THE HESPERIAN.
6
pctual in America." Mr. Wheeler's articulation was very
indistinct and guttural and the accent was made byjpouncing
upon the word. The production was another of the "gen
eral principles" kind. It contained a superfluity of figures
which were generally conceited and for effect only. The
growth of the perpetual was well shown by history and
forcible wri ting but the application of the facts was obscure.
The last oration of the evening was "National Unity," by
Mr. J. W. Wilkerson, of Dc Pauw University, Grccncastlc,
Indiana. Mr. Wilkcrsons production was the only true and
complete oration on the program. His historical references
were ,as they should be,brief and direct and were all clustered
about his main idea unity and nationality. The abolition
of scct-onal hatred between the Norih and South was the
burden of his production and from it he never strayed.
When lie came out to speak it was half past eleven and he
labored from the first against the weariness of the audiincc.
Yet so completely did he overcome it that he received the
only burst of applause given in the middle of any speech,
lie possessed a remarkable personality and his force lay
chiefly in the magnetism of his eyes. His gestures were all
natural and aided by the head and body. All his power
tfas concentrated on the idea, unity; and his personality was
supreme. Only two criticisms can be offered; he was a little
given to repetition in different words, and his delivery was
so natural that it seemed a little like a stump speech.
While the markings were being figured up the audience
was enjertaiued by music from the Iowa College Musical
Union and the college boys.
The judges were; on thought and composition, Governor
J. B. Forakcr, of Ohio; President T. C. Chamberlain, Uni
versity of Wisconsin; Professor S. G. Barnes, Iowa College;
on delivery, Judge J. T. Philips, Missouri; General J. C.
Cowin, Nebraska; Hon. W. N. Homer, Illinois. Their
decision was as follows: E. II. Hughes, of Ohio, ist; J. A.
Blaisdcll, of Wisconsin, 2nd; J. W. Wilkerson, of Indiana,
3rd. The other states ranked as follows: Kansas, Nebraska,
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota.
If all art lies in the personality of the artist, if it is the
object of an oration, not to instruct, amuse or entertain an
audience but to move it, then Indiana should have had first
and Nebraska second. The judges evidently admitted no
distinction between an oration and an essay and conse
quently Ohio as producing the most entertaining "oration"
was given first.
The banquet after the contest, from twelve to two o'clock,
was the principal feature and was a jolly finish. Three hun.
died scats were sold and imported Africans were imported
direct for the occasion. Toasts were proposed and
responded to with vigor. The beauty came from Iowa
College, Grinncll, which is remarkable for its abundant sup
ply, and the chivalry from the rest of the country. Drake
University, of Dcs Moines sent up a train load of it.
The convention was characterized by rings, wire pulling,
and scheming, yet as Nebraska through the hard work mainly
of Mr. Hartigan, of Crete, aided by "unscrupulous politi
cians" succeeded in forming the winning combination, we as
the upper dog need not howl. The University of Nebraska
will now have the honor of entertaining the Seventeenth
Interstate Oratorical contest and convention from May 1st to
5th, 1893; and it behooves us to do the honors in style. The
president (from the winning ring also) is G. M. Culver, of
Kansas, the vice-president and secretary also from the ring
arcD. R. Kinder, of Illinois, and G. W. Allen, of Ohio.
This gave us four states and with Indiana, who went in to
save her skin, a majority. II. 0, Peterson.
THE WESTERN INTER-COLLEGTATE PRESS ASSO
CIATION. BU1.I.RTIN.
The Western Intercollegiate Press association was form
ally organized at Grinncll, Iowa, May 2, 1889. The objects
to be attained arc the increase of interest in exchanges, the
furtherance of acquaintance among college editors with the
common benefit thus derived, and, if possible, the discus
sions, by regular annual programs, of improvements in col
lege journalism. Representatives of about twenty college
papers were present. An organization was effected and a con
stitution was framed and adopted. By this ronetitution
membership shall conitet of any and all papers that
signify their intention to become members, file copies of
their journals with the secretary and deposit one dollar with
the treasurer. All meetings will be held at the time and
place of the meetings of the Interstate Oratorical Associa
tion. Representation at such meetings shall be by regular
appointed and, accredited delegate or proxy; or any pape
may participate in all balloting by depositing sealed ballots
with the secretary. The officers shall be a president, a sec
retary, and a treasurer, together with a vice-president from
each represented state that does not hold any other office.
The duties of president, secretary and treasurer shall be the
ordinary duties of such officers together with the duties of
the vice-presidents. It shall be the duty of each vice-president
to keep informed concerning the number and condition
of the college papers of his state, to correspond with the edi
tors of such papers and to have .1 general supervision of the
work in his state. Such is a digest of the constitution. It
is desired that all papers wishing to become members of the
associations should file copies of their Journal at once and
deposit a dollar with the treasurer The principal officers
for the coming year president, S. D. Harsh, Lombard Uni
versity, Galesburg, 111; Treasurer. C. C. Michcncr, Oska
loosa, Iowa. The Hesperian has been made the official
organ and all business pertaining to the association will
appear in this paper. II. C. Peterson, State University,
Lincoln, Neb., secretary. S. D. Harsh, Lombard Univer
sity, Galesburg, 111.
FROM THE SENIORS.
T. S. Allen. I intend to study law. I am a democrat. I
believe in free trade and prohibition.
G. H. Baughman. Eventually I intend to study medicine.
I am a republican.
C. W. Bigelow. I am not yet fully decided as to what I
shall do. I will be able to give my decision before
commencement.
M. I. Bigelow. I will follow electrical engineering. I am,
a republican prohibitionist.
R. D. Church. Well, sir, I hope to become a member of
the legal profession. I aspire to be a jurist of high
rank. I shall enter politics as a prohibitionist.
1 W. Collins. I have chosen my profession but do not
desire to state what it is yet. I am a republican, yet
lean strongly towards prohibition.
E. G. Eagleson. For some time I will follow the occupa
tion of civil engineer. I am a republican.
O. W. Fifer. I may enter the newspaper business,, May
go back to railroading for a time, however. I am a
prohibitionist.
D. D. Forsyth. I am on the fence. My mind is not fully
made up in regard to my future occupation. I am a
prohibitionist'.