The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-03
Press Club Hears National Lead
ers Argue Pro and Con About
Wearing Whiskers.
CARTER CITED AS EXAMPLE
Montana Man Tells Why Alexan-
der the Great Made Enemies J.
Dispense With Adornment.

WASHINGTON. May 2.-Whether whis-
kers are a greater detrment TO a man
than a bald head is still q mootcd ques-
ton. Four of the ablest men in public
life debated the subject before the Ma
tional Press club tonight. The bout was
under Marquis OF Queensbery rules. and
when the bell rang the referee threw up
his hands in despair
The bald headed side OF the question
was in the hands Of Senator Robert l..
TAYLOR of Tennessee. and Representative
Nicholas Longworth OF Ohio. The chin
curtains found their champion in former
senator Carter OF Montana and Uncle
Joe Cannon of Illinois.
:. Messrs Taylor and Longworth entered
the ring amid cheers. Their hairless
domes sparkled beneath the radiance OF
ter and Uncle joe came with their
whiskers combed for the fray.
The shouts that greeted them were
''Dr. Purefood" WILEY of the depart
ment OF agriculture was chosen as time
keeper. and each contestant was allowed
the press club as referee during hostili-
ties. but gave way TO Speaker Clark at
the end.
Longworth for Bald Head.
Representative Longworth, the first
speaker. said he did not believe that a
mar a on " the head was worth two on the
that bald head-providod he should be
considered bald-was In any sense a ham
dicap either In public or In private life.
MIR. Lopg%orIh claimed that on his birth
DAY every man has a choice between hair
and brains. His choice. he said. was
apparent.
''The conditions OF the diyputants on
the other side is utterly jnexcusable, -
asserted Mr. Longworth. 'in olden DAYS
whiskers were usable-they were
sworn by--but nowadays they are only
There is no excuse for such whiskers
as those that adorn the chin-or chest
Of the former senator from Montana. I
] appeal to the timekeeper to uphold
Senator Carter was introduced as "EN-
bibt A" for the whiskers.
wore re bald head. j bald head hso'I"iisft!n IS an
affliction, a standing Joke. physical in :
opponents
Carter Lauds Beard.
Senator Carter insisted that the
beard was the real thing
mo fair maiden" he said. ever doubt =
ed a promise from bearded man The
beard Is n badge of manhood, A bearded
man needs only opportunity. The first
man TO cut off boards was Alexander the
Great.
at was a brutal measure of warfarc-to
diers by the beard: Let us all wear
boards and there will be no more warfare
In this troubled world of ours.
There is another thing about the bald =
headed man. Ho naturally goes To prison
without previous preparation. The sub
Ject Is ready for the work. II takes
some trouble To prepare a bearded man
for that unfortunate habitation
Senator Taylor introduced an ivory
pated Moses of the Tennessee Dernoc-
racy" said that when Mr.. Cannon was
speaker Of the house. he shook pcstlence
and war from his horrid beard He dwelt
upon the ability OF the bald peaks of the
mountains and the bald heads OF the
American eagle cIrcling about them in
the azure atmosphere. Coming down To
bald facts, ho added:
Once He Had Tresses.
Once ] haa raven tresses, he said
wistfully. "but like autumn leaves they
left me, Ever since l lost them / have
had horror Of hair and supreme con-
tempt for wbiskcrs On the other hand
have always admired Il bald head as q
symbol OF purity and Innocence
Uncle Joe Cannon said he had mover
been funny In his lifc-at least not con-
sciousy so-quoted from n writer who