The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-04-24
THE FACrs IN THE CASE;

We think it is due to all parties inter-
ested in the action of the oratorlcal state
association in relation to the Grafton of
Geo. II. Mays, of this city, delivered at
Lawrence on Friday evening, that the
true facts in the case be made known to
the public. 1t Is desirable that not only
the institution which Mr.. MAYS repre-
sented be placed in proper light before
the people of this state, hut that the
speaker himself should be judged
through the medium of a clear state
ment of the case.
The circumstances attending the mat
ter, as we have learned them from au-
thentic sources, are as follows: When
it was determined that Mr.. Mays should
represent the Normal in the
contest at Lawrence, he decided, after
considerable thought, upon his subject,
and outlined in his mind his plan OF
treatment. He then began to gather
d ata for his Grafton, and IN his search
for material he discovered the Grafton
delivered by A. K. Mcclure, editor of
the Philadelphia Times, at Dickinson
college, in 1873. He gave the address
careful reading, and finding that it
was closely IN harmony with the line of
thought as mapped out in his mind be-
fore seeing the production, he read it
twice again with view to aiding him
in the development of the idea which he
! desired to set forth in his own produc-
ton. Some days after he began work
on his Grafton. in which, quite naturally,
lie incorporated much of the thought
and language which had so forcibly inn
pressed themselves upon his mind, and
the result was a similarity between the
two orattoas which subjected Mr.. Mays
u the charge of plagiarism, and resulted
in the forfeiture of the prize which was
awarded him by the judges.
In yielding 10 the temptation of seek
ing to bring the style of the student up
to the standard OF the experienced and
cultured man of letters, MIR. Mays made
mistake which is but too common
among our college youth. His great
ambition to do credit to the
institution which he appeared
! for, led him into the error
of imitation instead of strict reliance
upon the resources with which he is so
handsomely endowed, though we are
fully persuaded that Mr.. Mays is not
guilty OF the charge preferred against
HIM so far as his intention in the mat
ter is concerned. His character as it
has been revealed to the people of this
community since his early boyhoOd, and
the correct principles by which his con-
duct has always been fashioned, quite
preclude the justice of such a conclu-
sion.
Investigation proves that very
large proportion of his effort was orig
inal. That portion of 1t was modelled
alter the work of smother was the result
Of mistaken conception of his latitude
in the process of polishing and finish
ing his Grafton, and cannot
in his case be chargeable to
deliberate and unlawful appropriation
1t Is very possible for a speaker or
writer who meets in the expressions of
another reflex of his own thoughts and
ideas to inadvertently make them his
own, and this we believe was the head
and front of Mr.. Mays offending.
As TO the style of delivery and the
charm of presence which always charac-
terize the efforts of Mr. Mays upon the
platform no criticism has been ventured,
and it is noticeable fact that the rhetoric
displayed in those parts of the Grafton
which have been marked original, CON-
pare so favorably with the other portions
OF the address, as to indicate the entire
ability of the author TO measure up to
the very highest standard of excellence
Mr.. Mays makes free confession of his
error, but disclaims wiliful plagiarism.
| He is willing and anxious to do every
thing in his power TO make reparstiOn
for his mistake, and only Graves the op-
portunity of showing TO the world that
the confidence which his fellow-studenis
and the faculty of the institution whose
honor he holds so dear have
reposed in hmm is not misplaced.
We believe Iully in his power
to retrieve what he has lost by an unFor-
tunaie mistake, and we are persuaded
that we are strictly within the line of
truth when we say that the faith of his
friends in his ability 70 realize the best
hopes and expectations which they have
cherished Ia connection with the future
of this gifted young man is still un-
shaken.