Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1914 — OUR DEBATERS LOST IN BOTH CONTESTS [ARTICLE]

OUR DEBATERS LOST IN BOTH CONTESTS

Delphi Proved Too Much For Our Representative—First InterScholastic Debate-

Rensselaer high school lost in both of the debates Tuesday evening, the Delphi debaters proving their undeniable right to the decisions. Apparently better trained and exhibiting the easy mariner of persons accustomed to speak before pub ic gatherings the Delphi lads who visited Rensselaer were well entitled to the decision given by the udges. This was the first interscholastic debate in which Rensselaer has indulged and the first for Delphi for many years. It was the first in which any of the contestants had ever indulged. The subject was: “Resolved, that an Income Tax is Practicable in the United States.” In Rensselaer the debate was held in the high school auditorium, our affirmative team composed of Russell Warren and Dwight Curnick, meeting the Delphi negative team composed of Frank Wagoner and William Mahanna.At the same time our negative team, composed of Flvyn Allman and Robert Reeve met Delphi’s affirmative team, composed of Lake Rariden and Floyd Swa tz. Both of the Rensselaer teams suffered defeat, but they are in no manner discouraged because of this fact, and the experience will prove valuable to all Who participated and should inspire them to greater endeavor in future contests. In Rensselaer Dwight Curnick led off for the Rensselaer school, and made a favorable impression.—He is a member of the sophomore class and was the youngest of the debaters, but he had an excellent grasp of the income tax and his argument was forceful and deep. He was so-1 lowed by Mr. Wagoner, of Delphi, who had planned a number of apt comparisons to prove his contention that an income tax was a tax on industry and placed a premium on idleness and failure. He spoke with enthusiasm and while his points were not numerous he developed each in fine style and his sentences were well rounded and forceful.

Russell Warren followed and also made a good speech, but he exhibited some embarrassment and was hardly so effective as he is capable of and had shown himself in the preliminaries. He made a number of points, but did not present them so effectively as did ihis opponents. Wil! Mahanna followed and in an extemporaneous manner he discussed with the grace of an old debater the points which the affirmative debaters had made and with considerable effect attacked the positions his opponents had taken. His language was well chosen and apparently he is possessed of a vocabulary unusual for one of his age and experience. Mr. Wagoner then made ihis rebuttal speech and was even more effective than he had been when he first spoke. He put considerable feeling into his delivery and had some very telling arguments against the practicability of an income tax. Russell Warren closed the debate with a very good short speech in which he opposed several of the statements made by the negative debaters. He made a number of points but did not clothe his argument in so nice a stylo as his opponents and showed less preparation as well as less ease in delivery. ■'

The judges were Principal C. J. Dexter, of the West Lafayette high school; Prof. Bernard Sobel, of the English department of the Lafayette high school, and Superintendent N. W. Coil, of the Monon schools. Mr. Dexter is a son of George Dexter, formerly of this city, and was born in Jasper county. He is 'a nephew of H. J. Dexter, of Union township. The judges were unanimous in their decision in favor of the Delphi debaters and it w'as the opinion oi almost all who heard the debate that they were entitled to the decision. The Delphi lads were accompanied here by Prof. W. S. Buckingham, of the schools of that city. The high school orchestra furnished some good music. The orchestra is directed by Miss Stover and is composed of the following high school pupils: Miss Anna Leonard, pianoist; Beatrice and Fern Tilton, Ruth Wood and Miss Stover, volins; Lura Halleck, cello; Robert Loy, snare drummer, and the old reliable John Healy, cornetist. The Rensselaer ministers were at the debate and most of the teachers and a large number of scholars, but not many citizens. i The Debate at Delphi. Prof. Ira Coe accompanied the negative debaters to Delphi, where the judges were three young lady school teachers from logansport, Misses Mehaffie, Hutton and McConnell. One of them cast her vete in favor of the Rensselaer debaters, while the other two gave their vote to Delphi. - Rensselaer was handicapped somewhat in this contest, as Edward Rose was to have been a member of the team, but a case of mumps prevented his going and his alternate, Robert Reeve, had short

time for preparation. The Rensselaer boys were complimented by the judges and by Superintendent Henderson and Principal Pletcher, of the Delphi schools. They spoke of Robert’s forceful delivery and accorded to Elvyn the honor of being the best speaker of the four. The adverse cditicism was of EJvyn’s voice, but the judges held that his use of English was excellent and his presentation fine. The treatment accorded by Delphi was spelndid, special courtesies being extended by instructors and pupils. Mayor Smith presided at the Delphi meeting, While Superintendent Dean presided at the meeting here. The success of the contest is very pleasing notwithstanding the defeat of Rensselaer and as explained by Superintendent Dean it is a new school enterprise which it is sincerely hoped will be developed in the years to come.