The Indianapolis journal., 1894-03-10
THE COLLEGE SLATE
1t Was Not Smashed and the Com
bination Ticket Was Elected.
Delegates Favor a National Association
and Another Method of Deciding
0ratOrical Contests.

The caldron of college politics seethed and
boiled yesterday. The State oratorical con-
tsst brought TO town the delegates to the
annual convention of the Oratorical Society,
and warning fraternity factions held mighty
sway. The parlors and corridors of the Den
ison Hotel swarmed with college intelli-
gence and enthusiasm all day. The pretty
combinations of old gold, blue and scarlet
ribbons were in remarkable profusion. The
annual election OF officers of the State
Oratorical Association was held at o'clock.
Throughout the morning the caucuses of
the various factions teemed with deep-laid
plots and crafty plans TO down the opposi-
ton. The combination of Phi Delta Theta,
Phi Gamma Delta and nonfraternal dele
gates prevailed as it did last year.
Much alarm was experienced in the ranks
of some of the fraternities during the
morning, when there came a well-defined
rumor that the "barbs' were about TO
spring a big combination that would sweep
all before it. There was much hustling
among fraternity men until the report was
found to be groundess. Then it was said
that pool was in process of formation by
all societies outside of the Phi Cams and
Phi Dels.' This also proved a canard, and
harmony prevailed among the members of
the original combination.
The convention at o'clock was as placid
as summer sea. 1t was a calm after
storm and the delegates cast their ballots
unanimously. There was no opposition TO
the result of the mornings work. Each
college sent to the convention three dele
gates aside from its officer. who was en-
titled to a vote. There were twenty-eight
votes in the convention exclusively con-
trolled by the combination of Phi Delta
Theta and Phi Gamma Delta societies, both
being strengthened by the vote Of the nom
fraternity college, Earlham.
The delegates were as follows: Hanover,
b. b. Scarf, w. T. Mccoy and H. F. Doo-
ley; DePauw, Ed Dunn, l.. c. Bentley and
James NJ. Ogden; State University, Sylvan
Kahn, Joe Giles and A. d. Bachelor; Frank
lin, Frank Martin, Edgar Burton and Mrs.
Hendricks; Earlham, C. NJ. Burkholder.
Ernest Newsom and Miss Nellie Wood Wa
bash, ii. 5. Mount, +. NJ. Shanklin and T.
j. Moore; Butler, Miss Georgia Calvin, Miss
Rose McNeal and Will Core The election
of officers resulted as follows:
President - Ed Dunn, of DePauw, Phi
Gamma Delta.
Vice President-J. E. Jay. of Earlham,
nonfra- ternal
Recording Secretary - John F. Bosinger.
State University, Phi Delta Theta.
Corresponding Secretary - II. j. Hall, Of
Wabash, Phi Gamma Delta.
Interstate Delegate - Otis Colwell, of
Franklin, Phi Gamma Delta.
Treasurer-W. B. Snyder, of Hanover, Phi
Delta Theta.
Executive Committeeman George w.
Hope, of Butler, Phi Delta Theta.
The question of changing the manner Of
selecting judges for the State contests was
discussed by the meeting, there being a
prevailing spirit of dissatisfaction among
the delegates over the present method Dc
lar
method now In vogue composition and de-
livery are graded separately. Six judges
are chosen, three on deiiTery and an equal
number on manuscript. The latter are cho-
sen several weeks before the contest, so
that the manuscript can be graded on
thought and composition without reference
TO delivery. The grades are sent to the
secretary of the association at least three
days before the contest. The judges on de-
livery are present at the contest, and grade
the delivery of each contestant without ref
erence to the quality of his manuscript
Those interested in these contests have
grown to believe that the highest kind of
oratory is not being developed under the
present system. 1t is claimed that 1t is
impossible TO judge as to the real merits
of the grafton and the orator. The manu-
script judges criticise the production as a
literary effort, not with reference TO It's
effect on the audience at the time OF de-
livery. The judges on delivery grade with
reference to the personality or the speak
er-his voice and gesture-without noting
the effect Of his oraton upon the audience
system of oratory has arisen
To obviate this evil plan similar to
that adopted by the Northwestern associa-
ton has been proposed. Under this plan
judges of manuscript are chosen who are
ar<Npresent at the contest and VINO grade
with reference to the combined effect of
manuscript and delivery. The method talked
of is an old one. but it was under this sys-
TEN that Indiana once won an enVlable
record in oratorical contests.
The question of a rearrangement or the
interstate oratorical territory was also
brought up in yesterdays convention by
Sice PreS1Sene Se contest % ' of the inter
state will be held In this city on May TO-
The present officers of the ASSOCIATION are;
Mo-; vice president. c. A. .Prosser,- New
Fairfield, Ia. On account of the large
number of States in the association a. plan
into two sections and to form national
association. Vice President Prosser pro-
States of colorado Nebraska, Kansas. Mis-
souri,, and to add to these the associa tons
Of South Dakota and California, both Of
which have applied for or membership I'm In the
Is TO consist of the States of Indiana, Ohio
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa
Then 1T is proposed to combine with these
two sections the Southern association, con-
sistng of the States of Kentucky, Ten
nessee and Virginia and the Northwestern
Oratorical Association, thus forming a ma
tional organization. The local contests Of the
colleges in the national association could
be held in December, the State contests in
February. the group of States the last Of
March and the national contest the 1st Of
May This plan will not only reduce the
expenses incurred by long distance travel
ing but it is thought that Ii will add great
ly to the interest in oratorical contests and
establish beyond question the supremacy
of the successful orator at the national con-
test the plan IL Is e Gy cog o &
vention yesterday the interstate delegate