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Show WHISKERS STILL A MOOTED QUESTION WASHINGTON. May 2, Whether whiskers are a greater detrimont to a man than a bald head is still a mooted question. Four of tho ablest men In public life debated tho subject sub-ject before the National Press club hero tonight. The bout was under the Marqula of Queensberry rules and when the bell rang the refereo threw up his hands in despair. Tho bald-headed side of the question ques-tion was in the hands of Senator Robert Rob-ert L. Taylor of Tennessee and Representative Rep-resentative Nicholas Longworth of Ohio. Tho chin curtains found their champions in former Senator Carter of Montana and "Undo Joe" Cannon of Illinois. Messrs. Taylor and Long-worth Long-worth entered tho ring amid cheers. Their hairless domes sparkled beneath be-neath tho radiance of a myriad of electric lights Senator Carter and "Undo Joe" came with their whiskers combed for tho fray. The shouts that greeted them were deafening. "Dr. Pure Food" Wiley of the department de-partment of agriculture was chosen as timekeeper and each contestant was allowed ten minutes. Scott O. Bone represented the press club as referee during hostilities, but gave way to Speaker Clark at the end. Longworth Denounces Whiskers. Representative Longworth, the first speaker, said ho did not believe that a hair on the head was worth two on tho chin. Neither was ho willing to assume that a bald head provided ho should bo considered bald was In any sense a handicap either In public or In private life. Mr Longworth claimed that on his birthday every man has a choice between hair and brains. His choice, ho said, was apparent. ap-parent. The condition of the disputants on the other sldo is utterly inexcusable," inexcusa-ble," assorted Mr. Longworth. "In olden days whiskers wore excusable they were sworn by but nowadays they are only sworn at. "Thero Ib no excuso for such whiskers whis-kers as those that adorn the chin or chest of the former senator of Montana. I claim that whiskers are unsanitary and I appeal to the timekeeper time-keeper to uphold me." Carter Against Bald Heads. Senator Carter was Introduced as "exhibit A" for the whiskers. "No man," said he, "over voluntarily woro a bald head. A bald head is an affliction, afflic-tion, a standing Joke, a physical Infirmity. In-firmity. We pity, but do not blamo our opponents." Senator Carter insisted that the "beard" was the leal thing. "No fair 'maiden," he said, "ever feared a promise from a boarded man. The beard Is the badge of manhood. A bearded man needs only opportunity. opportun-ity. The first man to cut off beards was Alexander the Great. "It was a brutal measure of warfareto war-fareto prevent antagonists from seizing tho soldiers by tho beards. Let ua all wear beards and there will be no more warfare In this troubled world of ours. "There Is another thing about the baldheaded man, He naturally goes to prison without previous preparation. prepara-tion. Tho subject Is ready for tho work. It takes some trouble to prepare pre-pare a bearded man for that unfortunate unfortu-nate habitation." Senator Taylor's Argument. Sonator Taylor, introduced as an "Ivory pated Moses of Tennessee Democracy," De-mocracy," said that whou Mr. Cannon Can-non was speaker of the house ho shook postilenco and war from his hoary beard. Ho dwelt upon tho ability abil-ity of the bald peaks of tho mountains and the baldheads of the American eagle clrdlng about thom In tho azure atmosphere. Coming down to bald facts ho added: "Once I had raven tresses," said ho wlBtfully, "but like tho autumn leaves they loft me. Ever since I lost them I havo had a horror of hair and supremo contempt for whiskers. On the other hand, I have always admired ad-mired a bald head as a symbol of purity pur-ity and Innoconce.'' Uncle Joe and Champ. Uncle Joe Cannon said he had never nev-er been funny in his life at least not consciously quoted from' a writer who recently was In Turkey and who said the saddeBt man he found In the empire had a bald head. He was the harem guard. When Speaker Clark was called upon to settle tho dlsputo he Insisted that tho reason a majority of men wear no longer whiskers was becauso they wore all trying to look like William Wil-liam Jennings Bryan. He rather rap-ped rap-ped tho whlHkeritOB when he said a good looking man could afford to have a Brnooth faqe, while ah ugly one had hotter keep his beard ' J"?S?err?',BenU?meV he concluded, conclud-ed, that I have a smooth face."" |
