Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-16
THE MERRICK MEDAL
It Will Be Debated for on Washington's
Birthday.
One OF the Most Interesting Events nj
Georgetown University-The Dis.
putants and Judges.

The topic of chief Importance at George
town University is the approaching debate
for the Merrick medal. The debate is held
under the direction of the Pbilodemic
Society, and will take place in CASTOR Hall
at the college on the evening of Washing
tons birthday. The Philodemic Society,
the most important organizat ton of its kind
In the college, was founded in the year
1880. membership being confined to the STU
dents Of the senior, Junior and sophomore
classes. The society is now of sixty-five
years standing, and upon its rolls are
found the names of men who have been
and are prominent in every profession The
| modes of conducting the exercises Of the
society are similar to all organizations OF
like nature. Its weekly meetings are held
in the hall at the college, four regularly
appointed members debating some question
of political or economic Importance.
In the early days of the society's ex-
iStence the great occasions of the year
we're the national holidays and days set
apart for the celebration of some local
event. On these days members were chosen
to deliver some fitting patriotic address.
Later the society was accustomed to APP
point some member to deliver an Grafton at
the annual commencement.
MIR. Merrick's Donation.
1neSe CUSTOMS gradually Unsupported
until 1874, when the society came once
more into prominence. During this year
the late Richard T. Merrick, an eloquent
Washington lawyer. made over to the
president of the university and his
successors eighteen shares Of stock in
Washington street railway company.
From the proceeds n edal was to be pur-
chased and awarded to the best debater
in the Philodemic Society, under the fol-
lowing conditions: The contestants should
be four in number, chosen by ballot from
among the members of the society, the
question to be one of national interest at
the time Of the debate. to he discussed In
public, and the merits should be judged by
three gentlemen selected by the president
of the university, and they should not be
connected in any capacity with the insti-
tuition. From the time of Mr.. Merrick's
gift this debate became ore of the most
important events in the college year, and
each year witnesses increasing interest
in these intellectual contests and greater
display Of talent in both augmentation
and oratorical delivery.
The Question This Year.
The question chosen for this years de-
bate reads, rs 1t Desirable That the In
terstate Railways Should Be Owned and
Operated by the General Government
This question will certainly furnish the
topic for an Interesting and instructive
discussion, involving as 1t does some very
some phases of railway operation which
have been agitated considerably during the
past year. The gentlemen chosen to rep
resent the society in this years public
debate are all members of the graduating
class, and on account of the evenness Of
abilities among the contestants there has
arisen considerable speculation as to whom
the laurels will rest upon.
The first affirmative is Mr.. James w.
Burke of Canton, Pa, and it is safe to say
his remarks will put the audience in the
iDhf fra,r Of ,sy,d 10 11a
and instructive debate. The gentleman has
already obtained laurels as n debater, WIN
ming in his freshman year the medal given
by the Philonomosian Society. He is an
earnest speaker. a good thinker, and when
we'll into his speech, becomes very eloquent.
His colleague, the second affirmative, is
Mr.. j. Neal Power of San Francisco, Cal.
He has all excellent voice and can hold the
attention of an audience easily during his
allotted time. His style is deliberative
calm and easy, rather than fiery and elo-
Quent.
Mr.. Edward ]. Tobin. the first negative. is
also western man and comes from the
Golden Gate. His strongest point is q
striking personality, both in the expression
of his ideas and style of delivery. He is
ar earnest speaker, and his debates in the
regular meetings of the society are always
of high standard. The last speaker is
Mr.. Alexander Stephens of Sparta, Ga. Mr..
Stephens has always shown in his former
debates great ability in following out a line
OF augmentation and aptiy illustrating
every point he makes. His style is probably
slightly more oratorical than the others
The Judges.
The judges who will decide upon the
merits Of the Individual speakers are JUS
tice Edward ID. White of the Supreme
Court, Senator w. n. Roach of North Da-
kota and Mr.. Thomas Settle, Representa-
tive from North Carolina. Each of these
gentlemen is an alumnus of the century,
o1I
doubt many memories of the days when
they were not "Old Boys come back from
the past.
Chas. E. Roach. the vice president of the
society, who will preside at the debate. is
a son of Senator Roach, and is himself
one Of the leading debaters Of the So
ciety, besides being Of the most
able all-round men in the college He
is editor-in-chief of the college journal, and
secretary of the athletic association, and
has long been prominent in college matters.
The medal, aside from the honor which by
its bestowal 1t brings. is Of considerable
intrinsic value. 1t is of gold. worth S100-
coin value. Upon one side is stamped the
arms of the society. the reverse bears the
God of Eloquence and the Goddess of Lib
erty clasping hands and encircled by the
society motto, "Colet Societas Philodemica
e Collegio Georgiopolitano Eloluentiam Lib
ertau Devinctam." The Philodemic Society
has completed arrangements for an inter-
collegiate contest with the debating society
of Boston College, to take place in the lat
ter part of April. These contests have OF
late years greatly increased both in interest
and numbers, and aside from the many
benefits of these exercises to the partici-
pants, they serve in some measure as q
standard of comparison.
The officers of the Philodenic Society for
the year are Rev. E. I. Dewitt, ST., presi-
dent; Chas. E. Roach, 'a5. vice president:
John G. O'Leary. 49, secretary; T. B. Nc
Dermott, '96, amanuenss; f. Vincent
Smith, '05. treasurer; Alexander Stephens,
80, first censor; NJ. Martin Murphy, Us.
second censor.
"a WISE MOVE"