hiː ɛksˈɛld ɪn dᵻbˈeɪɾɪŋ ænd wʌz ɪnspˈaɪɚd baɪ bɹˈʊklɪn ɐsˈɛmblɪmən tʃˈɑːɹlz sˈiː. lˈɑːkwʊd hˌuː ɐtˈɛndᵻd wˈʌn ʌvðə dᵻbˈeɪts.
he excelled in debating and was inspired by Brooklyn Assemblyman Charles C. Lockwood who attended one of the debates.