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THE HESPERIAN.
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Vol. XXVIII.
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, MAT 20, 1899.
No. 32.
Brief Account of Debating in the University.
The various debating clubs have carried on debates off and
on for about twelve years. But an all University association
as it is now known was organized in the fall of 1894, with
Mr. Forsyth as president and Ned Abbott as secretary. Since
then the gavel has been wielded successively by Ben Matthews,
R. S. Baker, H. B. Stewart and F. G. Hawxby. The scribes
of this organization have been J. W. Searson, O. fl. Allen,
F. G. Hawxby and E. F. Warner.
During the first year there were but twenty-one members.
In '95 Searson enrolled thirty-one contestants for the prelim
inaries, formulated a written constitution and by-laws for the
regulation of the Kansas-Nebraska debates which was adopted
ind has been followed as a criterion for all the interstate de
bates since.
In '96 O. fl. Allen registered thirty-five for the prelimin
aries, and'jeft the association square financially.
Tn '97 and '98 F. G. Hawxby registered over sixty men
and one lady. That year the association made successful
negotiations for two additional interstate debates besides the
xmiual Kansas-Nebraska contest one with Colorado College
it Colorado Springs, and one with Missouri University at
Columbia, Missouri.
This year E. F. Warner has registered over seventy men
for the preliminaries and about sixty actually participated.
In the first interstate debate held at Lawrence, Kansas, in
the spring of '95, the decision was first announced as a tie
but afterwards given to Kansas. In this contest Nebraska
was represented by A. J. Weaver, E. McNeal and E. B.
Sherman.
The next year, '90, II. W. Quaiutance, H. E. Newbranch
and A. J. Weaver defeated Kansas at Lincoln on the Initia
tive and Rcfferendum question.
In '97 R. S. Baker, J. D. Denison and Guy Green lost the
jecision at Lawrence two to one, on the question of the wis
dom of United States extending her dominion.
In '98 Nebraska won unanimously over Colorado College
on their own grounds through the efforts of Bertha B. Stall,
H. E. Sackett and R. S. Baker.
In the first debate with Missouri at Columbia, May, '98,
Nebraska lost the decision. She was represented by F. G.
llawxby, C. W. Taylor and G. E. Kindler on the negative
of the question "That the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands
would be beneficial to the U. S.
In the Kansas-Nebraska debate of '98, Kansas won unani
mously over Nebraska on the affirmative of the question: "That
the English Cabinet System of Government would be better
for the United States than the present Congressional System'"
Nebraska was represented by E. B. Perry, E. F. Warner and
C. E. Matson.
This year P. B. Weaver, A. Bollenback and W. F. Mc
Naughton represented Nebraska at Colorado Springs, and
were defeated. Last week the decision was given to Missouri,
though all the judges agreed that G. D. Talbot, F. A. Nims
and Bertha Stull were better speakers, and excelled in man
ner of presentation.
At Lawrence, May 12th, F. G. Hawxby, C. P. Craft and
Claud S. Wilson won the unanimous decision over Kansas on
the question: "That the combinations of railways to fix rates
are not desirable and should be prohibited by law."
The first place in the finals has been won by the following
persons: in '95, E. B. Sherman; in '96, H. W. Quaintance;
in '97, by Guy Green and R. S. Baker who tied for first; in
'98, by Geo. E. Kindler and in '99, by Guy D. Talbot.
Though Nebraska has lost two debates on argument this
year, she has been declared first in delivery in each of the
three contests.
In '95 Nebraska was defeated at Lawrence, Kausas.
In '96 Nebraska won at Lincoln, Neb., over Kansas.
In '97 Nebraska was defeated at Lawrence.
In '98 Nebraska was defeated by Kansas at Lincoln.
In '99 Nebraska defeated Kansas at Lawrence.
In '98 Nebraska defeated Colorado College at Colo. Springs.
In '99 Nebraska was defeated by Colorado College at Colo.
Springs.
In '98 Nebraska was defeated by Missouri at Columbia.
In '99 Nebraska was defeated by Missouri at Lincoln.
Preliminary Debates.
A few weeks after school began last fall, those interested in
debating kept constantly enquiring -vhen the first preliminary
debates would be held. The officers of the Association soon
begame convinced that the entries would far exceed the num
ber engaging in such contest in previous years. A meeting
was called to consider some plan whereby promiscuous entrance
would be anticipated. An amendment to the constitution was
adopted providing that all contestants deposit 1 with t ho
secretary as an evidence of good faith, the money to be returned