The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-30
INTERCOLLEGIATE DEBATE
The Oratorical Contesi Between Wake For
est and Trinity College


Correspondence of The Messenger.}
Wake Forest, N. c., November 26.
The great inter collegiate debate be-
tween Trinity and Wake Forest
took place in the academy Of
music at Raleigh last evening.
There was a large audience pres
ent. Wake Forest sent about 125
students and a special train brought
large numbers from Trinity. There
were many present from Oxford and
other institutions Of learning. The girls
from Peace and st. Mary's were out in
all their beauty.
Reduced rates were given on all the
railroads. Mr.. c.. H. Mebane, of Ra-
leigh, presided and Mr.. Jackson Ham
ilton of Wake Forest acted as secre-
tary. The judges were Captain ;. A.
Ashe, President Dinwiddie and Pro-
fessor Hugh Morson.
The question was fought the system
of w~aterworks, lighting and street car
railways be operated by the city for
it's people or by private i~ndividuals?'
Trinity contended for municipal owner
ership, Wake Forest against 1t.
Mr.. Needham of Trinity opened the
debate in a we'll prepared speech, and
was followed by Mr.. c.. H. Utley OF Wake
Forest. Both acquitted themselves
ably. Mr.. Utley, it will be remember
ed, is state senator from Wake county.
Mr.. North of Trinity followed in a
fowery argumentative plea for munic-
ipal ownership. Mr.. North is an eX-
ceedingly handsome young man and a
ministerial student. He was we'll ap-
%plauded.
Mr.. A. B. Cannady of Wake Forest,
was the next to speak. Mr.. is
one of Wake Forests best speakers.
He has taken several medals for ora
tory, and has been elected by MS
society dictator" and afterwards ora
tor" He graduated last spring and is
at present studying law and political
science. He has a fine appearance, a
clear resonant voice, M his logic is in
vincible. When he arose to speak the
applause was deafening. The audience
leaned forward to catch his every word.
And he sat down amid a tumult OF en-
thusiaSm.
Mr.. Stewar of Trinity came next.
He is an excellent reasoner and MS
speech had a telling effect upon the
judges.
Mr.. Stewart was followed by Mr.. L.
N. Johnson. There is not a better de-
batter at Wake Forest tina MI. john
son. His style is simple, clear and to
the point; no elocutiOn, no fiOWery die
ton but pure argument. What he SAID
had as telling effect pom those who
were to decide as upon the audience as
a whole.
The first speeches were limited to
twelve minutes n the rejoinderS to
seven minutes each.
After a brief interval the reply
speeches commenced. Then the fur
began. Mr.. Nedham led off by hack
ing away at the arguments Of the
Wake Forest boys. He was followed
by Utley, who in his good humored. ar
gumentative way attempted to retute
all that Trinity had tried to prove
But North brought to nought all that
Utley had said. Then Cannady, who
is always a little more forcible on a re-
ply speech literally tore asundel
North's would-be logic. Stewart an.
swered Cannady and Johnson closec
the debate.
In a short time it was tha'
the decision was made and that Wake
Forest had won.
The the applause was deafening
Ladies waved their handkerchiefs, mer
cheered, and above all the uproar could
be heard the college yell Of Wake
Forest.
It was hard to tell whose speech was
the best. All acquitted themselves
we'll, Trinity as we'll as Wake Forest
Old men said it was the best debate
they had ever Witnessed. The atten'
dance was something over 1000.