Evening star., 1897-02-23
THE ANNUAL DEBATE,
Georgetown Students Strive for Mer
rick Medal

UcOE8ctOWh StuOentS Strlve 1Of Mef.
rick Medal.
The annual debate for the Merrick gold
medal, the value of which is 500. was held
last evening in the CASTOR Memorial Hall
of Georgetown University by four selected
members of the Philodemic Society. Though
the night was bad and disagreeable one
present in the hall would hardly have
thought SO. judging by the large number
Of people present. especially members of
the fair sex. Every available seat on the
main floor and gallery was occupied, and
standing room was valuable. The large
hall was a blaze of light, and gaily dec
GRATED for the occasion.
While the exercises were scheduled to
commence at s o'clock, there was delay
Of nearly half an hour, the judges being
delayed in making their appearance. The
Glee Club of the university opened the pro-
gram with De koven's ''Old King Cole. -
the rendition being excellent, and an encore
was responded to. Maurice Brown Kirby
of the class Of '97 of this city, as chair
man of the debate, made short introduc-
tory address, in. which he stated the ques-
ton tc be debated was: Resolved, That 1t
is the duty Of the United States govern
ment to intervene in such a way as to ter
inmate the present strife in Cuba
The Judges of the debate were Senator
solicitor general, and Ainsworth R. Spot
ford, librarian of Congress. They retired
after the debate, and their decision was
handed to the rector Of the university, Rev.
J. Havens Richards, which will not be an
nounced until the annual commencement
exercises of the institution in June.
The medal is permanent prize, be-
queathed by the. late Richard Merrick,
prominent member of the local bar. While
the Philodemic Society, under whose aus
pices the debate was held, was founded in
1880. the Merrick gold medal has been de-
hnk ka1 fnv frry0v -trrr< tfx,@
Charles Fallon Curley of Delaware, class
Of 97, opened the debate, taking the af-
fiji native side. The present war in Cuba,
he thought, was one Of determination, and
the Intervention of this country would be
a logical and humane step. He spoke OF the
various phases and conditions of the strife
and deDlored that such should be the case
Benedict Francis Maher of Maine, class of
", opened the negative side Of the ques-
ton, and his position was just the reverse
Of that Of the first speaker. 1t was no
affair OF our own. and the Cubans were
fighting for freedom and Independence in
which this government should not inter-
fere. This speaker appeared to be a favor
lite, and was looked upon by his school,
mates as the winner.
William Evans Fox of Ohio. class of '97,
prominent athlete of the university, took
the closing affirmative side, He spoke of
the condition Of affairs, and the promises
made by Spain to Cuba proved to be mere
mockery. The treatment of the Inhabitants
of the island was sufficient for them to de-
mand liberty or death, and hence 1t was
apparently a war of determination Tim
othy Welch Of Connecticut. class Of 07,
closed the negative side, and likewise the
debate. His argument was good. This
country had earned the reputation for the
desire for peace and the avoidance Of blood
shed. and the Cuban war afforded an op-
portunity for putting these practices into
practical execution.
Interspersing the addresses Of the speak
ers were selections by the clubs Of the
university. The mandolin and banjo clubs
rendered Happy Days in Dixie" after
which the banjo club gave '.Autumnal Fes-
tivities," by Planque. The Mandolin Club
gave the march Of the university, composed
by Mr.. Callan, ''The Blue and Gray
March," while the Glee Club closed the
program with singing the traditional song.
''Sons Of Georgetown" The music was ap-
preciated and the audience encored each
selection
The committees Of the debate were as
follows Reception, r. J. Watkins, '07: A.
A. Alexander. 81; J.. #. Colline, 81; e. r.
Brady, '0S: D. B. C. Waggaman, '0e; II. r.
Cover, 'e6; J. 8. Bates. '96; b. w. Ro-
maine, 90. Arrangements, ]. n. NcAleer.
'00; d. W. ODonoghue. '91: J. D. Sullivan.
'07; ]. 8. McNamara. 81: p. W. A. Mac
Mahon, '06; D. J. Ferguson. B6.