Evening star., 1934-08-21
Joint Debates.

Senator James Hamilton Lewis,
chairman Of the Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee, has proposed
series of joint debates between the
senatorial candidates during the Fall
campaign. 1t is perhaps unfortunate
that Senator Daniel o. Hastings of
Delaware, chairman of the Republican
Senatorial Committee, does not see
eye to eye with his Democratic op-
ponent in this matter and is declin-
ing the challenge that the two sena-
torial committees sponsor the plan.
The joint debate would give the voters
a better chance to discover what the
real issues are between the Democrats
and the Republicans. 1t would also
provide novel entertainment in this
day and age. 1t would add spice and
interest to the drab ballyhooing OF
the usual campaign meeting, whether
it be Republican or Democratic.
The Illinois Senator. Mr.. Lewis, in
issuing his invitation to the Republic
ans to enter upon a campaign of joint
debates between the candidates of the
respectiveS parties, called attention to
the fact that the issues which are to
be fought out today are of greater i'm
port than any since the days OF the
Civil War and the reconstruction
period. The fact that the issues are
of such vast Importance demands the
most careful consideration by the
voters. They are entitled to hear both
sides. Under the usual conditions Of
campaigning in this country the
Democrats gather in one spot to listen
to the arguments of their party ora
tors, and the Republicans gather in
another. 1t might be a blessing if
Democrats could and would listen to
Republican arguments and vice versa.
Abraham Lincoln, when he was
chosen by the Republicans in 1858
to oppose Stephen A. Douglas, Demo-
crat, in the senatorial race, engaged
in a memorable joint debate with the
little giant" Douglas was the WIN
ner in the election that year. But the
questions that Lincoln put the famous
Democratic Senator during their Joint
debate and Douglas answers were to
rise up and Smite him and the Demo-
Gratis in the next few years. And so,
from the Republican standpoint--and
also from the standpoint of the Ma
tion-the joint debating OF Mr.. Lin
coin and Senator Douglas served q
useful purpose.
Senator Hastings in his letter de-
clining the proposal of Senator Lewis
said that joint debate would be Of
no particular value unless I'VE could
start with an unbiased audience" 1t
is obviously impoSsible-with the feel
ing running high for and against the
Roosevelt new deal-that an unbiased
audience could be found. The object
Of joint debate is to swing voters
from one side to another. 1t was just
as impossible to find an unbiased audi
ence in the days of Lincoln and Doug
las. And feeling was then running
far higher.
What If the audiences were packed
with proponents Of the two candi-
dates ready to shout for them? That
would not necessarily preclude a fair
chance to hear the arguments Of the
two candidates. American audiences
are generally ready to see that there
Is fair play. Even at the Chicago
Democratic National Convention,
when the opponents OF Franklin D.
Roosevelt in the galleries seemed to
be bent on running the proceedings
and beloved themselves hoarse, order
did finally prevail.
1t looks as though an opportunity
for more intelligent campaigning was
being passed up. Perhaps the sena-
torial candidates in the individual
States may be willing to take up the
gage and enter into joint debates.