The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-09
BEAUTY AND WISDOM
There Was an Abundance Of Both at
the Auditorium.
HONORS ARE NOW EVEN
Anaconda Won the Debate Last
Night, But 1t Took a Heap of
Clever Talking to
-t- Do 1t.


Anaconda Delta Sigma society of the high
school in this city. In the competitive de-
bate last night Anaconda won the glory
and on former occasion Butte capture d
the victory.
The trains from Butte yesterday
brought the speakers and 30 or 40 of their
friends. Headquarters were established
at the Montana and the young folks filed
the town with enthusiasm. Their flaunt-
ing ribbons were replied to by similar
badges from the students of this city, and
the debate was the question of the day
everywhere.
The Anaconda reception committee did
all they could to entertain the visitors and
have prevailed upon many of them to re-
main in the city until Sunday. \ recep-
ton is to be rendered the guests to-mor-
row evening at the home of Judge FItz-
patrick by Misses CornelIa Fitzpatrick
and Grace Wisner, and to-day as many
as desire will be piloted through the
smelters.
the Auditorium was packed with peo-
pie filling every chair and all standing
room at the rear of the hall. Professor
Kern looked after arrangements in
manner most satisfactory to all.
The hall was handsomely decorated
with evergreens and with the colors of the
societies intertwined, the garnet and gold
of Butte and the blue and silver of Ana
eonda. Over the platform the insignia of
the societies blended in harmony, and the
lamps were shaded by the colors of the
visitors.
At S:15 O'clock Mayor Thornton arose
and called the immense audience to order,
making brief but clever opening speech
in which he said: ITO all assembled to
this feast of wisdom and flow of soul we
bid welcome, and to the visitors from
Butte especially we speak a hearty well
come. But you have not come here TO
listen to me speak or deliver an address,
and great subject"
After two numbers by the High school
orchestra. winch were most pleasantly
received, the president of the Delta Sigma
society, Miss Mile Davidson, made a
witty and cordial address of welcome O the
Butte visitors and was warmly applauded
sfwhen% she expressed the desire that the
battle Scared veterans of the forensic
field would have as pleasant time in
Anaconda as the Delta SIgmas had during
their memorable visit TO Butte.o
Mayor Thornton stated the subject of
the discussion, "ReSotUed That the gov
eminent should own and operate all rail-
road lines" and announced the rules of
the discussion which allowed each
speaker % minutes and the affirmative to
close with 20 minutes summing up. The
leader of the affirmative was Miss Grace
Wisner, who was greeted by a welcome of
applause. In a clear, ringing voice she
: outlined vigorously an aggressive debate
for the Delta Sigmas. She resolved the
question into three aspects. saying that
the present system of corporate ownership
is wrong to the traveller; second, because
of the lack of justice to the employees;
and, third, the wrong methods used by
the railroads.
"The wrongs to the travelling public are
so apparent to every one who has trav-
eled that we will not enlarge upon them,
but pass to the second, which is almost as
open in its fault. Our opponents will
scarce deny that the United States is
success as an employer. For the third
point, we have reached a stage in our ma
tional history where if the government
does not soon control the railroads, the
railroads must soon control the govern
ment. The economic waste in this coun-
try now amounts to 1888. 100000, from ex-
ira employees, high-saIared officials, I'M
necessary lines, etc; Ihis immense sum
patronize the roads paying it out in tolls
and freight rates"
Miss Martha Arnold, one of Butte's
efficient school teachers, then took the
rostrum and made a brilliant plea for the
negative. This Is rainbow-chasing
age and there are cranks on every side |
pursuing phantoms for perpetual motion |
and other similar freaks and fancies. |
For these fancles common sense should |
be substituted. Ii is self evident fact |
there is now invested an immense |
/, amount of capital In the ownership of rail- |
roads and the proposal to assume this is |
anarchistic in It's tendency. and threatens |
a violation of vested rights. There are |
now invested 5000, 100000 in capital stock |
and 5.5O0.000000 IN bonded Indebtedness. |
With the total amount of money now in |
circulation, gold, paper and silver. the |
government would be able to purchase
and pay down, just one-seventh of the |
amount invested.
"Competition, enterprise, is enough to
protect the people and will always do so. |
The affirmative have said that the rail- /
roads threaten to run the government |
and they would remedy this by making
the so-called tyrants, dlctatorS indeed. |
Had this never been made in the begin
ming il would have been different far, but /
now a condition is faced, that is insur-
Tnountable. When the stars are within the /
reach of mortals, not until then will any /
one outside of insane asylums believe /
honestly in the government ownership of
railroads. When the millennium comes.
then perhaps this dream may be a fact" 1
Miss Pauline Brownell favored the audi
eenc by singing solo, which was encored,
and IN response she gave another song in
a very sweet voice.
An Anaconda boy then took up the
affirmation. Adolph Charette was "sllghtly
ratified" as he said at times, but otherwise
AL right" lie argued that strikes, uE-
just rates. free passes TO judges and legis-
lators and disregard OF human life. were
but few of the many evils ensuing from
the monopolies and private corporations
which are owning the railroads. Under
the present arrangement the rich man |
gets a low freight rate and a pass while
the poor man pays excessive freight and
a high passenger fare when he travels.
Under the government ownership the rate
would be uniform and all patrons would
receive equal attention and rate.
John Spatord followed him and sus-
tanned the negative in very deliberate
and matter of fact style of address which
developed vein of humor and sarcasm.
He rid culed the idea of comparing the
Belgium system of railroads with the svs-
tenn of the United States. The conditions
are IN no way similar. Belgium is not as /
bio rs trnr1 Amacnnla Il nurtn n /