The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-05
|NTERCOLLEGE DEBATES,
Last Years Participants Ban
quoted at the University
Club.
Next Years Successful Debater viii
Receive a Prize of Two Hun
dred Dollars.

The dehaters in the intercollegiate con-
test which took place in Metropolitan
Temple on April 20 last were banqueted by
the University Club yesterday. The tables
were decorated with red, blue and yellow
flowers, sent by Senator George c. Perkins
for the occasion, and the menu was all that
could be desired. Among those present
were: Warren Olney, Charles Page, ex-
Justice Myrick. Professors C. M. Gayley
and Thomas Bacon and DR.. L. S. Hengst-
Ter, of the University of California, and
Professor Nathan Abbott of Stanford;
BENJAMIN F. Bledsoe, Burton M. Palmer
and E. de Los Magee, of Stanford and
James w. Clarke Martin c. Flaherty and
George F. McNoble, of the University of
California, and ]. L. Dinwiddie.
On behalf of the students A. M. Cathcart
and George W. McNoble thanked the
Judges for the interest they had taken in
the contest, and Charles Page responded.
He considered that the debates in question
on practical problems of the dav would
result in more good than was at present
apparent. Judge Myrick also spoke highly
of the yearly contests between the two
great universities of the West, and hoped
that they would be continued and their
scope enlarged Warren Olney is another
who has the fostering of these contests at
heart. He made casual remark to Sena-
tor Perkins on the subject last week, and
the result was the following letter:
Warren Olney-DEAR SIR: Referring to your
remark on the Oakland boat this morning that
you wished you could find some one who would
give 5000 year for three years, to be divided
between the two best speakers at the annual
intercollegiate debate between the students
from Stanford University and from the Uni
of Col CRY hat
wishes in the matter are very moderate; and
as 1 in most hearty sympathy with the
movement to encourage the students of these
two great universities in their intellectual con-
tests | shall consider it an honor to contribute
the sum desired. Therefore, please bring it to
the attention OF the proper parties that at each
of the annual intercollegiate debates in 1896
1897 and 1898 the judges are authorized to
draw on me for 5000, to be equally divided by
them between a Stanford debater and Uni
versity of California Gebater.
The judges, in addition to rendering de-
cision, as required by the gift of the Examiner
cup, Will also select from each side the speaker
who, in their opinion, is best entitled to the
money prize. The judges shall take into con-
sideration both excellence of argument and
delivery.
In case the Examiner cup is awarded before
1898, no doubt there viii be some other gen.
eral prize to contend for, and my agreement
remains open II there is
AS you know, it is one of my hobbies that
government by discussion is the only govern
ment possible for free people. There are con-
unuallY arising for solution new problems in
economics and sociology. The educated men
of the country should be the leaders in these
discussions and will be if the students in our
colleges ale trained to think correctly, and ex-
press their ideas with clearness and force.
In so far as the educated men and women of
this country fail to occupy their natural place
in the front, by SO much have the colleges in
the land failed in their work There has been
failure in the past, or, if not failure, there
have been woeful shortcomings on the part of
the alumni to fill the places they ought to oc-
cupy. If they cannot occupy the front ranks in
the march of improvement, then there is some
thing wrong in their training.
Believing as l do that the discussion by
young men OF the questions of the day will
tend 10 develop right thinking, foreible speak
ing and thereby insure good government am
glad to contribute anything that will act as
stimulus.
The amount is small, but to be earned as the
students will earn it ought to be considered an
honor. May the best men earn it. With kind
est regards, remain cordially yours,
GEORGE C. PERKINS
The students have taken the matter up
in earnest, and the subject of next years
debate will be decided at once. The men,
bers of each college will then debate the
subject among themselves from time to
time, and the choice of candidates will not
be made until month before the Joint
discussion comes off.