
city.
Not to be accused of an empty bluff,
will lay two to one on myself, in moderate
sums, and further stipulate that the de-
batter who fails to carry a majority of the
house with him shall pay all the expenses
of hall rent and advertising.
| will first throw down the gauntlet to
Republicans. They are continually shrek
ing their adherence of trusts Avoid
ing the question of evident hypocrisy,
simply challenge upon the issue as follows,
viz:
Resolved, That trusts" are an inevita-
be outcome of our industrial system and
that attempts at their destruction are nee.
essarily doomed to failure and that the only
solution of the problem is public owner
ship
Then, for any rash and misguided Demo
crat who may wish to take fall out of me
| would take the affirmative side of the
question:
Resolved, That both the policy of pro
lection and of ''imperialistic expansion,
being industrial necessities, are hence po
litical necessities, and that Democratic op.
position is fatuitous.
In order to give the Populists chance,
l propose, the city health officer permitting
to disinter the corpse of''.silver''' and debate
the question:
Resolved, That the interests of the wage
earners are better subserved by the reten
tion of the single gold standard than by
the free coinage of silver.
do not suppose that any of those tifteer
freeholders will venture out Of the burrows
they scuttled into after the last election, but
if so, will meet one upon the question:
Resolved, That the next charter pro
posed for this city should contain the ''in
tiative, referendum and imperative man
date" and that the people shall have the
right to put the same in operation annually
Now, Mr.. Editor, am proposing chear
and easy way for some ambitious young law
yer or rising politician burning for distinc
tion to achieve notorety. OF course, ht
will lose the debate, but the cost is not grea,
and the disgrace nothing compared witt
such an unrivaled opportunity to get into
the newspapers and before the eye of tn,
public and into its ears.
Personally, | have no ak to grind. seei
no office and have no reason to gain fur
ther reputation as a debater. | consider
the side of the question l take in the variou.
proposals the one that with any proper pre-
sentation the majority of an audience vii
be sure to favor. Those that differ with hi
now have an excellent chance to air thei
views. While not claiming such an intel
lectual contest to compare with prize fight
in exciting the public interest, yet | d
think it would attract sufficient attention
to obain some kind of an audience, particu
larly ii the other fellow happens to have
also made his reputation.
H. GAYLORD WILTSHIRE.