The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-19

/ ciii-pSCI d CHdllcnSe-WhlCn the latter
haughtily refused. stating that he did
not purpose drawing crowds for Long
In 1894 it was Longs turn. and he won
over his neighbor. He made attempts
that year also, for joint debates and
Simpson ignored him entirely
/ In 1896 debates grew out of that first
term Of Longs. In February 1896, a
/ bin was up for consideration in the house
Of representatives TO provide for the free
| and unlimited coinage Of silver at a ratio
Of 16 TO l. There was much perturbation
/ in Kansas, as elsewhere throughout the
! country. A national convention was just
! ahead Of the Republican party, which
/ had the ma ority in congress. Two years
/ prior Kansas Republicans, in their plat
fornnb, had declared for the coinage of
American silver. Those Kansas Republi-
can statesmen who were not openly COM
mitted to free silver were hedging, and
lodging, and trimming. To be strictly
accurate, all but mere handful We're
So when the dbill came UP in congress
Kansas Republicans expected their rep
resentatives to support it. But there is
one thing automatic in politics: Crystal
ization of sentiment and trend of events,
no Aa4AtLtE 4iDN CdItlullE WdLGlEQ ana
speculated upon at home, are not COM
pretended so well or so soon as in Wash
ington. At the national capital things are
foreseen and sentiment fixed months in
advance Of other sections. So wise Re
publicans in Washington knew that the
money question would be paramount in
the campaign Of 1886. They knew it in
February, when this bill was up. They
knew Democrats would force free sill
yer, and they knew Republicans would
have TO meet the issue and meet it
squarely. They knew that the coming
St Louis platform would read gold. But
Kansas did not know this and RepubH-
cans at home beseiged their representa-
tives to vote for the free coinage bill.
Almost TO a man Longs friends urged
him to do it; some because they believed
it right: others as matter Of expedi-
ency. Long never hesitated. He never
swerved for an instant The vote was
taken. Long, Blue, Kirkpatrick of the
Third, Calderhead OF the Fifth and o.
/. Miller OF the Second voted against
the bin. Curtis of the then Fourth and
Broderick Of the First voted for free
silver. That was how the Kansas dele
cation stood
Long of course knew that this one act
would probably defeat his reelection.
Friends all over the state told him so.
He anticipated defeat when he came
home but he resolved to fight It out
He loaded up with argument and went
into the campaign. The district and
state were in a Whirlpool maelstrom.
that famous year. Hopes and ambitions
and anticipated majorities were sucked
in and lost. Men went down beneath the
current The state never before nor
since saw such a campaign. Republi-
cans all over Kansas had to change front
on the money question. It was humili-
ating; embarrassing; but it had to then
change front on the money question. One
of the very few who had no apology for
their prior course was Long.
Simpson was eager for the fray that
year As the special advocate in his
district, if not in the state, Of silver. he
saw his chance. The party's unanimous
choice in the district opportunity at
hand, he resolved to triumph over his ri
val who had defeated him two years be-
fore Simpson this year was ready for a
joint debate He challenged Long. Some
of Longs friends. stin fearful, feared
Simpson would "eat him up" and had
many misgivings when Long promptly &C
cepted. But that necver disturbed Long
Six depates We're agreed upon in this or
der: Hutchinson. Newton. Wellington,
Harper, Great Bend. Wichita. The ini-
tial debate was at hand. 1t was held in
the big auditorium at Hutchinson. A
great crowd was out to see and hear.
friends went with pride and JOY to see
Longs humiliation and downfall Re-
publicans. most of them, went with fear
and trembling expecting to see their |
champion crushed. a few with loyal OPP |
timism believed Long at least would |
hold his own. Long and Simpson en-
tered the big hall, each with a mass of /
Each was greeted with ap |
Diause from his friends. Debate began. |
opened with an hour; Long fol- |
lowed in an hour and a half; Simpson !
closed in thirty minutes. Simpson was |
clever. adroit. skillful Long was keen I
and argumentative. The debate was very
closely followed. Long pressed his points
and Simpson grew evasive. And here
Iueer thing appened-sOmething Simp-
sons friends never could quite explain
Long submitted q list Of questions for
his opponent to answer. and simpson the
,eadv. the pride of his followers. who be
ieved him equal 10 any emergency, took
10 notice save 10 say he would reply
a them later on This staggered his
,eople. Ii followed Simpson the rest Of
he campaign There was no great dem
,nstration or manifestation. But there
vas an intensity of interest and appreci-
.tion that was good 10 see. Simpsons
blowers left the hall quietly, instead Of
.oastfullv. recognizing that Simpson had
net his equal Republicans were trium-
.bant but not boastful. They knew
where the debates would end
Great crowds Witnessed the debates
whenever they were held. Interest in
ressed. 1t was recognized that q strong
aasterful figure had entered Kansas poll
lies. Republicans grew proud Of Long
nd SIMPSONS friends. while they re-
named proud Of and loyal 10 their leader,
-eer not so boastfuI They knew Simp-
q, had need Of ali his adroitness and
Ieverness 10 hold his own with Ions. Il
, the end indeed. in public sentiment,
e did not lose ground.
only once did these wonderful debates
rnroach the point o. personality. That
as at Newton. The debate was held in
- auditorium. which seated thousands
.r.r.,ces and aisles We're simply packed :
.pe, Long and simpson came up They
,,,,, nor enter the building. so they
.ent in through q window and reached
h stage in that way. Tension was
rest. The atmosphere was suroharged
sfb excitement. q veritable Hasazine;