THE HESPERIAN
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if the speaker appeared. Notwithstanding this precaution
seventy-two speakers registered, and all but a few of these
took part. The debates wore 'held in nine divisions, and six
teen men were chosen from these sections to enter a second
preliminary from which nine were to bo chosen. The contest
came off just before the Christmas recess, and the following
speakers were successful in winning out: Weaver, Wilson,
Hawxby, Bertha Stull, Griffith, Craft, Talbot, O'Conuell,
Motis, Harry Landis, Warner, Hawthorne, Nims, Barr, Bol
lonbach, Henry.
When the boys returned from their Christmas vacation, the
next topic of importance was the date of the second prelimi
nary. Colorado, Missouri and Kansas were the sta'tes that
the debates were to bo held with, and our association entered
into correspondence with them in regard to questions. The
McNaughton and Bollenbach went to Colorado Springs
debate Colorado College, and wore worsted, although tWI
judges decided that our boys had the better delivery. W A
Talbot, Nims and Stull remained at homo and debated with
Missouri. The Missouriana proved themselves superior on
the argument, but our speakers were conceded by the judges
to be much bettor on delivery.
Hawxby, Craft and Wilson went to Lawrence, Kansas, and
were successful in getting an unanimous decision for Nebraska.
Nebraska's weakness as shown by the result of these con
tests, is a failure on strength of argument, coupled with the
fact that there was a lack of effective team work. Probably
the real fault was not with the debaters, but with conditions.
It appears that if the number or entries could bo cut down t0,it
r
CRAFT HENRY HAWTHORNE TALBOT
WARNER O'CONNELL STULL BOLLENBACH
BY WEAVER LANDIS
WILSON
BARR
MOTIS
NIMS GRIFFITH
question sent by Kansas: "Resolved, That combinations of
railroads to determine rates are undesirable and should bo
prohibited by law," was accepted, and Missouri also chose the
same topic for the joint debate. Colorado chose the expansion
question. After considerable parleying it was decided to dis
cuss the railroad question in the two sections of tho second
preliminary, which was held the first week in April. Three
men dropped out of the original sixteen in the second contest
and tho seventeenth and eighteenth men of the first prelimi
nary, McNaughton and Sampson entered tho second prelimi
nary. Tho successful speakers in this contest were Talbot,
Craft, Stull, Hawxby,- Wilson, Nims, .Weaver, Bollenbach
and McNaughton.
The result of the Inter-state contests is aa foUowq; "Weaver,
men of recogized ability in debating, that tho result of tho
judge's decisions in tho first preliminary would bo much more
satisfactory. Another improvement might bo suggested in
regard to choosing of -judges. Some moans ought to bo do
vised to secure men to act in this capacity who are in no wa
personally connected with the University men who have no
personal knowledge of the speakers. In this way an impartial
decision could bo rendered. No ono can gainsay that tho
present method does not secure conscientious men, but tho
fault lies in tho system. What wo want is men who will use
tho same system of marking used by judges in Inter-stat coi
tests. Tho individuals who have acted as judges in tho' pat
would feel much relieved if outside men were chosen to act in
this capacity. If possible, tho change should be made.
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