Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-10
HOT JOINT DEBATE {,
LAMB AND WALLACE BATTLE IN
oRAToRY FOR CONGRESS
SEAT.
MAJORITY WERE. WITH LAMB.
Great Gathering Enthusiastic and At
Times DisorderIy.
BOTH SPEAKERS INTERRUPTED.
Chairman EI1y.on Was Forced to
Interfere. But the Crowd Was Gcn-
orally Good-Humored, While the
Rival Candidates Attacked Each
Other vigorously and Compared
Their Records.

The Academy of Music was a seething
mass of partsanry last night on the oc-
casion of the joint discussion between
Captain John Lamb, present congressman
from the Third District and Mr. Jefferson
Wallace. his rival for The position at the
approa ching primary.
The orchestra floor was completely fill
ed a throng of standing men filling the
lobby; the balcony held its limit, and far
away up in the gallery lusty-throated
friends of each candidate We'd with each
other in demonstrations for their re-
spectiye fayorites. The character of the
applause. the order and attention given to
ch speaker. demonstrated beyond bias
ed Judgment that Captain Lamb had the
better of the argument in the opinion
of the audience, and as a necessary Sc
uuel he had the majority Of the crowd
with him throughout the discussion.
Mr.. Wallace had supporters in every
section of the big auditorium. They
stretched from the front row of the
orchestra chairs to the rear of the gall
lery benches. and broke out at every op-
portunity to cheer their favorite aspirant.
The applause that was given MIR. Wal
lace however. did not have the solidarity
and general strength Of that which greet
ed Captain Lamb. This was evident
when the two candidates appeared for the
first time upon the stage. and was MADE
apparent on a dozen occasions through
out the meeting. Mr.. Wallace lacked the
fire and feeling that seemed to inspire
the present congressman. for the latter
welded his sarcastic sentences with the
exterity of an expert Swordsman. and
his supporters in the hall took up each
IA pier thrust and welcomed it with shouts
Of approval.
No Issues Discussed.
There was no discussion of issues. The
speeches of the two candidates were as
far apart in their essence and trimmings
as the antipodes Mr.. Wallace was re-
stricted in his speech to an appeal to the
voters 10 support him not for what ne
had done in Congress, but for what he
hoped TO do. He cited his services to the
Democratic party in the past as an evi-
dence of his merit for the position at the
big marble building in Washington. Cap
tain Lamb related his work before COM
mittees in Congress. setting tortn What
had been accomplished during his 1ncum-
bency of the office, and interspersed TINS
presentation of facts VIII a defence
against what he called the insinuations
and inuendoes of his opponent. In this
direction. Captain Lamb attacked his op-
ponent with vigor that had enough of
the fierceness that his friends and sup
porters in the audience wanted.
ATTEMPTS were made by a few persons
in the audience to interrupt him. SO ag-
s-ava,ed did this become that Mr.. j.
Taylor Elyson. the chairman q the
meeting was compelled TO come forward
while Captain Lamb was speaking. Wav-
ing his hand for silence. he said: There
has peen much kissing on the part OF
some persons in this audience, and to no
one has it been so Objectionable as to
MIR. Wallace
BY the terms of the discussion Mr.. Wal
lace was to open with forty minutes
Captnin Lamb was to follow with a fifty
minute reioinder.
Captain Lamb Interrupted.
1t was apparent to the audience that
Mr.. Wallace received during his ap-
pearance upon the platform Tor tor
ty minutes a respectful hearing, and no
attempt was made to Interfere with him
seriously Chairman Ellyson did not
have occasion during Mr. Wallace's
speech to call for silence, and it was not
until Captain Lamb arose that any DEM
onstration of an aggravated character
occurred So noisy and personal We're
the Interruptions during Captain Lamp
speech that Chairman Ellyson. after walt
ing in vain for it to cease, came forward
with his request. From that time the IN
reference was not so pronounced but
from various parts of the house misses,
cat calls and personal remarks We're oil
rected now ana ,hen against Captain
Lamb.
Mr.. Wallace Also Amazed.
When Mr. Wallace arose for his ten
minute rejonder to Captain Lamb, he
met the same reception that had been
given to Captain Lamb only a few min
ut.s befo,e and it became apparent that
it would be impossible for him 10 make
use of the ten minutes. as there were
continued calls for Captain Lamb while
Mr.. Wallace wss concluding. and before
he had finished half of his allotted time
the big crowd began to pour out of the
building after two hours of the hottest
most partisan and really interesting po-
l;tical s2eechmaItinG that has been heard
within the confines of the Democratic
party in the Third District for many
years.
The auditorium was filled by o'clock,
and the crowd impatiently awaited the
opportunity to express its support for the
two candidates. Chairman Ellyson ap-
peared about $50. and as soon as it be-
came known throughout the vast audi
ence that he was ON the stage, the par
1isans began to collect their strength to
greet the candidates with the full force
of their lungs. hands and feet, and they
used al three agencies to the limit
Entry of the Rivals.
Mr.. Wallace appeared first. AS he made
his entry from behind the scenes, and
walked across the stage. a Salvo of cheers
burst from all parts Of the house. Cap
tain Lamb followed very quickly and the
applause that greeted him was not SO
individually pronounced as that which
met Mr. Wallace. but 1t came like a roar
and lasted for minute or two It was
apparent to the impartial from the nature
and power OF the cheering that met the
.-,-o r>o.>,7'Sctes SGT Cantain Lamb had
the strength of the meeting.
4 ne iIrSt lemons lralOn came when Cap.
tain Lamb opened in his rejoinder to Mr..
Wallace. For forty minutes Mr.. Wallace
had held the floor in advocacy Of his race
for Congress. His friends cheered him at
Will. and he received no Interruptions
The opposition was awaiting its turn.
When Captain Lamb came to the foot.
lights. his initial sentence struck the key
note of his hearers feelings when he said
81 ask you as fair.minded men If you.
have heard one single question of public
interest discussed by Mr.. Wallace during
the forty minutes that he has appeared
before your" His last words were lost