The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-10
THE CONTEST In ORATORY.
Eleventh Annual Speech Making Tour.
nament Of the College Orators.
"A. ]. Beverage, of De PAW, and M. M. Dun
lap, of Bloomington, Awarded First and
Second Prizes-Fraternit Banquets.
THE oRAToRIcAL CONTEST.


dents of Indiana At an early hour in the morning
duli delegations came from Hanover, blooming
ton, Greencastle, Charlottesville Franklin and
arvington to attend the contest in oratory. To-
wards evening the crowd of students increased,
and made their quarters at the Grand Hotel,
where the students fairly swarmed in numbers.
The oratorieal contest took place at the Grand
IN the evening The judges were Rev. w. T.
Kane. of Lafayette; Judge B. K. Elliott, Hon.
Charles l.. Holstein Hon. j. w. Holcombe, and
Prof. j. III. Martin of Madison. The Opera
house was filed to its utmost capacity. Among
the prominent persons in the audience
were Governor Gray, Hon. w. Ell. Calkins,
Hon Thomas Hanna, Senators Willard, Foulke
ard Magee, Speaker Jewett Presidents Everest
and Martin, of Irvington and Greencastle, re-
spectively, Prof. j. c. Ridpath and others.
The audience was not disposed to be turbulent,
. rs is usual on such occasions, but was orderly
and appreciative throughout
The programme was opened by the invocation
of the Divine blessing, by President Everest, OF
Butler University. The first speaker of the
evening. was Mr.. Albert j. Beverage, mem
Der of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity of
DePauw University. His subject was, 1.-THE
Case of Capital and Labor" Mr.. Beverage is an
iAtelligent looking young man, possessing fine
physique. He came forward with a
graceful carriage and began his ora
4ion in very natural and winning way.
The accentuaton of Mr.. Beverage was good,
and his voice was lacking in no quality. Per-
haps the criticism is inst that his delivery was
somewhat too forcible. The diction of Mr..
Beverage was especially fine. At the close of
his speech loud and prolonged cheer
ing ensued. 1t was seen at first that
Mr. Beverage would be hard to vanquish.
as in the French revolution, modern skepticism
and the sociastc tendency of politics. Few
problems are solved from extremes The COM
mon ground of unprejudiced reason is the true
one The result of the French revolution was
the rejection of extremes and the union of lib
erty and restraint So it is with modern
skepticism. The solution of the labor
problem must be the rejection of ex-
tremes and the union of labor and capital.
This is the question of the age and we must adj
dress ourselves to it now. Already extremists
are moving as did Rousseau, La Sale, Spencer and
George. The theories OF these social extremists
Aemand the overthrow of our social system.
Their arguments are false. Vice and sloth are
not the result but the cause of poverty. Their
remedy is unjust, for labor only makes proper
ty vauable; their remedy impossible, for
property could not be equalzed. To
eauaize conditions would ruin civilization.
In theory and practice for society to-day is
equal to the problem, and contains within itself
the remedy. Labor and capital have forgotten
what each owes the other. Loss of con-
fdence is the cause of the conflict between them
loss of confidence is caused by the ignorant,
the criminal and the INDECENT classes. We must
remove them. Education elevates the ignorant,
and temperance reform improves the con-
dition of the criminal and INDECENT classes.
The creation Of pure conscience in the breasts
OF the people will seal the remedy. This can be
secured by the Christian religion. The church
must rescue our modern conscience. Capital
must be harmonized, and labor Christianized.
Christian labor Is our hope FaithiesS labor Is
our ruin. When these reforms are consummated,
when we have sober, an intelligent, and
Christian people, confidence between labor and
capital viii be at rest, and the problem solved
The second speaker of the evening was Mr.. X.
w Brown, of Wabash College; subject, 1.-The
Rise of the'People." Mr.. Brown was easy on the
floor, and had attractive delivery Mr..
Brown had short well-written impressive
speech, and at the close was roundly applauaed.
He is member of the Phi Gamma Delta frater
nifty
The third speaker of the evening was Mr.. w.
II. VanCleve. of Franklin College; subject, 1.-THE
Lobby His manner was pleasing but
he lacked volume of voice, and his
ntterance rather too slow. The speech of
Mr.. Van Cleave was thoughtful ard logical He
aid not make use of fine rhetoric. but stated his
case plainly and TO the point. He is member
OF the I'M D6lJa tHetd fraternity, ana belongs
to the sophomore class. At the close of his
speech he was we'll cheered, and made the re-
cipient of box of flowers.
The fourth Grafton was delivered by T. J.
Giboney. OF Hanover College; subject Ideal
Manhood" The theme was lacking in popular
Hy with the audience. His manner is rather
stiff and lacking in magnetism The speech how
ever, very creditable to him. in that it was a
a we'll written and earnest plea for higher man.
hood great applause followed the speaker
He is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta frazier
nifty.
The fifth speaker introduced was Mr.. NJ NJ
Dunlap, of the State University at Bloomington,
subjec6, "A Distempered Civilization From
the beginning, Mr. Dunlap was impressive and
perfectly at ease. He possesses the natural
qualifications CT an orator. His voice
strong and easily heard all over the house, but
ne evidently was suffering from hoarse-
ness. One noticeable mannerism de-
tracts from his delivery peculiar
way of ending period. His gesticuation was
natural and unaffected, and for that reason
very popular. Mr.. Dunlaps speech was in some
parts rich in pathos, and as whole was fortu-
nate subject dressed in good dcton. pro-
longed ovation ensued at the close of the speech
The last Grafton of the evening delivered
by J. A. kautz. of Butler University, subject:
Reason and Reverence He spoke in clear,
ringing voice, winning at once the appreciation
of the audience. The accentuation Of Mr. Kautz
was almost perfect, but he was defective in
gesture, and lacked forcibeness. The speech,
as written production, was not surpassed dur
ing the evening.
The judges retired and aftera half hour had
elapsed the result was announced as fellows Mr.
Albert j. Beveridge, first place, with per cent.
of 81, having received the vote of four judges
ont of the FIVE. Mr.. NJ. NJ Dunlap came second
with marked per cent. of go. The third
place WAS given to Mr.. Giboney, of Han
over. Mr. Kautz received one vote for
first place The victor is mernberof the senior
class aud Young man twenty three years old.
This makes the seventh prize he has taken in
oratory never beng beaten but once. The re-
suit gave general satisfaction.