Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-01
Full Stenographic Report Of the Discussion Between Edward
RoSewatsr and William F. Gurley at the Creighton
Orphsum Theater, Thursday Even
ing, May 29,, 1902.

Chairman r. w. Neutrality-suspicious. and
Gentlemen: Under the rules governing this
discussion, as agreed to by the respective
parties, Mr.. Rosewater will open the de-
bate with twenty minutes time; Mr.. Cur
ley follows with twenty minutes; Mr.. Rose
water then has fifteen minutes; Mr.. Gurley
follows In fifteen; they alternate then
twice, with ten minutes each, and then al
ternate four times at FIVE minute each,
thus consuming one hour and a quarter
each. The time for each will be called
promptly. ! am requested TO ask the
friends Of the respective parties, please not
70 make Interruptions, because 1t takes the
time from the speakers proportion Just to
that extent.
Ladies' and gentlemen. the gentleman for
whom | oficiste this evening needs no in
PRODUCTION. He is well known to you all
and is, indeed. at this day. a national char
acter. He is a veteran in forensic debate,
medium In stature, but a giant In intellect.
He fights in the open and wins by the force
Of logical facts. ] now have the honor Of
presenting to you the Honorable Edward
Rosewater. (Applause.)
MIR. RosEwATER.
Mr.. Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen:
For this cordial and enthusiastic greeting
! extend TO you my most heartfelt thanks.
Az the very outset ] must ask your very
generous indulgence with my inhrmities.
I an painfully conscious Of the fact that I
am entering the lists Of debate with a man
richly endowed with the rare gifts Of elo-
quence, wit and superb manhood. He is a
man who can with his beaming counte-
nance and seductive smiles entrance the
ladies and make their hearts 1utter.
(Laughter.) He is a man who can by his
fervent appeal make a murder jury cry and
the Judge on the criminal bench smile
whenever he INDUCES in his rare sallies Of
wit.
II is something presumptuous on my part
20 enter into a wordy combat with a man
who can spellbind and hypnotic his audi
ence. / know very well that / am not
equal to the occasion and II l do not get
the favor OF this bright and intelligent au-
disnce. composed as IL is Of the beauty
and chivalry Of Omaha, when ] am wrest-
ling with this Adonis Of the Omaha bar.
/ will only beg you to remember that a
man cannot control his own makeup. 1
am bound to ask you to bear up with my
plain and commonplace English and plain
spoken truths, which have gotten me into
trouble so many times.
1t seemed to me somewhat Of an imperti-
nence for Mr.. Gurley to challenge me to de-
bate with him the propriety Of giving
David II. Mercer a sixth term In congress.
1t is an extraordinary proceeding. l claim
to be an American citizen endowed with the
sovereignty Of citizenship and no man has
a right TO question me In my choice Of pub
lie servants. That is precisely what l have
been challenged. 1t is simply amazing that
anyone should be called upon TO account
for his opposition to, or his preference for,
public servants. But Mr.. Gurley has been
in the humor OF presenting himself here
and l have INDUCED him. l am willing to
discuss the candidacy of David H. Mercer,
but / fear that 1t viii be disappointing to
many Of you II you have come here to
listen to pyrotechnics and view a mud
hinging match from this end. ! propose to
devote my time exclusively to the discus
SIGN Of the subject In hand and II / bring
Mr.. Gurley in personally 1t will only be
when he is directly connected with David
H. Mercer. We must at the outset look
ackward and see where these two gentle
men presented themselves for the hrst
time in the political arena.
Although / have been intimate with poll
tics In Nebraska, ! was not aware OF the
prominence and p~redominance Of either OF
these gentlemen until the legislative as
sembly Of 1887. That was the first time
that Mercer and Gurley were brought into
prominence and are on record. From that
record / propose to read to you and let II
come direct from Mr.. Gurley. The legisla'
ture OF 1887 had two great functions Il
perform; one OF these was the election o.
United States senator and the other wal
he regulation OF railways, and the taxa
ion Of railway property on q level with
he property owned by all other corpora
ions or individuals
We find here in this book testimony be-
ore the United States Pacific Railway
commission" testimony taken within three
months after the legislature Of 1887 hat
ldjourned. You will find on page 1857 Mr.
turley's testimony. and l will read a por
don Of II. l shall read from a copy. l
hr. Gurley, or any OF his friends, want L
leep pace with me they can taxi this book
pen 1t at page 1857. and see I am not mis-
iuoting.
OMAHA, Neb.. June q, 1Ss7.-W. F. Cur
ey. being duly sworn and examined, test
led as follows. the chairman, Governo
?attison Of Pennsylvania, questioning:
Q-What Is your business? Al am al
attorney.