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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1896)
' 'P rn ID FTIQSP 15 R 1 A X ,.'p Truth crushed to oarth will rise again." Bryan-t. The attendance at the preliminary de bates was pretty slim. Lack of time can hardly be alleged as the reason, for every foot-ball practice on the campus attracts a large crowd. The students take time when they take interest. Our Debaters. BAKHIt. OKEEX, HAKR, PIPEH. MARUIHB, KILLEX, DEXXrSOX AXD MEIER. The preliminary debates were con cluded Saturday night. Of the thirty live who had registered only twenty finally toed the scratch. Little interest in the result was shown outside of de bating circles. Foot-ball and the surplus of oratory in the late campaign probably account for the exceedingly slim atten dance. But there was no lack of interest among the contestants. In spite of the difficulty of speaking to vacant seats, the debates were better this year than last. Aroiea raised to the declamatory pitch awakened the echoes in the empty hall but this did not dampen the. fervor of the speakers. It was generally conceded that Baker and Burr would be among the winners. Most of the others were new men and unknown quantities. The result showed some surprises but the decision as a whole is regarded as fortunate and was very gracefully accepted by the defeated contestants. The first night, barber, Dennison, (rraharn, Barr and Perry spoke in the order named on the compulsory arbitra tion question. This division as a whole proved to be somewhat stronger than the others. The speakers went straight at the question and did not fall into the error, winch marked so many of the ar guments, of wasting time in elaborate theoretical introductions. Mr. (rarberin opening tried to make the question a purely theoretical one but the negative turned the discussion to the practical side. Graham made a strong rebuttal but time was called before he had gone far with his own argument. Perry made a strong and logical argument but suffer ed from rather imperfect delivery. The second section had dwindled down to three contestants Ditmar. Hawxby and Ivillen. They discussed the suffrage question. Ditmar made the mistake of trying to cover the whole field of political philosophy in fifteen minutes. Mis man ner is pleasing but his delivery was un impressive because he was too closely chained to his notes. Htiwxby used notes liberally but this did not detract from the force of his delivery. lie is a fluent and rapid speaker' and a good thinker but was hardly at his bet in this contest. Killen has a good voice, a fine presence, his delivery is calm and forcible and he is a dangerous man generally. Xo one will be surprised if he is success ful in the final contest. The third division consisting of Ma guire, Piper. Burleigh, Mager and (rraen occupied the remainder of the evening. They discussed the government owner ship of railroads. This division went back to first principles and based their arguments on the eternal fitness of things. Three of them were successful. The last division consisting of Aver, Kindler, Tobey, Burt, Meier, Baker and Shnff diseu.sse 1 the policy of territorial extension. Mr Tobey is said to have used manuscript. Burt proved to b quite a humorist. Kindler has the spirit necessary for a good debater and his points were wll chosen. His enuncia tion was rather imperfect. Meier aii'l Baker both did thomselves full justice Baker undoubtedly made the best speech of the s Ties and will almost certainly go to Kansas.
