The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-30
Conditions That Lead Up to the
Forensic Battle.
HUMOROUS SIDE OF INTEREST

Hanley This Opportunity.
Columbus, O.-(Special) For the
| first time within the memory OF
| Ohloans Of reasonable years candi-
dates for the United States senate
have enlivened the political situation
by debating their relative merits for
the office to which they aspire, on
the stump.
The forensic battles between Mr..
e. w. Hanley OF Dayton and Mr.. At
lee Pomerene Of Canton, recently
elected as lieutenant governor, are of
course well known. but the condi-
tlons leading up to the battles con
tain an element of bumor which has
more than passing interest.
Mr.. Pomerene, OF course, is an ac-
complished orator. This has been
numerously evidenced by speeches in
various state conventions and his
campaign work in number of state
battles. Mr.. Hanley, his senatorial
opponent, had not until last week ac-
quired the statewide reputation as
an orator that Mr.. Pomerene had,
but down in the Third congressional
district his speeches had won him
local fame. A few years ago he was
called upon to address an audience
at banquet held in Dayton. At that
gathering there were few who knew
of the Hanley eloquence. He chose
for his subject THE Comparative Re
lations of Personal Integrity to Party
Loyalty" and made a speech so
pregnant with wit and logic that it
established his oratorical reputation
there at home in a manner undeni-
able. However, that's not TO the
point.
It would seem that Mr. Pomerene
and his managers were not aware OF
English language, and 1t Is to this
lack Of knowledge, no doubt, that the
present senatorial debates may be at
tributed.
Last week the startling announce
ment appeared In the papers that
Mr.. Pomerene had rather violently
challenged his rival for the sena-
torial toga to debate the latter's fit
ness for the position on the stump.
Here In Columbus the announcement
came like a thunderclap even to
those seasoned iconoclasts who rep
resent the newspapers and make an
unmake statesmen. Pomerene, tho
suave, the debonair. the eloquent.
appeared at first blush to have extin.
guished his rival. Newspaper at.
tacks that have been made on Han
ley had no doubt prejudiced the pub
lie mind against him and conveyed
the impression that he was ignorant,
uncouth and generally inconsequen-
tlal. Only those who had known his
forceful career in and about Dayton
rejoiced In the Pomerene challenge
But they evidently knew that when
Hanley and Pomerene met on com
mon oratorical ground the latter
would not enjoy the advantage that
his reputation as master of debate
might suggest.
1t seems from all accounts that the
challenge issued to Mr.. Hanley came
not from Mr.. Pomerene. but throu.
his manager, Congressman ]. j. Whit
acre OF the Eighteenth district, who
gave It to the newspapers with a fan
fare OF trumpets.
The intimate story OF the accept
ance is worthy of note. Hanley is a
nervous individual. Congressman
James NJ. Cox, his campaign man
ager. Is worse. When the morning
metropolitan papers Of Dec. car
ried the Pomerene def daring Han
ley to appear upon the stage and de-
fend himself, e. Hanley got hold of
early copies. He was in Room 2
on the parlor floor of the Nell House
in Columbus, attired In a white
nightie and smile When he read
the story in one Of the papers afore-
said, he almost pushed the electric
button through the wall The startled
bellboy who responded to the sum
mons hurried away to find Mr.. Cox
BY the time the latter had donned
enough clothes to pass muster in the
halls and had reached the Hanley
room. he found that Mr. Hanley had
already written very vigorous and
somewhat undiplomatic letter of ac-
ceptance.
whats the matter?" asked Cox;
"also what's the hurry?"
GOT to clinch IT," was Hanley's
reply, "Tm afraid that Pomerene will
change his mind"
All of which illustrates the Hanley
way of doing things-quick. decisive,
unhesitating.
This was a challenge, and It gave
him the opportunity that he sought
to come out before the people of
the state on common ground with |
Mr.. Pomerene.
He was actuated In this eagnerness
to accept. no doubt, by reason of the
vicious attacks which had been |
made upon him during that previous
period when he was bound and gag
ged, metaphorically speaking. He
had been, for instance, pictured as
corrupt boss, when, as q matter OF |