The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-28
WAYLAND PRIZE DEBATE
FIRST PRIZE 1Iy4RDED TO IT. III.
KELLOGG OF CARTHAGE; mo.

Competitive Debate Held Mt College Street
Hall Last Evening-Al fhe Speeches
Were Unusually Goed-Remarks by Hon.
Chauncey M. Depew-Pleased at the Re-
vival in Debating-Tenson for Harvard,s
Many Forensic Victories over Yale.
The debate for the Wayland prizes
was held in the College street hall last
evening by the Kent club Of the Yale
Law school. The question for debate
was: Resolved, That the United
States Senators Should be Eelected by
Popular Vote" The speakers were, on
the affirmative Frederick S. Martyr,
Andrew M. Robinson, Andrew T. Bier
kan and Edward H. McVey; on the
negative Herbert Fl. Kellogg, Ernest G.
Smith, William S. Tibbs and Harry S.
Burrowes. The body of the hall was
well filled and each speaker as he fin-
ished was greeted with loud applause.
None of the debaters knew on which
side of the question they were to speak
until at noon yesterday, so that the de-
bate was practically extemporaneous.
the time for preparation being SO short
that not much special research or prep
aration for either side was possible.
Considering the fact, the speeches were
all good and showed depth Of thought
that would be really creditable to de-
baters, who had made thorough prep
aration. By far the bets speaker of the
evening was Fl. H. kellogg, L. S. '96
of Carthage, Mo. Mr.. Kellogg gradu-
ated from the academic department Of
Yale in '94 and was one of the speakers
for Yale in the debate with Harvard
held that year. Mr. Kellogg last even
ing took up in detail every point made
by. the opponents who had preceded
him. He showed that by electing SEN
ators by popular vote the representa-
ton OF the state in the senate and that
this in view Of the present political
conditions in the great cities would
be very undesirable. He said that the
present system of securing representa-
ton for the states in the senate was
designed by men who thoroughly un-
derstood what was for the best inter-
ests of the country. He also showed
that under the present system the SEN
ators are not swayed by popular lingo
sentiment as they would be if they de-
pended on g. constituency for Office.
For excellence in argument and
strength Of delivery Mr.. Kellogg was
awarded the first prize.
William S. Tibbs '96 Of Salt Lake
City, Utah, and Ernest G.. Smith '96 Of
Martins Ferry, O., were also very good
both in delivery and argument and
stated their points in clear, concise and
convincing style and rebutted the ar
guments Of their opponents at every
point. Mr.. Smith was awarded second
prize and Mr. Tibbs third.
The judges Of the debate were Hon.
Chauncey M. Depew, Rev. George Will
liam Douglass and G. N. Kendall. Af-
ter a brief consultation, DR., Depew an
nounced the decision of the judges,
which was received with tumultuous
applause.
In response to the continuous APP
plause DR.. Depew made a brief speech
concerning debating and especially de-
batting at Yale. He spoke of the great
advantage of a debater combining both
a good preparation and the ability for
extemporaneous speaking and in illus
tration Of this mentioned the admirable
speech made by Joseph Choate before
the United States supreme court on the
income tax. He spoke of the great re-
vival of interest in debating and liter
airy work in colleges in the last three
years and said that he was especially
dp1iphtaH fn t1ic 1,auixyaI iy1 ID ux1r
schools. 1t seems to bring back the
days when Americans were the lead
ers in the expressing forcibly their
opinion on all questions. Even our leg
islative bodies have been infected with
the decadence in oratory in recent
years and the house of representatives
was until recently a place of essays.
The senate is of that character to-day.
Men in public position should be- able
to express what they believe to be their
convictions in politics and religion.
The methods followed in the British
house Of commons are much better than
those of our senate or house of repre-
sentatives. In the commons no manu-
scripts are permitted and the members
are not allowed to use the place where
they should tend to public as place
from which they send packages of gar
dens seeds to constituents. DR.. Depew
then highly complimented all Of the de-
baters of the evening and said that if
the Yale Law school continues to keep
up the method of training its men to-
give expression to their thoughts in
such a clear and forcible manner it's
graduates will make better lawyers for
their clients and better representatives
of their constituents.
At the close of the debate DR.. Depew
stated to Courier reported that he
was greatly pleased at the great re-
vival of interest in debating at Yale i'll
the last two years and said that the
improvement is very noticeable to him
since the time when he presided at the
Yale Harvard debate in 1894. He said
that he thought that the reason why
Yale had been defeated year after year
by Harvard was owing to the fact that
the revival of interest in debating was
started at Harvard ten years ago. He
said that the signs seem to indicate
that the debating powers of old Limo
nian and Brothers days are returning
to Yale.
Mr.. Depew was accompanied to this
CITY by his son, Chauncey M. Depew,
ir.. and spent last night at the New
Haven house. He will return to New
York this morning.