The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-08
TERMS OF FORMER
JOINT DEBATES
Some Interesting References to
Political Discussions il,
N Other Years.
N DEBATES.
DANIEL CAM EROh
Rccc,llections OF Political Men As
to 1'ermsA Debate
Here.

'phr statement of Governor Montague
that the term. offered him In the joint
debate at king George and accepted UNI
der protest by him wdro manifcstly con-
trary to the almost universal precedent
In Joint discussions in this State gave
rise 10 considerable discussion yesterday,
and as was to be expected, there was
wide difference Of views.
Ex-State Senator Henry a. Atkinson
stated that lie was familiar with the de-
tails leading up to II joint debate years
ago between Gilbert c. Walker, then
candidate for the congressional nomina-
ton, and ] II. Guy who contested for
that honor with him. He stated that he
had been called in by, cH-Governor
Walker as one of his advisers, Mr.. Guy
having challenged him TO a joint discus
sion 1t had been decided at that time
that the party challenging, being IN the
attitude OF one accusing or attacking,
should open, aud that the challenged
oarty should reply in the same time;
that the challenger should then have
rcioiEIer, and the challenged party the
clors. in the same time given for the
r.ioinder. This plan had become since
that accepted rule governing joint de-
bates in Virginia.
Congressman H. D. Flood. who has had
n number of joint debates in MS poli,icai
c1reer stated that Il was his recolec-A
,ion Of the iel-Cameron debates of
ISL that one speaker opened IN an
;,our, the other sep!cd in an hour; the
first rejoinder In half M eour, and the
i other closed in the same time. The then
candidates for Governor agreed to
series OF Joint debates, with the further
IN
opening and rejofnder in one debate and
II, the next the other WAS to have It,
thus ne,i,ralzing any advantage to eth
er appertanins to the close of the dis
cussion He said that this plan was
adhered to. a. he recalled ii.
Montague-Swanson.
Mr. Flood further stated that in the
Swanson Montague debate. ut Roydton in
laI, Mr.. Montague, as the challenged
party had named as the terms the e:
Ny Montague TO open TO hours
speech; air. Swanson to reply in an
hour and twenty minutes and Mr.. Mon
tague to close in speech Of twenty
minutes. Mr.. Swanson. having chal-
lenged Mr.. Montague. accepted these
terms, and the debate was SO conducted.
The same terms governed the Mouta-
Eus-Hoge debate at Chrstiansburg in
1871. A, King George on Thursday Gov.
ernor Montague challenged and suggest
ed that one open in an hour, the other
10 respond in an hour and a half, and
the man who opened to close the debate
in a twenty nsnl,es speech, offering
Senator Martin his choice OF opening and
closing or OF tie long speech be tween the
TWO. Senator Martin being the parry
challenged, and entitled to name tie
terms subject to his opponents acqui-
essence. sent an alternative proposition,
which the Governor accepted, though
stating that the terms placed him Al n
disadvantage.
MIR. Flood stated that he himself had
consented to series of joint debates witt
Mr. Rcvefcomb his Repub ican contestant
for Congress, last year on practically The
terms proposed by Governor Montague
Thursday, save that the two contestant:
were TO alternate in the opening anC
closing privilege Mr.. Flood stated, how,
ever, that the closing speech was hal
an hour instead of twenty minutes. 81
far as he was concerned he said tina
he preferred the hour and twenty min
ntcs reply to the hours opening, and hal
an hour close.
Governor Montague was not in the cit,
yesterday and no one WAS authorized t
speak for him positively, but it was re
ported from Montague sources that tn
Governors friends would soon rent
hall in tlf% city ,und the Governor woul
challenge Stnhtor Martin TO debate ii
which the senator was TO open in al
hour; the Governor to reply in an hour
the senator 70 have a half hour rejoindel
and the Governor to close in half Il
hour-just the reverse of the arrange
ment at King George Thursday. Wfcthe
the Governor has authorized such an an
nouncement Will be known definitely Ehe
sle returns to the city to-day