Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-10-26
THEY HOLD
JOINT DEBATE
Republicans and Democrats Met at
Grass Range Friday Evening and
Discussed the Issues.
A BIG CROWD IN ATTENDANCE
Republican Speakers Seem to Have
the Best Of Their Democratic
Opponents In Debate.

A new feature of campaigning was
inaugurated Friday evening at Grass
Range. where a joint debate was held
there between local representatives of
the Republican and Democratic par
ties. The large dining room of II. p.
Imlslund's hotel was crowded with
men and women from the whole
country in the neighborhood of Grass
Range.
When the Republican central com.
mittee arranged the itinerary of the
various campaign speakers OF the
party. October Il was the date set
for the meeting in Grass Range. The
Democratic central committee did not
now of the itinerary of the Republi
cans and by coincidence hit upon
the same day for Grass Range. When
this was discovered II was seen that
two meetings in Grass Range on the
same evening would not do and the
Republican committee issued a chal.
lenge for joint debate. The chal.
lenge was accepted and the meeting
Friday evening was the result.
For the Republicans the speakers
were o. w. Belden. w. A. Hedges and
Albert Pfaus. The Democrats had
picked on n IL. DE Kalb. Roy L. Ayers
and +. e.. Worden, but as David Hill
ger happened to COME AT the last min
ute IL was decided to divide one Dem.
ocratic speakers time up between
two so Mr.. Hilger and Mr.. Ayers oc.
cupied the first twenty-five minutes
for the Democratic side. or course
no formal decision was rendered as
TO the outcome of the debate, but 1t
was easily seen that the Republican
side of the questioc as more ably
presented and more carefully prepar.
ed. Especially good was the debate
put mp by Mr. Belden. who showed
himself TO be full of his subject and
presented the issues in strong, di.
rect way that appealed to his hear
ers. The Republican speakers open
ed the debate and the Democratic
speakers closed IL. The latter seem
ed entirely unable to offer anything
In rebutta which would In any man.
ner contradict the statements of the
Republican speakers. II. p. Imislund
presided.
The first to talk was o. w. Bel
den. He briefly outlined the issues
which will be before the people at
the next election and spoke In part
as follows:
We believe the campaign of 1904
is one of the most important political
campaigns in the history of the Unit.
ed States. There is not, 1t is true,
great difference in the two plat.
forms. but there Is more difference
than would appear on the surface
There are many questions behind it,
The subject of finance Is not an issue
In this campaign. The Republicans
met in their convention in Chicago
and reaffirmed their doctrine as to
finance. The issue is practically elm
mated. The Republican party has
proved its ability TO meet these great
questions of finance and all the great
questions of state.
Another question which is cutting
very little figure this year is the sc
called Imperialism. I do not know
what is meant by Imperialism. II i'm.
perialism has to do with territorial
expansion then will say that the pow.
ers that be In the Republican party
have branched out and done things
that have never before been done,
They have taken the attitude that
when the United States can help some
one in distress il has done so. This
was done in Cuba and the Philippine
islands. In Cuba President Mckinley
did what no president ever did before
him. He set Cuba free and the policy
that he inaugurated on the other side
of the globe Is the most beneficcIt
act that has ever been heard of.
Tariff is the great issue in this
campaign. We believe in protective
tariff and the rights of the working
man and the American people. We
are willing TO answer for every act II
our administration. This tariff ques.
ton is a most vital one in this cam
paign. In 1892 the Democrats came
into power and revised the tariff and
almost drove the country into bank
ruptcy.
THE REPUBLICANS are accused OF
working with the trusts. We have
heard that we foster the trusts. be
lieve certain combinations of capital
are beneficial, but when they get be.
yond certain limits they are a bad
thing. Beyond these points they shall
not 60"
Mr.. Beldpn then spoke OF the pack
ers strike in Chicago and the great
railroad merger and defined the pres
ident's attitude in regard TO these
troubles. President Roosevelt's atti.
tude in the Panama canal question
was also discussed.
In regard TO the irrigation OF the
arid lands, according TO the law which
was passed in accordance with the
suggestion Of President Roosevelt,
Mr.. Belden said There Is nothing
which has meant 50 much To this state
az this irrigation law. Theodore
Roosevelt Is the best friend Montana
ever had. The best friend the north
west ever had in fact.
Roy r. Ayers opened the debate for
the Democrats. He said:
"Mr. Belden is far my superior as
an orator. and believe as an attor
nev. but in a time like this I would
no willing TO meet anyone. Thomas
jefferson did not originate the prIn