The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-06
GREEN WON FIGHT
OratOrical Bout in Favor of
Local Democrat.
Rooney, Wrapped in Stars and
Stripes, a Loser.

Joint debates are not what they used
to be. Harry C. Green, Democrat, and
Ed Rooney, Republican, Two young
lawyers, all but settled Wilson and
without calling each other any names.
1t was MY Dear Friend Green" or
my Honorable Opponent" or My
Republican Friend" all the way
through. The audience was somewhat
disappointed in this respect.
The two young men met at Lincoln
Post hall after articles had been
signed at the court house some days
before. Dr. Eva Harding, a Demo-
crat, was selected as referee. Rooney
slipped there, for the bout had no
more than ended when the referee re-
| marked, Anyone ought to Enow how
I'd decide it-why I'll decide it Demo-
cratic, of course"
took their corners. Rooney led off
with a swing with the right and fol-
lowed it up with several snort jabs
with the left, all aimed at WILSON'S
policy of aon-intervention which is
| Intervention" Green did not return
n single blow-not then. Republicans
in The audience cheered Rooney. That
heartened him and he landed right
and left, failing Wilson and calling
! him a "'straddler" Using an upper
cut, he placed upon Wilson the re-
sponsibility for sending soldiers into
| Mexico under the protection of the
| flag then giving them no protection
not even protesting effectively when
| of enthusiasm Rooney wrapped him
self in the Stars and Stripes and sat
down. while the audience stood up.
Green WhirIwind.
/ Up to that time Green had not
struck blow. He met all of Rooney's
passes with folded hands. He was
| allowing his opponent to wear himself
| out Then he started like whirl-
wind His blows were mild-in line
/ with the humanitarian principles of
which Wilson is exponent in dealing
i with Mexico" But Rooney was tired
! and Green was fresh and the mild
blows were rapidly delivered and
well placed. They fell one after an
other and when the referee called
time Green was still going fast while
Rooney was slightly groggy. That
wasn't apparent but it must have been
so to have conformed with the de-
cision of the referee. When the bout
was over and Green sat down the
crowd showed him an easy favorite
by it's applause. Apparently it was
largely Democratic.
Green and Rooney started to shake
hands to show there were no hard
| feelings and the crowd started to
leave, when Doctor Harding called
attention to a preliminary that had
been overlooked before the bout.
'.PreIiminary'' Comes Last.
Doctor Martini she announced,
has a recitation he will deliver"
Doctor Martin arose from the center
of the audience. He is a negro and a
giant
Doctor Martini said Doctor Hard
ing, stepping back and leaving the
man alone on the platform.
Sheridan and his black charger
were put thru their PAGES for twenty
miles by DR.. Martin. When the battle
first started Sheridan was twenty
miles away. After the. first skirmish
the black charger har stepped along
some and Sheridan was only fifteen
miles away. There was more fighting.
On flew the charger and Sheridan
had gained five miles-he was only
ten miles away. With much effort
on the part of DR.. Martin and the
black charger the mileage between
the battle and Sheridan was reduced
to five miles and the crowd held its
breath hoping against hope that he
would get there in time. 1t was a
tense nome mt just previous to the an
nouncement by DR.. Martin that Sheri-
dan went under the wire in time to.
make a heroic rescue. The quivering
nerves were soothed to some extent
by a practicing choir in the neighbor-
hood which began the chorus of
sleep, Baby Sleep"
The joint debate was a success. Lin
coin Post hall was comfortably filled
by men and women, whites and
blacks, Democrats and Republicans.